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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  impressed - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By zinkler - February 23 - 9:33 am

  The LS model is one that does not have a lot of zip but that is not what I bought it for. It has sufficient power, good MPGs, and very well equipped for the money. Seats are comfortable, rides very quiet and fit and finish appear to be topnotch. I have been getting 25mpg in combined city/highway driving. Only had it for a few weeks, but it is growing on me more and more. Visibility in the back could be better. So far no buyers remorse.

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  Gaylord, Mi. - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Dave - February 22 - 6:03 pm

  Very comfortable car, love the OnStar and the hands free telephone. Handling seems to be good. Not real impressed with the 3500 V-6. Mileage is not what I was expecting, around 26. First heavy snow we had was 12 inchs, the car never missed a beat driving through it ! All in all I would buy another.

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  First new car - Love it! - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Jason - February 22 - 7:20 am

  This is a great car for the money. I got it with a $1000 rebate so it ended up being cheaper than a similarly equipped Aveo - and theres much more car here. Currently, using top-tier 87 fuel and synthetic oil, between town and highway driving, im getting about 35 miles/gallon. (on a 13 gallon tank I can get over 400 miles and still have over a gallon of fuel left) The audio input jack is a great standard feature and for those who wish to upgrade their audio on their own, theyll be pleased to find the battery in the trunk. I almost bought a used ford focus for around $10K, but This car after rebate, taxes, etc.. ended up being 13K and wasnt somebody elses problem. No regrets.

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  Great car if you like squeaks and rattles - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kamil - February 21 - 8:07 pm

  Purchased the car in 2004 and got a good deal since it was an left over 2003. I was satisfied for the first several months then problems started occuring. I took it in for service several times and these problems still exist. Love the acceleration and the Getrag shifter is nice, but the crafstmanship that went into it stinks. My biggest complaints are with the heating unit since it makes strange noises, starting problems, the passenger seat moves when vehicle is in motion and NOISE. Whenever I go over bumps or train tracks the dashboard squeaks and rattles. It is a little embarrasing sometimes.

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  Perfect SUV - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By nah - February 21 - 11:19 am

  This is a perfect SUV for any family. It holds a lot of stuff, and a lot of people too. I once packed the car to the limit with 9 passengers, a dog, three coolers, and a few picnic baskets, and we were all very comfortable. This car beats any other fullsize SUV, especially Ford and Toyota. I have two friends, one of whom owns the Ford, the other owns the Toyota. Once they both got into my Chevy, they were amazed. They were also very upset that they hadnt gotten the Suburban. They said it had a better build quality, more power (than the Toyota), better handling and more comfort!

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  Aveo - Nice car but not fuel efficient - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Newlands - February 21 - 1:20 am

  The Aveo is a truly delightful car and my only complaint is that that it does not get anywhere near the fuel consumption it is reputed to have.

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  Not bad for one coat of paint - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By REC - February 20 - 9:42 pm

  I have loved my Z71 version of the Tahoe. It is a strong running vehicle with all the options. One of the options was the rear captains chairs, I wouldnt reccomend for the price. Its just as easy with the bench seat. All in all I have been happy with the performance and prefer the ride over the Expedition.

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  Nice Improvement Chevy! - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By jhunt946 - February 20 - 10:23 am

  I really like the improvement in design and build quality. The interior is finely made and all gaps and fits on the body are tight like a car. You dont expect to get great fuel economy on a vehicle like this, but I was pleasantly surprised to be getting 19-21 mpg on the highway. The cylinder deactivation is a great feature and it is especially cool that you can see how it is working on the IP display. With the big fuel tank, this babys got range. Very roomy and comfortable in the back.

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  Love my truck - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By union worker - February 19 - 9:09 pm

  Purchased new, wheel alignment out of specs from factory it pulled left on test drive. Oxygen sensor went out in 1900 miles- took two days for part. Lots of interior room room for four large adults. Thats why I bought it. At 5400lbs, good touring vehicle and can haul/tow

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  Love It - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By edwardo - February 19 - 4:50 pm

  I was looking for an everyday car for my wife that would be fun for me to drive on nights and weekends! We live in Maine so I decided to rule out the Charger because of rear wheel drive, and the Subaru WRX sti because she will not drive a stick. When we test drove the Impala I couldnt have loved it more. We have over 13,000 miles on the car already and neither of us get bored driving it when we get behind the wheel. The only problems we have had is who gets to drive and how much my replacement tires are going to cost once I burn these up. The remote starter also has malfuctioned and is kinda cheesey. All in all I would recomend it to anyone.