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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  Recommend buy- Impala - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By EvansImpala - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Extremely pleased with the Impala. I purchased the vehicle in Feb of 01, mainly as a pleasure vehicle. I owned a 96 Impala and can say that short of the acceleration of the 96 Impala, the remake has exceeded my expectations. On a recent 1500 mile trip with full load of luggage driving at average speed of 65mph, mileage was calculated at 31.5mpg. Smooth ride, smooth acceleration, quite, and just about the right size for ease of handling in tight spaces. I would recommend a buy of this vehicle to anyone. Traction control works fine, stereo sounds great. Only repair problem which was fixed in one day by dealer was side air bag sensor was defective.

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  Great Car! - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By ColnelJ - April 25 - 10:00 am

  I really like this car. Only problem is break rotors - Chevy needs to change suppler - Had a 97 Monte Carlo with 97,000 miles and never touched the breaks.

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  If youre cheap, youll love it - 1998 Chevrolet Metro
  By Joe - April 24 - 6:19 pm

  Ok, I admit it I’m cheap. We bought the Metro in 1997 for under $8,000 (including taxes and license). With the wind, it gets around 50 mpg and has never done less than 35. If you are a cheapskate, dont believe the lies about the Metro. The professional review is really misleading and lacks historical perspective. Compared to my other car, a highly- rated 2002 Subaru Outback, it was a heck of a buy. Oh yeah, more comfortable, reliable and fun to drive too.

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  Impala LS - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Len - April 24 - 6:16 pm

  Chevy engineers did a fine job on this design, however, a few more changes would make customer rating better. I find it difficult to determine where the rear of the vehicle is when backing up. I love the handling and performance of the Impala LS and find it to be a reliable automobile.

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  Cheap, Comfortable, and Nice choices - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Xtatic - April 24 - 4:37 pm

  First, its an economy car so most people try to compare it to a sports car. Dont, because its the best car for its type. That is, for under 8,000 you get a car thats roomy and more comfortable than most compacts. The warrenty is great and so is the cost. Insurance is also cheap. I am quite tall and I find it very easy to get in and out of. The seats are next to perfect and fit awesome. Sure its only 103 horsepower, but with the stick its quite zippy. The hatch idea is terrific because I can fit anything in this lil puppy. I drive it everyplace and enjoy the fact the gas gauge hardly moves! Im more an automatic guy but for basic transportation for this price you cant beat it. Excellent!

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  A Pleasant Surprise - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By toni - April 24 - 3:05 pm

  I wasnt expecting such a smooth ride and decent gas mileage when we purchased this vehicle. We had it packed up with 5 people for a couple of road trips and were comfortable.

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  My fourth Corvette and best - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Bill - April 24 - 1:36 pm

  This is the ultimate Corvette. I had an 03 Z06 which was nice but couldnt hold a candle to the 427 rocket.The folks at Chevy have given us a vehicle that I dont mind paying sticker for. This is the "baddest" Vette ever. I cant say enough nice things about this car. My wife thinks this car is to powerful. Keep it comming Chevrolet.

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  Love it - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By rollie - April 24 - 10:43 am

  Having owned a few Vette converts 58,61,66,67,71,75,87, 95,98 .. I loved everyone. When I turned 65 I wanted one for keeps. The 02 Flame Red convert I now have is the best. Not one problem since I bought it. Keeps me feeling young and the gals love it.

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  Wish I hadnt - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By kgonz - April 24 - 6:56 am

  Have only had this car for 3 months, and Im more than ready to get rid of it. Cant stand the hideous gas mileage Im getting (13.5mpg). And the obnoxiously loud "ding ding ding" of the interior alert. I was told that when the "fuel low" alert turned on, it meant I had about 40 miles left. It ended up being more like 10 miles-which left me stranded on the highway in the rain! Think this is the last American car Ill buy, most definitely the last Chevy.

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  Fun and Sporty Car - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Brian - April 24 - 3:23 am

  Every morning I go out to my car to begin the days journey to work, a situation that will put a frown on most peoples faces. But as I walk up I hit the remote starter and hear the deep throaty roar of the V8, and I cant help but think, this is what Chevy meant by "The Heartbeat of America!" Needless to say, Every morning I drive to work with a smile on my face. This car has amazing power and very crisp handling living up very well to the Super-Sport lineage. The exterior and interior are both clean and sporty, and look distinctive from anything else on the market. In short, on paper this car was exactly what I wanted, in practice, this car is exactly what I wanted!