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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  Tahoe - SUV for the Rockies - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Don Douglas - March 4 - 8:57 am

  Best vehicle I have ever owned. It is equally fitting for driving around town in Denver or taking the toughest incline in the Rockies. I love the power my wife loves the comfort. We recently drove from Denver to Houston and it was the most comfortable long trip I have ever taken in a vehicle. The only complaint is slightly squeaky brakes.

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  Fast, fun, and great looking - 1997 Chevrolet Corvette
  By hanky - March 3 - 10:50 pm

  All around this car is absolutely amazing. It is great for hobby drivers that want to cruise on the weekends or a everyday driver. The interior of the car is functional and very convient. The Bose sound system makes you feel like your at a concert. The power seats may be my favorite option in the car, it allows drivers all of sizes to sit comfortably. As you move to the exterior the car sits on beefy 19 inch rims that reflect like mirrors. The sleek angles and designs of the vehicle makes heads turn at every corner. Punching the accelerator leaves everything in the rear view. I recommend this car very highly, its always been my dream car and has lived up to every expectation.

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  2 door 3.5 eng with 4WD - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By KerryC - March 3 - 1:25 pm

  The interior space in the 2 door regular cab is plenty for me. I like the MP3 system / stereo. The 3.5 eng has plenty of zip and torque. Overall, the size makes is easy to drive in traffic. 4WD in Wisconsin winter weather is great! I found this to be much more reasonable price wise to the Toyota which I also considered.

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  Best bang for the buck! - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Jamie V. - March 3 - 8:54 am

  This is my first Corvette. I have had a Viper, NSX, Lotus and many others and this is a first class sports car. With 400 hp and great design this is a winning combanation, and dont leave out quality and the reviews show it is very dependable. My next one with be a Z06! Thanks Chevy for a awesome car!

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  Works for me - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By TOMKAT - March 2 - 8:15 pm

  Bought the car because it was cheap and clean. It had 83000 mi on it when we got it, now has 118000. It has had a few problems but nothing I would not have expected from a car of that milage. Key switch replaced, air cond. compressor, rear wiper motor and upper/lower ball joints.

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  Trail Blazin - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Happy Texan - March 2 - 6:40 pm

  Definitely more bang for the buck. Very functional in design and the most comfortable 3rd row seat ever. This SUV will turn on a dime. Any family should feel safe riding in this vehicle.

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  The Best Car of My Life - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Lumina Lover - March 2 - 4:24 pm

  The most comfortable, reliable car I have ever had. It was totaled in a car accident when somebody ran a red light and slammed into me. Otherwise I would still have my baby...It was big, smooth, powerful (!!!) AND fuel efficient. All pros and no cons!

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  Maybe a little too fancy - 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Desertguy - March 2 - 12:26 pm

  Nice truck, looks like a luxury car inside & rides like one too. Smooth shifting transmission & powerful 5.3 L V8. The only prob I have is at night the headlights will dim for a split sec then come back up(Im taking it in to have them check this) & the volt gauge will drop when sitting at a stop light with the A/C on, annoying but normal according to the owners manual. The truck has an Electric Power Management system that can reduce the power demands of some accessories when needed. The A/C kicks on & the interior lights dim! My F250 never did these things to me, but it never gave me the mileage this Chevy does. A really nice, smooth, & powerful truck (if you dont mind a dipping volt gauge)

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  Great Muscle Car - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By jsabowabo - March 2 - 11:59 am

  The Camaro SS Conv. is a great muscle car. Its got the fabled LS1 and a T56 6-speed and makes a honest 350hp stock. These cars are fast and will easily smoke nearly any car on the road. The LS1 is an absolute gem of a motor, the only better one might be the supercharged 4.6L DOHC motor in the 03-04 cobra. Things you should know though, the interior is shoddy, and there is only room for short people in the back. It does get good mileage for what it is, expect 19-20 avg in mixed driving. It does have a long overhang and it feels like a big car. A Mustang GT feels smaller.

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  Over the top - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By blemley - March 2 - 10:39 am

  This is my third Z06. I must say that I have been very surprised by the level of quality in the whole car. Every feature has been tweaked, improved or replaced. The interior is top notched. Every surface feels better to the touch. Since this one is based on the coupe it will now will allow me to carry larger items in the back which is amazing for a super car. This car is very efficient, comfortable, fast, affordable and athletic. The list of exotic materials in this car is simply amazing. The powerplant is this car is built with incredible strength and ability. I drove other cars in its performace range but the Z06 out shines them overall.