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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  Nothing like a Chevy Van - 2003 Chevrolet Astro
  By chritch - February 13 - 2:00 am

  Theres nothing like a beefy Chevy Van, makes all those wussy looking minis look like they came from the Barbie factory. 4.3 V6 rules the road. I hope in the future they will make a dual slider on the Drivers side, and thats the only negative.

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  NICE!! - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By WillysCavi - February 13 - 2:00 am

  for as much horsepower as it says it has, it sure does get up and go(when the ac is off).

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  Hey Baby! Nice Car! - 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Xplicit Kontent - February 12 - 5:13 pm

  I bought this car last year. All in all, I love this car! The seats have adjustable lumbar support which makes it easy to make your seat have the perfect level of comfort and you have lots of room instead of being cramped together. I added a K&N air filter and add Lucas Oil fuel additive each time I change my oil. These two things jumped my gas mileage from 21 to 26 mpg(city) and 29 mpg(highway). I recommend this!

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  1999 suburban - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By rffortier - February 12 - 2:00 am

  This is my 4th suburban, and I would not drive anything else with my 8 kids!

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  Great Reliable Car - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Sanjit - February 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car in 2001 with 90K on it. It has been a great car with no repairs. It is a very reliable and comfortable car. I had no problems while driving 400 miles at a strech. Gas mileage is not bad considering a V6 engine. Overall great value for money.

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  Reliable Family Car - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By RxMichelle - February 12 - 2:00 am

  Very reliable family car. Very comfortable for tall individuals and growing kids.

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  Satissfied - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Bill Power - February 12 - 2:00 am

  Great car, better than previous corvette. Design is complimented many times by non-corvette owners. Only wish could reprogram oil change to reflect fact that synthetic oils do better than 3500 miles.

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  sweeeeeeeet - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By bshef - February 12 - 2:00 am

  love our av. excellent ride and stunning looks. oh, by the way, this truck was built with "practicality" in mind.

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  Our Cavalier Z24 - 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Traci & Rob - February 11 - 2:00 am

  I would recommend to anyone buying a used car that the Z24 is a grat car to buy. She handles real well. Love the power when shifting gears.

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  Love my Tahoe - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By jcsuper - February 11 - 2:00 am

  Have not had a problem except brakes which we replaced at 60 thousand miles.