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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  Not happy - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Kcameron - April 8 - 4:33 pm

  After taking the car to the dealer and not having the roaming mirrors fixed or the roar at 57 to 62 mph, I traded the car for a Tahoe

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  Good Product for the Money - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Rebekah - April 8 - 10:00 am

  My car is primarily used for vacations, weekend trips, shopping etc, not commuting to work. With the rebate the total cost on my car ended up being between $13-14,000. For this amount of money I think I got a great deal on a reliable vehicle. Ive had no engine or mechanical problems with the car in the five months Ive had it. But, the seats need to be more comfortable. My lower back hurts after a two hour drive. Also, the viser moves the rear-view mirror every time you put it down. Thats a pain. I love the styling of the car outside and the power windows and locks. I think the backseat is nicely spacious for a coupe. Great stereo and air conditioning.

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  Excellent Value!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By rtoumbs - April 8 - 10:00 am

  This is the 3rd Cavalier I have purchased in the last seven years. I have spent almost nothing on maintenance. I totaled the first one in a head on collision and walked away without a scratch. The 2nd one is now being driven by my 15 year old son and I just bought a new 2004 LS Sedan. None of the compacts I looked at came close with regards to engine power, standard features, and price. I will hold on to this Cavalier until they bring back the model name in 2016 or whenever Chevy comes to their senses. This car makes the daily-recalled Ford Focus look like a joke!!!

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  2004 Monte Carlo - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By FullMonteLo - April 8 - 10:00 am

  I find the comfort in my Monte Carlo a littl less than satisfactory, but the drive is smooth and can be quite fun on an open road. The exterior is also very atractive and origional compared to past models.

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  love my monte - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By 03mcss - April 8 - 10:00 am

  fully loaded ss model, I love it.. rides super drives great as well.

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  04 impala ss - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By coolestcatintownyo - April 8 - 10:00 am

  coolest car ever, except for the lack of a v8 and convertibility

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  yep - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By cplsaccoccio - April 8 - 10:00 am

  very strong, comfortable truck, only complaint inside door handles in odd spot

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  2-3 upshift clunk junk - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By bhart7 - April 8 - 10:00 am

  i bought this vehicle brand new and around 2,000 miles it started to have a loud clunk noise in the transmission when it shifted from 2nd to 3rd gear. it has been progresively getting worse and Chevrolet will not do anything about it. They realize there is a problem with these transmissions. ....when it shifts it is so loud you think the universal joints are going to pop out. They have responded telling me that "it is a mometary reversal of the transmission output Chevy says "even if we replace the transmission we cant guarantee that the next one wont have the same problem. Want a Silverado headache????????

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  A lot of brakes - 1998 Chevrolet Astro
  By moms car - April 7 - 11:20 pm

  Not a great track record 4 sets of brakes, idle arm replacements, 4 sets of tires, the water pump and now the catalytic converter plus there is no A/C in the back and the kids roast in the summer. Bad gas mileage and an expensive car to maintain. Door handles have broken and the passenger side no longer locks. No more Astros for this mom.

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  Excellent Family Value - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Kevin - April 7 - 10:58 am

  This has to be the best Family value out there. It has everything we need. Gas mileage is bad but the rest of the truck makes up for that. Most importantly is the safety and comfort. I have the 8.1L engine and the truck feels like a race car. I tow a camper and a boat so the engine is a plus. Would have been a good idea to put a diesel in it.