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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  Chevy is back on top - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By The Oz - October 17 - 6:24 pm

  I live in Hawaii and it does outstanding on the hills. It is the perfect size. It fits all the needs of a full size truck, yet it is not too big to fit in smaller areas. It has a tight suspension. I take 4 buddies to lunch occasionally and they all fit fine. As a matter of fact, one of them is thinking of trading in his new vehicle for the same type truck. It has plenty of interior luxuries, yet it is still made for some roughness. The perfect vehicle!

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  Best car ever - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By new vett owner - October 17 - 9:01 am

  This car goes above and beyond its reputation. It is fun to drive and has surprisingly good gas mileage when cruising on the highway. Contrary to critics, the interior is very nice in my opinion. The 06 handles much better than the 05.

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  Dont Spend Your Money! - 1995 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Audrey - October 16 - 9:39 pm

  We bought this as a second car the day before we got married. It had a little over 35000 miles on it when we purchased it. We had it for a year and a half then it just crapped out on us. First we had to replace the headgaskets because the radiator fluid was leaking into the oil: $650. Next came the battery and alternator: $250. Followed by 3 tires: $200. Then followed by an igniton switch: $400. We have finally just decided to trade it in and get a new car! We might as well have car payments as much as we spend on repairs! The car still stalls for no reason!

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  Comfortable Pickup - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Montana Farmer - October 16 - 7:43 pm

  The most comfortabvle vehicle I ever drove. We bought it because it was shorter overall and closer to the ground than its competitors. We use it for everything and it has been good. We had injector problems at 108,000, but they were paid by recall/extended warranty. Replaced front ball joints twice in 90,000 miles.

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  Unreliable Car - 1994 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Laura - October 16 - 4:15 pm

  I have had my cars engine, transmission, tires, tierod & axel, water pump, belt all replaced in less than a year of having it & in one week it had to be fixed twice! It is now getting worked on as I am writing this. Do not BUY Berettas. They are NOT RELIABLE! Trust me.

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  2000 Z28 - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Ray Yankura - October 16 - 10:36 am

  The engine is awsome. Handling is great. Matching panels is terrible. I dont use it when it rains and I store it in the winter. Had to purchase new tires after 12,000 miles. I dont hot rod it either. Sound system is great. I have the 500 Watt Monsoon. Paint is pretty good. I have not taken it for service since I purchased it. Not a family car. Only use it on week ends. I have added some body decals which give it a better apperance. Have lots of people tell me how nice the car looks. Runs very well. I guess the engine is what sold me.

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  Good buy. - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By cwayne - October 16 - 10:00 am

  After driving this car for a couple weeks I feel the car is considerably under rated by the editors. Drives great, overall quiet smooth operation, brakes have excellent feel and action. The car makes driving fun again. The entire car has the quality and feel of a higher priced vehicle. A joy to drive.

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  Nice truck but watch for flaws - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By rumboogie - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I have the 4.8L version of the Silverado. This model suits my needs just fine since I dont tow or haul on a regular basis. I currently have about 39K miles as of 10/04. The interior of the truck is nicely put together. The seats are comfortable and there is plenty of leg and head room. The stock Goodyear Wrangler STs are sub-par to say the least. They were bald at 33K miles. I have had no major issues with the truck other than a constant "ticking" noise which started at approximately 20K miles. I was told by GM and my dealership that it is a common characteristic of their new breed of engines and that there is no harm to the engine itself. Im not so sure of that. . .

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  SATISFIED CUSTOMER - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By ADRIAN CLARK - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Picked my Equinox up end of July and drove to upstate New York after hurricane Charlie. After driving 3000 miles at high speeds on the highway and much town driving I have averaged 22 mpg which is the same as my Pontiac Montana van that I had prior to the Equinox. I very much like the vehicle, both style and performance, my only cticism is that the seats could be plusher. I believe Chevy have done a great job with this vehicle but could add a couple of low cost features like the performance information that was available in the van eg average mpg, range etc.

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  Awesome BLack Chevy - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Dwayne Strang - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Awesome looking truck and very powerful. Looks awesome black with the chrome package.