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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  Drvie before buying and import. - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By llaga - December 17 - 4:10 pm

  Purchased the car for daughter, She loves the car, loves the XM radio and hooks her Ipod up to the AUX connector. I looked at Camry, Accord and Altima, this car felt better to drive and ride.

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  Better than expected - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By billy wheeler - December 17 - 12:50 pm

  I admit that this Tahoe was not my first choice. I wanted an Armada, but the wife did not want to wait while I saved. We compared it to the Expedition, and it was not an option for us, plus the 3 benches sold the wife on it. We got the 5.3l engine and I am very happy with it. I have installed a K&N FIPK on it and a Flowmster 40 series. While the 40 series is a bit resonant for my taste, the overall improvement (there was an obvious one) was WELL worth the resonation. I have towed a couple of compact vehicles on trailers with the Tahoe and there was little impact to the gas mileage. I wish that the drivers seat design had been designed better, but it isnt TOO uncomfortable for long rides.

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  Great Vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Comfortable Ride - December 17 - 12:06 pm

  Roomy but very easy to drive. I love to drive this vehicle. My kids love this vehicle and on a long drive it is the utmost of comfort.

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  Impressive power, LT AWD V8 6.0L (SS) - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Marques - December 17 - 4:52 am

  I own a 2002 Z28 Camaro & the Trailblazer SS comes very close to feeling like a muscle car wrapped in an SUV. I bought the SS because I wanted something that was fast but could handle in the snow & was more of a day to day vehicle (shopping etc.), this SUV fits the bill. It handles like a sports sedan and sticks to curves like glue, not at all what I expected for a truck after driving a Camaro. The suspension is firm but not stiff & the ride is smooth. Acceleration is top notch for something weighing 6,000lbs. I clocked 0-60 at 5.9 secs. The LS2 at 395HP/400LB is a great match. It also brakes very well. The interior is nice with leather & the driver info center is helpful. Great job Chevy.

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  Jese - 2005 Chevrolet Venture
  By Jese DiMonda - December 17 - 1:18 am

  I have had safety issues with the side sliding doors. This problem exists with both the automatic and manual doors. I do not recommend anyone with small children buy this vehicle since Chevy has refused to fix this problem, even after being notified.

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  c-5 to c-6 - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Ray Goldenberg - December 17 - 12:24 am

  Ijust traded in my 2002 Red Corvette coup. Car had 69,000 miles it was my daily driver, as Im in, in home sales. As I found the sale starts when you pull up to the house. It was my first Corvette, it was loaded. My major complaint was the electronics, but what a looker. You knew you were in a Corvette, it was quick, I traded for a 2006 Red Corvette, no goodies on this car, a stripper, I love this car! but compaired to my C-5 it is a much more refined car, I liked the look of the c- 5 I think it was a monster, the C-6 is a kinder more gentle car. Faster but not the same feel of speed. I think it will be a more reliable car time will tell.

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  GM is making a come back - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Doug - December 16 - 11:33 pm

  My wife and I have traditionally purchased foreign cars, but she saw a picture of the HHR and was interested. We test drove it and were very impressed. Ride and handling are excellent, surprisingly quiet vehicle, suprisingly comfortable seats. Interior is well laid out with lots of storage space. Retro appearance is kind of fun, but it was the value that sold us. We bought the base model and didnt add any options because it didnt need any in our opinion, the base model is very well equipped. We just took it on our first road trip, it was a pleasure to drive. If GM can continue to put out vehicles like this they may be on the way back.

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  Over 200K and still going!!! - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By SandBoa - December 16 - 6:30 pm

  This car has been AWESOME to me. I bought this when I was a freshman in college in 1999. I put a TON of miles on it and it has literally never been in the shop other than for routine work like oil changes and brakes. This car still remains in my family to this day. It now has well over 200,000 miles on it and it still has never seen the inside of a shop!! I would recommend this car to anyone. The only reason why I bought a new truck was because it was a tight fit for me considering Im 63", but I knew that when I was buying the car. If I was a smaller guy, I would probably still be driving this car to this date.

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  Great midsize SUV - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Dmitriy - December 16 - 6:08 pm

  This is a great midsize SUV! Its got a look! Its got a power! I enjoy a nice smooth and quite ride. The handling is great as well as comfort. Engine is pretty quite even while passing many sports sedans! 4WD takes care of any road and weather conditions. Considering its price its probably the best bet in the midsize SUV class!

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  This is a tow beast! - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  By Jim - December 16 - 2:16 pm

  Purchased this vehicle specifically to tow our ToyHauler (07 Weekend Warrior 32 foot long travel trailer). Fully loaded it weighs about 11,000 lbs. We travel in the west, so mountain driving is the norm. I am pleased with the towing ability and ride comfort this vehicle affords. While deciding which vehicle to buy, I researched other brands and kept coming back to this one over and over again. It basically sold itself.