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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  Gidde up - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By hershnut - August 7 - 2:00 am

  Since our purchase, our road trips have increased substantialy and our air mileage had decreased. At the end of the day bells and whistles have to be tossed out the window and you have to realize this is a great engine that will take you where you want to go, period...

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  Fun little truck - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By Z Man - August 6 - 2:00 am

  Great winter and summer truck fuel mileage is decent, great trade off for the power and take off overall awesome truck!

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  1997 c5 corvette - 1997 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Sawyer - August 6 - 2:00 am

  Great car Fun to drive

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  The best choice I could have made! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Melissa - August 5 - 7:03 pm

  It took me about four years to find a car or truck I really wanted and Im glad I waited. This truck is perfect, very easy to drive and also a lot of fun. Definitely a head turner. The stereo system is fabulous, storage space is adequate. Love all of the outlets: I can play my iPod and charge my phone at the same time. Legroom in front and rear is phenomemal. Fuel economy is pretty decent too. I also like the fact that, while it does sits higher than a car, you dont have to take a running leap to get in, like the Tahoe. Very affordable for all of the value you get from this vehicle. Dont sleep on this one! What a winner!

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  Great Impala - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Raym0016 - August 4 - 6:50 pm

  I have had this car for 2 weeks and every time I drive it I like it more and more. The hadling in this Impala is much better than the previous and the 3.9L engine really gets this car moving. The new engine is a great replacement for the venerable 3800! Styling is understated and the interior could have come out of a Cadillac DTS (like the radio and steering wheel). The LTZ is great entry level luxury for less than 28k! Nice job Chevy!

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  CHEVYS RULE THE REST DROOL - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By BOWTIEMAN14EVER - August 4 - 2:00 am

  FUN TO DRIVE, GOOD RIDE FOR A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, REAL HEAD TURNER, NO ROLL OVERS ON THIS VEHICLE, NO WONDER GM HAS THE NUMBER ONE SELLING PICKUPS.

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  this car is really good to drive - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By laura - August 4 - 2:00 am

  this car is fun to drive and very sporty without the hassle of the money issue!

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  Fun to drive vehicle - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By 40yearfan - August 3 - 2:53 am

  Got on a 2 year lease for my wife. Quality throughout the vehicle is on a par with the Acura Legends I used to lease. Plenty of power, ultra quiet ride and loads of amenities. Even the engine compartment is well laid out and looks neat and clean. Its the LT2 with the engine package that gives you the V6, 6 speed auto., and 18 inch wheels. All of this for a little over $25,000 MSRP is amazing.

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  What A Truck! - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Paul - August 2 - 10:13 am

  This truck was well worth the wait. Everything about it blows me away, as fast as my 3000GT and just as fun to drive!

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  Love my Trailblazer - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By DianeS - August 2 - 10:00 am

  We just love this truck! It has excellent performance (V8) and a beautiful interior. We have all the bells and whistles on it including a DVD player and 3rd row seat making those long trips with the kids a little more peaceful. The gas mileage is surprisingly good, and the interior is very comfortable for up to 8 people. I would highly recommend this vehicle to anyone interesed in a SUV.