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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  Bargain of the year - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Don Nelson - September 3 - 5:30 pm

  The Impala SS may not be a head turner but in terms of the "bang for your buck" factor its tough to beat (especially considering discounts being offered on soon to be "old style" 2005s). Its comfortable, quick and has all the amenities. You can get an SS with an MSRP of over $30K for $23-24K. It may not be worth $30K but for $23K its a steal. Critics have blasted the Impala. Check it out and make up your own mind!

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  Great car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Becky King - September 3 - 3:09 pm

  This is a great, solid car. Sporty enough for a middle aged gal like myself, but grown up enough for a middle aged gal like myself. It handles great, and has a good solid feel. There is little cabin noise, and there is plenty of room for passengers. All of the controls are comfortably placed. In fact, I prefer it to newer models I have driven. I average about 29 mpg on the highway, and 22 mph in town.

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  Hi Tech Hauler - 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Robert Rubel - September 3 - 10:59 am

  Traded a really good Ford Escape for the Traverse because my wife wanted more seats and cargo room. Test drove many 7 passenger SUVS but the Traverse had the best combo of room and features. Immediately took it on an extensive road trip out west and it performed like a champ. Better driving characteristics than more expensive SUVs. Better gas mileage than I expected: 24.6 combined, doing 75-80 on the highway.

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  Gas Mileage - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Don Stroud - September 3 - 5:30 am

  Getting 14 to 22 miles to the gallon of gas. Have taken vehicle back to dealer and they say they cannot do any thing about the problem because there are no codes showing. GM will not even talk about the gas mileage.

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  My 1st Monte Carlo - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Waltm - September 2 - 8:33 pm

  I really like this car, its roomy, responsive, and has some serious torque to it when you have to get on the gas. I like the sound system, I like the leather, I love the exterior design. All around an awesome car.

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  Great Truck - 1992 Chevrolet Suburban
  By dekenney - September 2 - 5:26 pm

  Bought in 2001 from original owner with 118K miles. Put in new transmission at 156K, and other minor usual maintenance items. Engine still runs strong. Hauls all of our stuff on vacations, and decent gas mileage for a large SUV. Usual GM fit/finish issues when it come to the cheap plastics and door panels. Otherwise, its been a great truck. Will eventually replace with something similar.

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  Do not buy - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By gtown317 - September 2 - 3:51 pm

  I have only been happy with the mechanical performance of this vehicle. I think It is one of the worst cars to drive on the road today. It is all over the place and It does not get great gas mileage for its size. It is an ugly car also. There is a lot of room in the back seat.

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  Excellent tow vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Jayboy63 - September 2 - 11:16 am

  This is an excellent, dependable tow vehicle for trailers up to 10,000 pounds. Strong engine with excellent response and power. RVing to nite clubing, this is a classy chassis.

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  Peggys Review - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By peggy629 - September 2 - 8:43 am

  I like my new Aveo, but the gas mileage is not what I expected or was reported. I think it should have a switch where you can lock doors from inside.

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  Lemon - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By r akers - September 2 - 7:56 am

  I have had nothing but trouble out of the transmission on this truck. I have had to have a sensor replaced in the 4wd 3 times due to the truck going into 4wd by itself. I have replaced the transfer case due to it having a tension crack to wear in it. The brakes have cost me over $1500 in the past year to be replaced. The drums are a real problem on this truck. I have had other problems with the truck.