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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  2006 Chevy Impala LS - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Kevin - July 8 - 9:20 pm

  Driving My Impala is a real treat. I bought is for myself and cant keep my wife out of it now. Her car is a 2004 Venture Van. The style( a real head turner!) is great. My kids all want one and they are picky. The indash computer is awesome, like the instant mpg feature and oil life. It rides and drives like a real champ. Have driven a Limited edition Camry and wouldnt trade it for my Impala LS!

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  I love this car! - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Rick - July 8 - 2:26 am

  I bought my 2005 Cobalt ls in August as a "used car" with 1600 miles on it. It was a lease vehicle and i think I got a steal on it. brand new car (I consider 1600 miles just broken in for me), 3 year warranty, great fuel economy (hour and 20 minute drive to work every morning), and i got it all for 12,800! power windows, locks, cruise, tilt, and alloy wheels! never thought id get a deal like this. and the car has been very reliable, no problems with it, Ive put 5000 miles on since I got it. Its also EXTREMELY fun to drive!

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  Id buy another but I doubt Ill have to - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By joemtf - July 8 - 12:26 am

  Ive had Chevy trucks in the past and when I was looking for I new one, I decided to expand my search. I test drove a Ford F250. I liked the power and looks but I was cramped in the seat and it felt like I was driving a covered wagon. An insurance adjuster said to stay away from the Dodge. They wont hold up as well in an accident as the Ford and Chevy. So I bought a new 2004 Chevy Duramax 2500HD, LB 4x4 and I love it! I have 110,000 miles and a steady 16.9 mpg here in Colorado. We haul two ATVs on a bulldog carrier in the bed and pull a 26 ft. travel trailer through the mountains with no problem. The only mods are an air intake system and air bags in the back. Zero problems!

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  silverado 4.3L 4x4 - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jasonsilverado - July 7 - 5:50 pm

  this thing will offroad with the best of em. It is beyond quiet at highway speed and more comfortable than I would think a truck could ever be. I dont even have bucket, leather, heated or electric seats. It rides smooth and easy to drive x-country. Its a manual and still easy in city driving or open road. The payload on this thing is unbelievable, my wife had to go down to north carolina while I was in the middle east and picked up alot of my personel gear, completely filling up the back end. She told me she didnt even feel like there was anything in the back end, the truck gets worked and has never even had a hiccup. I could not ask for a more dependable truck.

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  Great SUV - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Kingjeff - July 7 - 8:00 am

  Overall I loved this vehicle. The third row of seating even worked for adults for short trips. Both the 2nd and 3rd row seating folded flat enough to use the entire rear cargo area. Great set up for a family with more than 2 kids. The 4.2L had plenty of power and reliablility. My daughter ran this truck into a tree and crushed the front end up to the dash, totaling it. The air bag did not deploy however the passenger compartment maintained its integrity. She was extracated through the back seat door but sustained only bruising from the seat belt.

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  Texas Chevrolet - 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jerry Robertson - July 7 - 6:05 am

  Many safety features. Daylight vs dark for the previous model. Soft touch materials. More than adequate power. Very roomy and comfortable with great A/C and high level of technology compared to other cars in the same price range.

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  Good car for the money - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By cdestep - July 6 - 6:00 am

  I bought this car in April 2008. I traded in a 2007 Dodge Caliber SXT that was fully loaded with every option under the sun for a plain jane full sized car to accomidate our family of five. The impala is quite comfortable and has a huge trunk. Exterior styling is fairly attractive and the interior is straight forward and easy to operate. I received good factory incentives which is why I purchased the car in the first place. Most of my driving is short in town driving so gas mileage is about 19-24 MPG. The automatic lights and stereo volume are nice features. There are several features I really miss about my old car, but all in all not a bad car for 18K.

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  A Sporty Comfortable Package! - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By vmz - July 5 - 10:00 am

  After driving about twenty vehicles at the GM AutoShow In-Motion, I found this car to be an exceptional value. Taking its size in consideration there are no other foriegn or domestic coupes that stack up to it. The Monte is truly American and a through back to days gone by in ways similar to the PT Cruiser. It gives you a Caddy feel with a Chevy price tag. Under normal and cruising driving conditions, the feel is smooth and solid. The interior though tastefully sparse is spacious and comfortable. If size, solid feel, distinct styling, and good value for the money is what you want, then give the Monte a test drive. I think it will win you over!

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  Great Car and Great Price!!! - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By manth - July 5 - 10:00 am

  The 2003 Cavalier 4-door Sedna is a great running car. It handles really well and the engine is quiet. It is a great car and affordable too. The dealership paid for my insurance down payment and filled the car up with gas for me. I have a great 75,000 mile warranty.

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  We love our 03 Tahoe - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Dingbats - July 5 - 10:00 am

  So far it has changed my mind about the poor reliability of GM products. The ride is exceptional. The 3:42 rear end gives great fuel economy for a vehicle of its size - so far we have gotten 18 - 21 mpg. Exterior fit and finish excellent. Super comfortable seats. Handles better than most cars. Great for the dirt roads leading to our lake house.