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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  TRAILBLAZER EXT - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By MIKE POWER - August 30 - 6:40 am

  The Chevy Trailblazer EXT is the best SUV we have ever purchased. Plenty of pick up and go, plenty of room, and the third row seating is very comfortable. Gas mileage is a bit worse than the regular sized Trailblazer. With rear heat and a/c everyone is comfortable all the time. We also have XM satellite radio and OnStar that are wonderful additions. I will never buy any other SUVs than Chevys again!!!

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  My Lumina - 1993 Chevrolet Lumina
  By susiebell - August 30 - 2:00 am

  I wish Chevy still made Luminas because I would buy another if possible! This has been a great vehicle and we intend to keep it until it just wont go no more but that could be when it has 400,000 miles on it! I would advise anyone if they can get a 1993/1994 Lumina, with low miles, to buy it and keep it. We have the original engine in it but did have our trans rebuilt this year. Ours has over 285,000 miles on it and we bought it 1 year old with 21,000 miles on it. The only repairs we have done to it is normal repairs such as water pumps, fuel pump, batteries, brakes & mufflers. Good cold weather start ups too. Change your oil!!

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  Love my Blazer - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By MoBeau - August 30 - 2:00 am

  I bought this SUV because I needed something to tow our boat. I used to say that I never wanted an SUV. I have been pleasantly surprised and I now love this vehicle. It gives such a great ride. It makes my life easier with the convenience and flexibilty of the fold down seats with the 4 doors. I like riding higher on the road - it makes me feel like I am more in control

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  My Burb - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By jerryditty - August 30 - 2:00 am

  It is the best towing truck I have ever had.

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  Daily sports driver - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By FN Lawyer - August 30 - 2:00 am

  After owning 2 Porsche Carreras in a row, it was with great reluctance that i viewed the Z06 as an alternative. Yet, the press kept heralding its performance prowess, and new found reliability. Went to a dealer for a test drive, my mistake. How could it actually better a Carrera? Well, after 2 years, it simply does. It still hangs tight, no chassis noises, brakes better, accelerates and outcorners better, and i still cant believe the gas mileage. No, it doesnt enjoy same interior design and quality, what a shame, wouldnt mind paying an extra 2k for them. Yet, its roomy and more comfortable than it seems. I dont think ill be going back to Porsche.

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  Suburban - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Dave Weinstein - August 30 - 2:00 am

  Really not bad fuel mileage for a large 4WD Sport Utility (~18 MPG Highway)

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  Most fun for less than $50k you can buy! - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Tom_Steele - August 30 - 2:00 am

  I cant imagine a more fun to drive car than this one - at least not for under $75,000 or so. Build quality could be better, but then it would probably cost a lot more. As it is, the car is still a solid car with only a few reliability problems. You are basically buying a street legal race car, that still gets surprisingly decent mileage (I get about 18 with MIXED driving, but only about 14 city.) The car LOOKS GREAT, ACCELERATES BETTER and HANDLES even better. It needs a better stereo and better build quality and it is perfect. One other note, the stock tires are horrible in the rain. Put some Michelin Pilot Sports on and the problem is fixed!

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  This car rocks !!! - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Americas Car - August 30 - 2:00 am

  Love the flashy looks, its so hot and the chicks just dig it !!! I feel like a young man all over again & I am 64. Not too many cars on the road faster, other than M3s & 911s I beat everyone. I get girls half my age in this sports car, I love it !

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  Vette Review - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By BlueAngel2004 - August 30 - 2:00 am

  This car is lots of fun to drive and gets many looks!

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  No good - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By JS - August 30 - 1:26 am

  What started out to be a nice, new vehicle with AWD has turned into a big pain. My wife has had to take her Equinox to the dealer on many occasions for stupid problems. Around 18,000 miles the struts had to be replaced. The air conditioner wouldnt work properly and had to be fixed on several occasions. More recently, it died with some battery/electrical issues, and to top it off, now at 30,000, the "backend" needs to be replaced after some whining noise from the drive train. I cant wait to unload this junk. My wife is now looking at the Subaru Forester