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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  Crusin in my Prizm - 1998 Chevrolet Prizm
  By PrizmLover - January 19 - 2:00 am

  I love Prizms! Theyre a smart buy for those whose priorities are reliability and fuel economy. My first car was a 95 Prizm. It was beautiful and purple. It died tragically in a head- on collision, and Im still getting over the loss. My 98 does fill in well, though I have had to take it in a couple of times (under warranty) for an airbag light and a minor emmissions problem. Buy Prizms, they rock (though youll have to buy used because Chevy is trying to get their small car buyers to drive Caviliers (YUCK!))!

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  Excellent simple truck - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By sean258 - January 19 - 2:00 am

  I have had my S-10 since June. It is a long bed with the 4.3 V6. The engine was the only option that I had in the truck.It runs excellent and has been an excellent work horse. I had a minor problem with the driver side window,but the dealer fixed it asap. I get a lot of compliements on the appearence. It is excellent for hauling

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  Excellent simple truck - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Sean258 - January 19 - 2:00 am

  I have had my S-10 since June. It is a long bed with the 4.3 V6. The engine was the only option that I had in the truck.It runs excellent and has been an excellent work horse. I had a minor problem with the driver side window,but the dealer fixed it asap. I get a lot of compliements on the appearence. It is excellent for hauling

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  My 99 Lumina a safe to drive in winter - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By sean258 - January 19 - 2:00 am

  I inherited my 1999 Chevy Lumina from my uncle who passed away in May of 2002. It is a great handling car and very comfortable to drive. I have also found it to be excellent in the snow . This winter has brought it share of snow to New York and the car handles excellent .

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  My 99 Lumina a safe to drive in winter - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Sean258 - January 19 - 2:00 am

  I inherited my 1999 Chevy Lumina from my uncle who passed away in May of 2002. It is a great handling car and very comfortable to drive. I have also found it to be excellent in the snow . This winter has brought it share of snow to New York and the car handles excellent .

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  2002 SS - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By BLK SS - January 19 - 2:00 am

  I Love my 02 SS.

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  Itll grow on you! - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By ted Sheldon - January 18 - 8:10 pm

  Have owned all sorts of cars and trucks, very easy to get comfortable. I drive a lot and I hate a vehicle that you constantly have to adjust the seat. With Gas over priced, I dont try to race light to light, I cruise a little slower than most and am got 31.5 mpg last tank (split city/hwy).

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  Winner - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By TB - January 18 - 10:30 am

  I absolutely love my new Silverado as do my wife and kids. It was finally time to move on from my Ford Bronco and I was looking for a pick up. I really dont think you could go wrong with any of the big trucks out on the market today (Tundra, F150, Titan, Ram). I have the FTZ version (black on black) and the interior is outstanding with quality materials. My wife has an Acura and the interior is just as nice. It also drives real smooth with good power from the 5.3L V- 8(315hp). The seats are comfortable with plenty of room front and back. Ive only had my Silverado for 3 months but I enjoy driving everytime I set foot in the truck.

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  Summary of vehicle condition. - 1991 Chevrolet Caprice
  By Stan - January 18 - 2:00 am

  Oil was changed every 3,000 (as close as possible)miles. I have never had to add any oil between changes. Maintenance was performed as soon as possible. Vehicle was never in any major accident and only three very minor ones. Upholstery is in excellent condition.

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  Summary of vehicle condition. - 1991 Chevrolet Caprice
  By STAN - January 18 - 2:00 am

  Oil was changed every 3,000 (as close as possible)miles. I have never had to add any oil between changes. Maintenance was performed as soon as possible. Vehicle was never in any major accident and only three very minor ones. Upholstery is in excellent condition.