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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  fantastic truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By chevowner - July 14 - 10:00 am

  Very solid, the more weight towing the better the ride.Great visibility.16mpg on hwy,15city after 5000miles. Very comfortable front seat. Manual 4X with automatic, only way to go.

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  Best truck ever... - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By kleinrider - July 14 - 10:00 am

  Absolutely love the truck, when first purchased, had a small squeak on passenger side rear door, but it went away. Truck is now very quiet inside. The 5.3 V-8 has plenty of power to do anything you will want to, short of pulling a house off of its foundation. (Have to try that some time...hmmm) Very smooth ride, slightly unstable in a rolling bumpy turn, but otherwise perfect. I test drove the Dodge and Ford and they just could not compare with the Chevys features, (heated seats, curb view assist mirrors, dual climate control, XM radio, OnStar, etc, etc. I love this truck.

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  Chevy hits homerun - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Larry T - July 13 - 2:56 pm

  We bought this as a second car to give our daughter for graduation, we drive it every day. It gets great gas mileage and is fun to drive too.

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  This is a terrific mid-sized car! - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By MKD - July 11 - 11:36 am

  I’ve owned my Maxx for two months and love it. I had to replace my 270,000 mi. BMW 318is commuter car and needed great gas mileage and four doors. I looked at Vibes and Mazda 3 wagons but liked the Maxx better. This car has exceeded my expectations! It has comfortable seats with lots of leg room, sun roofs front and back and the rear seat audio controls and headphones keep the kids busy and happy. The hatch area holds all our stuff. It is a fun car to drive. I like the power steering. Average mileage is 26/33 city/highway. Some don’t like the looks of the car but I do. This is a real winner! GM should build it with the new Malibu styling. Now that would be fantastic!

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  Love It! - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Momo - July 11 - 8:33 am

  I did a great deal of research on several makes and models. I was able to load up the Malibu for thousands of dollars less than what I would have paid for the Altima, Accord or Camry. I feel like I have plenty of room for my family of 5. I was amazed at how much leg room there is in the back seat. I wouldnt hesitate putting 2 adults in the back seat. I waited for the Mailibu to hit the show room floor before I orded one. I wanted to make sure the quality of the interior met my expectation. I was concered that the low sticker price meant low quality. I was very impressed with the quality and ordered the car right away.

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  The New HHR rocks! - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By navysf11 - July 11 - 3:40 am

  At first I wasnt a big fan of the looks of the car but after getting to know the car in and out I really love it. The HHR is fun to drive has a ton of great features and I now love how it looks. For the price I dont think theres a better vehicle out there.

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  Amazing truck! - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By stacy - July 11 - 3:26 am

  ive had this truck for months now, and have had many trucks in the past. This is the very best, and very tough. It can withstand a lot of abuse! I highly suggest test driving one today! GM has done a fantastic job on this truck. It dosnt need further improvement!

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  Fantastic - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jnb2008 - July 10 - 8:43 am

  Overall this car is absolutely fantastic. I have had it for three weeks and it is very pleasing. I marked a 9 on my fuel economy only because I went from a Neon. This is a bigger car, but I would prefer a little better city fuel economy (about 22 stop and go). Its not too bad though. When you get on the highway its 30-31. My fiance completely loves this car as well. He wishes he could have it. This is my first brand new car and I am in love. I was looking at Camrys and Altimas but I wanted to buy a GM and I can honestly say with reviews and such, I think this is anticipated to last as long if not longer than Toyota/Honda/Nissan. I believe this is very possible. Great purchase!!!

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  Equinox 2005 - love it! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Smith - July 9 - 4:46 pm

  For the money it is quite impressive. I like the fact that they kept women in mind when designing it. Just little things, but they mean a lot. Not a sportscar, but certainly fun to drive, and quite comfortable to ride in. Im getting 24 miles per gallon. Since its only one month old, I obviously dont have any idea about maintenance - but as far as performance and comfort, it gets an A rating from me.

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  08 FWD Equinox Sport - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By DAVID - July 9 - 8:56 am

  Bought our new sport last week. This vehicle is a runner! And looks good doing it. Sounds good, too. Handling is great. Interior could be a little more plush, but is adequate. Fuel mileage is just average. Overall a great car. Im glad we bought it.