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 - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Bob C. - December 28 - 5:10 am

  Car is fabulous except I am surprised with paying for a fully loaded car ($28K) that it wouldnt come with climate control. Car runs amazing and is extremely quiet. Glad I purchased it.

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  My 4th Vette - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By RMEFLYR - December 27 - 10:25 pm

  Best Corvette I have owned yet. This is my 4th vette and my first new purchase. The car performs better than many other muscle cars Ive owned. Acceleration and braking are superior. None of the rattles and electrical problems I had with my 72, 93 or 96. Amazing gas mileage (28 MPG)on road trips with an average speed of 75 mph. I plan to keep this car forever.

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  Fun to Drive - 1994 Chevrolet Corvette
  By New Vette Owner - December 27 - 9:02 pm

  I am a proud new owner of a 94 Vette. I must admit it is a tight fit it you are large size, and getting in and out can be a challenge, but what an exhilarating ride. It definitely pins you in the seat

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  I Love My Truck! - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Jennie - December 27 - 7:31 pm

  I love my truck. I often sleep in it when Im in between jobs. Its the only truck I ever considered buying. I waited 3 years to buy and it was well worth the wait. Although, it has a rattle in the engine compartment. But I still love my truck. Ive heard others traded theirs in or got rid of it because of the noise. I love my truck and Im keeping it for life. I may get a sports car (of course a Chevy) in the future and Im still keeping my truck.

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  Could use improvements - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By workdude - December 27 - 1:30 pm

  This truck has been is the repair shop a lot over the past 5 months I have owned it. Most of the miles are highway. 12,500 miles. I live down a gravel road so I have had some issues with rock chips, behind the back tries and front. Frame is really built cheap on these pickups, fuel pump has been replaced, starter replaced, The tires seem to wear uneven, fuel mileage is horrible, I get better on my 1 ton truck.

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  Love It - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Tony Lopez - December 27 - 11:43 am

  This is my first new car purchase in 15 years. I think it is one of the best if not the best for the money in its class. The V6 gives you plenty of power and all around looks are impressive. Plenty of room for 4 or 5 people and very comfortable interior. I love the remote start feature although I have had a problem with it when there is ice on the car. Overall a 10 !

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  Bad to the bone - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Mark Paul - December 27 - 8:42 am

  This is the 23rd Corvette I have owned. I did not trade my Red 2002 Z06 as it only has 6000 miles on it since I bought it new. I like the old hardtop style and I wish the 2007 had the same roofline as the 02. The 07 is way smoother to drive and does not show any kind of raw power until you want it to. I have never had a Corvette like this one. A real sleeper. My wife would never know what it was capable of. It is a pure rocket ship, but much more predictable than the 02, which is a twitchy ride. The new one is so different its hard to describe. Awesome sound system and navigation system. Rides and steers like its on railroad tracks and stops instantly. The raw pulling power is brutal!

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  Love this truck! - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By Budget Tuners - December 27 - 1:12 am

  This is a truck I have wanted for a while now and I finally got it back in Aug of 06. I got a 99 with the 2.2 5speed and I love it. I put an intake and exhaust. Sounds great, runs great. Power for the mods I have on it arent bad. Looking to get more out of it soon but all and all a great truck to customize. A lot of parts that change out and soon Im going to lower it a bit and put rims and tires on it. Love this truck. Best truck I have had

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  Dissastisfied buyer - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Lisa Testerman - December 27 - 12:56 am

  I love how my Equinox drives, but this car has been in the shop more than it has been on the road. Ive had the brakes worked on 3 times, master cylinder replaced, the whole gearshift assembly replaced, the radio replaced, and the rotors turned twice. It also has a backfiring problem that has been in effect since 9000 miles, but no service person can duplicate the problem when they have it in the shop. I dont think I will ever purchase another Chevorlet. I just wonder if any other Equinox owners have had the problems that Ive had.

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  A lot of car for the money - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mike - December 26 - 9:54 pm

  Well equipped for a base model. A good value if you are going to keep it for 5 years plus. Lots of room. Lots of power. Very reliable