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 car! - 1993 Chevrolet Lumina
  By lumina_man - December 27 - 2:00 am

  Have had this car since new in late 92. Have 143K on it now, and plan on making it another 143K. Gas mileage can exceed 30 mpg on highway. Very few problems. Wish they still made them. Have the 3.1L engine, which still has spunk!

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  Steves review - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By steven21 - December 26 - 4:26 pm

  I love the solid feel in corners. Plenty of power from the 5.3L V-8. Excellent handling, quiet and solid ride, and just plain fun to drive. It gets great gas mileage at 27mpg on the highway. Quick and powerful acceleration through all 4 gears and RPM ranges.

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  Great truck - 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By me343 - December 26 - 2:00 am

  100,000 miles on a 96 no problems

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  clean - 1997 Chevrolet Camaro
  By ERNEST - December 26 - 2:00 am

  the car runs great

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  Honda Who? - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By tjv1974 - December 26 - 2:00 am

  Love this Car! Chevy really did its research. Drives beautifully! Feels like and quick, not like a traditional American car. Great styling. Doors shut firm, light. 4-Cylinder is extremely fast and powerful. Car is bigger than cars in its class, yet lighter than most. Drives great!

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  Chevys Are the Best - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By JAGII - December 24 - 9:06 pm

  Great all around truck! Very smooth ride. Feels better than driving a car. Interior is comfortable. Awesome power. Everything a truck should be. A few adjustments need to be made though. Otherwise the best truck out there. I tow a boat and have a 5 point wiring hook up, this truck only has a 7 point hook-up. This requires me to buy an adapter. The rear a/c vent is a plus! I think a rear locking differential would have been better than limited slip.

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  Go blue - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Keith Green - December 24 - 8:35 am

  Review electronic options.

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  Supurb Burb - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Tizil - December 24 - 2:00 am

  We bought our 99 K1500 in Denver after returning from a job assignment in Brazil. We also picked up a Z28 which we towed back to our home in Kingwood, Texas. Had to sell the Z when we moved to Canada but the Burb has been in the family for 4 years and has been the best vehicle we have ever owned. We have taken several long trips with three adults and two kids and always arrived feeling fresh.

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  V8 TrailBlazer EXT is a great, fun SUV - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By 04TBEXT - December 24 - 2:00 am

  My 2004 TrailBlazer EXT has been a great ride for me. I would not have considered buying it had it not been available with the proven quality and power of the 5.3 Vortec V8. This TB is loaded with all avaialable options except for the DVD player and navigation system. I am very pleased with this SUV - it replaced a Ford Explorer.

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  Kickass - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By shadowss - December 24 - 2:00 am

  This car is so much fun to drive stock, the I put Heads/Cam/Headers/Custom Programming and some Drag Tires. Now I have 430RW and this car is INSANE!