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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  08 LT 3.5L - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By ImpalaOwner - October 27 - 7:36 pm

  Had the car a couple of weeks and put 600 miles on it. Its a very comfortable car, even the 3.5 has more than adequate power, Ive never felt like I had to have more. Ive only used regular gas so far and gotten 28 MPG. Controls are all logical. I got the leather package and seats are comfortable but could use more side support. Great room up front, but lacking a bit in rear leg room for as big as the car is. My only beef is the paint finish - the hood has 2 big "blotches" - dealer noted it and offered to repaint under warranty, but something as bad as that should have never made it out of the factory.

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  The AVEO Runs True! - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By J. Schulz - October 27 - 1:43 pm

  The AVEO is not advertised as competition for the Mercedes or even the Toyota Camry, but what is advertised for the AVEO is true. I get 35 mpg on the road even when I am doing 75 mph. The engine/transmission package gives me lots of "pep" getting on the freeway and the car has lots of room inside (and its cute). I got all the options (including sunroof) and it was still a bargain. I have had the AVEO since June 2004 and have logged over 11,000 miles with no problems and lots of fun.

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  Favorite Truck so far - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Katie - October 27 - 9:23 am

  Took my 03 in for an oil change and drove home with the 07. Took it for a test drive and was very impressed. Love the new interior look over the old standard truck look. Ride is so much better than the 03 and the braking is a huge improvement. I like the front row seating now that the console folds up. Great truck if looking for an SUV

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  And the SS lives on... - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By DEI8N15 - October 26 - 1:26 am

  What a great car. Black with silver ground effects! Have the sharpest car on the street. Only problem I have encountered in the seat belt rubbing against the center console, leaving scratches, dealer replaced the console but problem was not fixed. Seats much more supportive than my 99 Monte Z34

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  Good Value (with Employee Discount) - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Frank - October 25 - 7:40 pm

  We went with the LS - 6 Cylinder, a much quieter engine, with good HP, and gets 32 MPG Highway. Body style is nice, reminds me of a Cadillac CTS. Its built on the Saab Epsilon chassis. Ride is kind of on the hard side, but still good. With the trade in, employee discount, and throwing GM Points at it, it came to $15,400 for the LS with the 1SB option. Its what its worth!

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  GM is back ! - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Charlie - October 25 - 2:46 pm

  What a car, what a value! Out of the box with 185 miles on it, we drove Florida to Jersey and averaged 29.4 mpg. Around town about 23 mpg. Sure we could easily do 32+ now that we have some mileage. And oh so quiet and smooth. Of course, only GM could build an engine this good and in the USA!

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  Fun little car - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By jane - October 25 - 9:06 am

  Got this car a while ago with 5,000 miles on it. Its been good so far, has great fuel economy and is really fun to drive, especially in the city. Its great to park! The seats are a little stiff after 4 or 5 hours, and the side mirrors are a little smaller than Id like, but other than that I really like the look and feel.

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  My Impalla lt - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Rich Riboli - October 24 - 4:13 pm

  Overall it is a very nice and enjoyable car. It is fun to drive even though turns are not very sharp with optimal traction. It is fun and easy to use and overall I recomend it and love it.

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  Happy - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Mike/Lisa - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I finaly found a vehicle that fits all my wants and needs.We use it as a truck a car,a rec vehicle,that fits my family

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  I love my 2 Corvettes - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Robert Behers - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I have a Convertible and a 2002 Z06. The Convertible is a great car to drive. We have assembled a large group of friends that we get together with every weekend, put down the tops, find a new windy 2 lane route, go out and attack the curves, and then return on an interstate and push the envelope. This car never dissappoints. The Z06 is reserved for visits to a local track and some occasional mischief at other locations. This car is amazing, and the only negative is that the car requires a better driver than me. Acceleration os ausome, handling is awesome, breaking is awesome, and the car is still very comfortable.