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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  Z06 whats not to like - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By steve oneal - July 7 - 8:29 pm

  I am 63 years old and have driven performance cars most of my life. I was and still am a Ford guy, however! owning this car is not like my mustangs faster than your camaro. This is a whole different arena. This thing is a beast,pure and simple its made to look good and back it up. I have had compliments from import, mopar, and ford guys on how nice this car is. It does sit low so for an old fat man it is a little difficult but not bad. This car gets 27 mpg on the highway and around 18 in town if I keep my foot out of it. It will stop on a dime and give you 9 cents change. When you hit the warp pedal all I can say is man what a ride. I have no regrets owning this car. If you are thinking about getting one do it you wont be sorry.

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  Mixed Bag - 1998 Chevrolet Venture
  By theseahawk - July 7 - 5:33 pm

  Good gas mileage, lots of acceleration and power, reliable drive, repair prone, convenient with dual sliding doors but pretty much an average van in the field of choices. I would not buy another one -- I would buy a different make.

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  Great Truck - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Great Truck - July 7 - 2:40 pm

  I have 5,300 miles on my truck and so far its been great. I am getting 18 mpg mixed driving and 18 mpg on the interstate at 70 mph. The fit and finish is excellent, The interior has a luxury car like ride that is both smooth and quiet and the bose sound system is awesome. I think they could improve mileage if they keep the motor in 4v mode which I read GM is working on this. The 5.3 has plenty of power and a nice exhaust note under heavy throttle. In cold weather, remote start not only turns your heat on it turns your heated seat on, nice touch. GM has done a nice job on this truck.

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  2002 Tahoe - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Tom Whitehead - July 7 - 1:33 pm

  I have been very pleased with this vehicle. Very minor warranty work. I was thinking about buying a new vehicle, but now feel I will be unable to improve over what I have.

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  We have loved it! - 1997 Chevrolet Astro
  By Valley Dweller - July 7 - 12:41 pm

  This van has held up good, had some tranny trouble, but I knew about that model tranny before we bought it. Have had it since new, and replaced a few things here and there. Rides high, tows great, pull 5,000 lbs easily in the mountains where we live. Drives good in the corn and hay fields too. 220,000 miles and engine runs great, no oil use and no noises.

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  GM almost hit a home run on this one. - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Rick -NC - July 7 - 6:46 am

  Ive owned 2 other Tahoes, and by far, this is the best of the others. Great exterior design, NICE improvement on interior quality, Nice Bose system, and XM radio. The exterior finish is the best by far, of my other GM products. Ford, look out! This is Quality One!

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  Heartbeat of America - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By NickS - July 7 - 5:57 am

  I absolutely love my Tahoe 4x4. I havent had any problems with it so far. My friends have an ML320 and it doesnt compare at all. I wouldnt trade it for any foreign-built vehicle, even though Toyota and Honda make great products. I am 63" 275 lbs. and my Tahoe has more than enough room for me to stretch out. I wish the back seats had a little more room for the kids car seats though. I ride motocross and take it off-road and blast the AC in 100 degree heat - not a problem. This thing is a tank, we affectionately call it "Old Faithful"

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  I love my Chevy - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By cedric - July 6 - 9:56 pm

  I am very impressed with this new 2006 Impala. The ride is great and very quiet compared to the previous generation. I am happy with fuel economy also. This car beats the gas mileage of my previous car, a 2004 Kia optima V-6

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  Nice Truck - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Patrick Sowers - July 6 - 5:23 am

  This is a really good truck. I got a good deal on a 2009 with the GM loyalty program and I am very happy with this truck. It is a work truck extended cab, but it has carpet and cruise control in it. The seats are very nice for a WT. The radio is the CD MP3 version, plus the truck has tilt steering. For the price I paid for a 3/4 ton and what other companies are asking for one, what a deal.

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  First Impressions - 2005 Chevrolet SSR
  By RedDawg - July 6 - 4:49 am

  I love this truck, car, whatever. Thats the key for me its the sports car I always wanted, the truck I seem to need periodically, and a convertable to boot. It probably doesnt do any of these things as well as a respective dedicated vehicle, but, it does all-3, and it does it well! It has class, style, performance and ride, but most of all its a blast to drive. I will use it daily. Fit and finish are better than most, and the Blue Blur is a beautiful, green under flourescent lights. The chrome wheels look killer with little Chevy emblems.