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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  55,000 miles, perfect truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Up Hill - February 2 - 9:13 am

  Performance, outstanding. Acceleration with a full load or with a heavy trailer is all I could want. Comfort. This is a 3/4 ton truck, so with that understood it is very comfortable. We have driven 24 hours straight more than once with no complaints. Fuel economy. Duramax/Allison gives me 17.5 mpg since new with 50/50 mix of hwy/city mi. 19.9 mpg with light load at 65 mph. Amazing for 3/4 ton 4X4. Fun to drive. Well, OK I guess, for a truck. Build quality, reliability. I have had no failures of any kind in 55k. Exterior design. Who thought up the stupid slant-eyed headlights? Ugly, ugly. There is little to find fault with, and much to like.

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  Great Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By morgan - February 2 - 8:46 am

  This is one of the most comfortable and driver friendly vehicles I have ever owned. Before I got this truck I drove a Land Rover Discovery and my wife had a Lincoln Towncar, but never again. She drives this one and leaves the Lincoln in the yard. We are planning on getting her own in the near future.

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  Happy Sales Mgr in Houston - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By David in Houston - February 2 - 4:50 am

  This is a company car for me. I travel a lot and its about 40% city mileage and 60% highway. I seldom drive over the posted speed limit and have been rewarded with hwy mileage as high as 36 MPG RT from Houston to New Orleans. Most trips 31-33 MPG I have had lots of different company cars and this one is the best ever. Ive yet to find a convenient E85 station so its been all regular gas, so far. Trunk is spacious. Flip and fold seats are great. Aux input for iPod is nice. No problems yet, with just over 30K 1st year. This car is a winner! 1st time I ever had a basic model that gets compliments about how good it looks from strangers. The best Impala ever! A keeper!

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  Under rated car - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By lumina owner - February 2 - 1:58 am

  This is my fourth Lumina, 2 90s, one 95 and now the 98. They have all been great vehicles, very cheap to up keep as long as you maintain the vehicle properly, they are cheap to buy and find that they are more comfortable than most cars on the road, fuel mileage has been great with all of the vehicles, the interior is spacious but kind of bland but thats why the aftermarket world exists. I really dont like Chevrolet but this model name is the only one I will buy from them, its too bad they stopped making them in North America. If your buying the car with the intent to fix it up or modify it, it has a lot of parts available in the aftermarket but you do have to search for them.

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  a great buy and not to big nor to small - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Lisa R. - February 1 - 12:53 pm

  I have had my suv since July 2004 and there have been a few problems whith rattling in the steering they had to change the sterring column and a few recalls but we as new buyers of a new model will be the test drivers I would buy a another one in a few years when they have improved our needs. It is a fun ride and great for mothers that dont want to drive a hge tank and not a a ugly mini van. Fuel economy does however stink.

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  01 SS - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By jrmatps - February 1 - 2:00 am

  My experience with my 01 SS has been, at best, mediocre. The car, black, still turns heads when it is clean. however, every scratch and bug splat shows. The 3800 powertrain provides spirited power. You must choose your stoplight drag races carefully- otherwise you will get burned. Worst insult was at the hands of a CHRYSLER 300-ugh!!!!!!!!

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  very good car - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By smartgiant - February 1 - 2:00 am

  during 100,000miles, it has not major problems. Key is not any leaking from this car, no over heat.

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  tough but not impressive - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By spat - February 1 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my truck 2 1/2 years ago and have been reasonably impressed. Not great accleration or mind blowing power, but a good solid pull. I work it hard everyday and so far it has stood the test of time. Had a few minor problems but overall a good truck

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  Its Not My Daddys Truck - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By MintyMe - February 1 - 2:00 am

  I am really happy with my 2004 Avalanche Z66. Its a fun truck to drive.

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  We enjoy our SUV - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By RachaelAC - February 1 - 2:00 am

  We wanted to find a reasonably priced SUV before we started our family. The Trailblazer gave us practically everything we wanted. The ride is nice, it has nice power and towing capacity. The fold down seats have been great, we have been able to get a new leather furniture set in the SUV, and only had to tie down the gate for the long couch. Only complaint is that there do seem to be some minor problems. Our gas tank had a leak, the rear AC stopped working this summer, and the battery would completely drain in the winter when the truck was not started for a few days. If Chevy could work out these little problems, the truck would be a dream!