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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  Getting to know it still.... - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Curt - November 13 - 5:11 pm

  Im + 6 and fit comfortable in the front. It reminded me of a diesel Fiat Ide driven in Italy. Main purchase purpose is a commuter car. Seating provides good visability for everyone inside. So far its a fun nimble, very easily parkable little car. It has the Europeon reverse shift pattern.

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  Fine Truck - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Dan L - November 13 - 2:53 am

  If youre tall and are tired of not fitting into anything, the Trailblazer is a godsend. At 65", I fit perfectly. My knees don’t hit the dash or the steering wheel. Drives very smooth and quietly, handles better than the original review states. Plus its more attractive than the competitors.

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  Fun Car - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By bbp - November 13 - 1:36 am

  This car is absolutely worth every penny. The steering is much better than the 2005 model, and the power is exhilerating. The interior does seem a bit cheap but it is still comfortable. Surprisingly the highway mileage is actually pretty good, assuming that you do not hot dog around.

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  Excellent - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By RRRR - November 12 - 11:56 pm

  In general great car

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  My Blazer - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Nicole - November 12 - 1:28 pm

  I bought this car expecting to get the best and that is exactly what i have gotten. The only thing I have replaced is the altenator which happens in most vehicles in their lifetime. My Blazer is gettting high in mileage but I wouldnt dream of trading it in. This is one very happy customer!!

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  I Love the Maxx - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Dave - November 12 - 1:16 pm

  Great car: just had a safe comfortable trip to Chicago and back to NYC through bad weather (high wind, snow and rain) both ways. Car was stable, super-fast and comfortable. Many great features come standard on this car, tons of interior space. Youll be surprised by its quality. Been getting a lot of compliments on the styling too. And probably best of all, my wife is really comfortable driving the Maxx.

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  My Chevy Van - 2000 Chevrolet Astro
  By Surfer - November 12 - 10:10 am

  Too many little things have fallen apart. Ive got 50K miles on the car and have had to repair the following: - New brakes (Ive had three new rotors and pads on the front) - Gas Gauge doesnt work - vacum problems cause the A/C fan not to work - Sliding door doesnt work right - Tons of little pieces have fallen off

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  Aveo? WHY NOT!! - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Hs Ride - November 12 - 4:45 am

  I bought this car for my mom. She had a Neon before this car. This car was $1,000s cheaper and is a lot nicer. Good car for teenagers or the elderly. This car has a smooth and quiet ride.

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  Exceeds Expectations - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By czcraig - November 12 - 1:36 am

  I have about 1500 miles on my Summit White LTZ AWD V6 and could not be happier. Fit and finish inside and out are first rate. Seats are very comfortable, ride is smooth and quiet. Transmission shifts smoothly, AWD works great and engine has plenty of power if you put your foot into it. My only performance complaint is I would prefer a faster throttle response. I am getting about 21 MPG in my part city part highway commute. Performance and mileage have both improved quite a bit since new. This is the first time since 1991 that I have bought an American car. I tested several other vehicles in this class and kept going back to the Equinox.

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  2005 corvette - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By victor hardy - November 11 - 11:54 pm

  I have owned other Corvettes and this is the best all around one. It has lots of power and rides great for a sports car very fun to drive around town or on the hwy.