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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  first lumina - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By jes_ducky - October 6 - 2:00 am

  This is my first lumina, and sence no longer made my last (to bad). While I have had to put $800.00 in servicing this vehicle during my first month of owning it, it was due to the previous owner not taking care of the car. The servicing required was normal maintenance..breaks,tires,oil change,ect...surprising though is this car ran perfect even with all the neglect!! It has 85000 miles and I exspect atleast another 100000 with only normal maintance. Good job Chevy!

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  only American built for me. - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By msnyder - October 6 - 2:00 am

  Took delivery 12-99. Most problems have been on the quirky side. Door weather strips, passenger seat handle, drivers door bushings have been replaced. Only major expense at 57,000 miles so far has been the fuel pump. I love extended warranty coverage. Backseat might be a little tight for three growing kids. Over all a good buy. Will keep until we outgrow it. Even then it might hang around as a second car. By that time my 86 S-10 with 170,000 miles might be ready for retirement.

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  2002 Impala - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By gold in illinois - October 6 - 2:00 am

  The car is great to drive, very responsive and with very good acceleration. Have had issues with the brake rotors and transmission that both had to be replaced under warrenty. Rotors at 15000 miles transmission at 37000. Would recommend extended warrenty.

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  Love my LTZ - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Tom - October 6 - 1:10 am

  Purchased this LTZ a month ago and love the smooth ride,interior comfort,feel of the road. Have not pulled my boat yet but it should handle it with ease. Plenty of power. Bose sound system rocks! along with the satellite radio. It takes quite a while to figure out all the buttons and what they control. The driver information system is nice, but unfortunately it shows that the truck doesnt anywhere near the 20 hiway MPG that Chevy and Howie Long brag about!!! Averaging about 15 miles per gallon with 90% hiway driving and feathering the gas pedal.

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  Rough engine idle - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jason - October 5 - 7:53 pm

  I just bought this 2006 Impala LT 3.9L V6 all is great but the engine idles rough and when you are in drive it sound and feels like the motor is under heavy load or that the RPMS are to low but overall I like the car and its fun to drive.

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  solid car, but weak engine - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By ........... - October 5 - 2:00 am

  I bought my cav. less then a year ago and it only had 46,000 miles on it. But now it has close to 73,000 and it still runs great. The only problem Ive had with it was I needed to replace the altinator. at 72,000 miles.

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  Camaro is a solid ride - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Howard1958 - October 5 - 2:00 am

  The Chevy Camaro is a great fun car to drive. I get lots of stares from the young kids in the street. Its a small town so everyone knows when Im driving by, which I enjoy. No major problems to speak of.

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  Exxxxcellent! - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By allcars - October 5 - 2:00 am

  Our 02 LS has been a great car for us. We especially enjoy driving it on our frequent weekend road trips ... it is comfortable, economical and the 3800 V6 offers more than adequate power for the highway. The best upgrade weve made was the addition of XM Satellite Radio ... really helps make long drives more enjoyable. Our sleek black Impala looks sharp, too, with its LS Sport Appearance Package. It still draws admiring comments from friends and acquaintances. The luxury touches -- heated leather seats in front, the self-dimming rearview mirror and the compass, to name a few -- are much appreciated. Our Impala just turned 25,000 miles and has been quite reliable.

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  Not Without Its Flaws... - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Realtor01 - October 5 - 2:00 am

  A superb effort on the part of GM to provide an excellent SUV/truck hybrid. Vehicle was in shop three times due to computer issues but afterwards has been fine since then. A lot of cabin space makes sure you are not on top of each other. Back seat passengers enjoy great legroom and comfortable seats. Used mid-gate fold down to haul a Christmas tree last year. Lots of small storage portions on the back of the pick-up bed surround. Great sunroof lets the outside in. OnStar is a blessing should you run into any crisis no matter how mild. There is something to be said about having someone on standby to help you if you get into an accident. XM Radio is beauitful. Exterior still turns heads.

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  Love Hate relationship - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Billfan - October 5 - 2:00 am

  Love my Z71. I have had two annoying problems that ruin the experience. Something shaking in the front end and it switches from 4 wheel to 2 wheel on its own. Steering part on back order, and reprogramed transmission. Hopefully this is the end of trips to the dealer and I will have the great experience everyone else seems to be having. The truck is fast, more comfortable than my Cadillacs, and rides nearly as well. Can haul a bunch of stuff, and looks good. Suprised at first year depreciation of $10,000(retail to trade in value).