Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

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  Great Venture Van - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By Matilda - April 5 - 2:00 am

  I like this van very much. Its fun to drive and gets good mpg. Usually around 20 in town and up to 26 highway. I have the eight seating van and it has come in handy more than once although I usually am alone--back and forth to work. Its very comfortable for the driver and front passenger. Middle passengers have mentioned they would like to have armrests. With seats out have gotten 8 dining room chairs in the back!

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  S-10 pickup - 1994 Chevrolet S-10
  By Tommy Zuniga - April 4 - 2:00 am

  ran real great...no problems at all

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  best used car ever - 1992 Chevrolet Caprice
  By rttaylor - April 4 - 2:00 am

  After I bought this car all I had to do to it was changed the oil. Interior spotless and the engine was clean. At first I thought I would never find a clean chevy that would run good in January without spending some money on repairs. But this car started perfectly when temp was below zero. Only a chevy would handle like this. Praise God for being so good to the chevy name.

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  It is the best truck to own very usable - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By sonnyd - April 4 - 2:00 am

  I have nothing but compliments from other drivers about the looks and the user friendly truck that it is

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  The Best of All Worlds - 2016 Chevrolet Volt
  By Drake - April 3 - 8:38 pm

  Ive had my eye on the Volts for years - as an idea, it was extremely compelling, but the execution was (for obvious reasons) very first generation. When Chevy refined the design for the second generation I was cautiously optimistic, and Im happy to say that it has exceeded my every expectation. No, it is not a car for everyone - the technology that makes the Volt work is still costly, so the price is still a bit higher than more traditional vehicles of a similar size. Its also on the smaller side for a sedan, though not at all uncomfortable for my family (my wife and six-month old in his large carseat fit just fine). You can get EV-only vehicles with longer electric range, of course, and while its performance is respectable, you can get more raw power from some other vehicles within its price range. But while other vehicles may outperform in one area or another, there are none that offer quite the same perfect blend or attention to detail that Chevrolet has executed here. The electric range is more than sufficient for the majority of trips, the charging is easy, and the gas generator (which is seamless and very quiet) is not only fuel efficient but gives it fantastic real-world driving range and none of the range anxiety than youd get with a typical hybrid or gas-powered car. Whats more, while it may not be a performance powerhouse, the car accelerates and brakes well, the handling is enjoyable, and the ride is comfortable. You dont always get all of that in these efficiency-first vehicles, so its very much appreciated. Being a new father, safety is a huge priority for me, and the Volts are safe vehicles - especially with the addition of the Driver Confidence packages, which add sensors for the usual bevy of warning and assist technologies. But beyond that, LEDs and wraparound lighting give it great visibility for other drivers and the headlamps are nice and bright without being obnoxious. I havent had a chance to see the IntelliBeam automatic high-beams in action yet, but its a nice touch and will no doubt prove useful provided it works well. Really though, the attention to detail and extra touches to add value are what seal the deal. There are many options to make the remote start and passive lock/unlock system conform to your needs and preferences, which adds a lot of convenience. You can also adjust the charging to help save more money with location and time-based charging preferences, and you can monitor charging status with the OnStar app. Speaking of OnStar, the three years of the top-level plan included free certainly doesnt hurt the value proposition, adding that much more safety, security, and convenience for no cost. On a less practical but no less appreciated note, everything on the car just seems very carefully and attentively designed, from sportier exterior and easy-to-open-and-close hatch to the subtle ambient lighting (with more pronounced lighting available as an option) to the layout of the dash to the quick and responsive touchscreen to the various sounds the car makes in operation (startup, shutdown, electronic brake, etc). It bears mentioning that my dealers service department, who are always honest and whom I have a very good relationship with, have nothing but positive things to say about the first generations reliability and longevity, and the second generation looks to improve upon that formula. Its all just very well-put-together, and with the rebates ($9000 off the one I purchased, after government tax credit and before dealer discount) it is an extremely compelling vehicle in every way that the previous model was, and many more ways that the outgoing design wasnt. This is my fourth car and third new car purchase within the past three years, and far and away the best of the pack.

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  Impala - One ups itself - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By SS in Ohio - April 3 - 8:46 am

  After owning a 2003 Impala, I stepped up and bought into the new SS body style and design. I can say from the test drive I was hooked. The styling, performance and overal experience was better than I could have imagined. My 2003 was pleasing over the three years I owned it. This 2006 already has the comfortable feel of a well used ball glove. Power, handling, and styling this car has it all. Within the first week, I cant count the number of people that have come over to take a look and the car. Every one has made comments to the styling of the SS. Once again I am sold.

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  Great vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Adam Seate - April 3 - 3:20 am

  We just bought Equinox after having test driven almost all of SUVs in its class. Neither of us liked the Santa Fe, I liked the Liberty - she didnt, she liked the VUE - I didnt, I liked the Escape - she didnt. We both loved the Equinox the moment we test drove it. Great price, and you get a lot of room for the size. Highly recommend you give it a try!

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  Were Lovin It - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Were Lovin it - April 3 - 3:00 am

  Weve only had it for 4 weeks, but it has been great. The price cant be beat in any comparable SUV. We looked as about 15 different cars and SUVs and this one was the one that caught our eye. Not just its looks, but how enjoyable it is to drive. Its power throws you back in your seat, the leather is soft, yet feels strong. My daughters enjoy the stereo. The steering is tight or loose when needed and I had to watch the tach to make sure the transmission used all 5 gears. With the drivers seat all the way back, I have plenty of leg room in the back and I am 64". However if you stomp on the gas, hang onto the wheel or the steering may get away from you.

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  CAMAROS EAT FORDS - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By 0Stealth0 - April 3 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car at 30k miles after a little had to replace the altinator, spark plug wires at 50k and cat at 55k other then mistakes of my own fault no other repairs needed for this fine machine! The camaro line and chevy cars in general have to be the kings of the road! look great sound great has great power for a v6 eats fords on a daily basis. CHEVY DO NOT LET THIS LINE FADE AWAY! You will loose many happy costomers! I plan on making my car a sleeper :grin:

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  Awesome - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By samuela - April 3 - 2:00 am

  My chevy impala is going to be three years old very soon (bought it new), Im yet to find a single problem with it. The gas milleage is terrific, acceleration is great, very spacious too and drives realy good.