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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  Chevy Traverse is Dependable 7 Safe - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By ChevyLuva - December 6 - 11:36 am

  I have owned several new cars, many makes and models and so far the Chevy Traverse is my absolute favorite. It is dependable, safe, modern and roomy. It also looks classy and expensive while still affordable and realistic to own. It perfectly suits the single driver and accommodates the soccer mom transporting kids and groceries! I absolutely adore my vehicle and cant wait to drive it in the snow.

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  Great truck - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By mxboy614 - December 6 - 3:40 am

  I have driven this truck everywhere. I race motocross for a living so it has gone all across the country and never let me down. I also tow a 22ft enclosed trailer with me for races and the truck never lets me down. Always has enough power to tow up hills.

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  Nice Ride - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
  By Tim - December 4 - 9:43 pm

  The only thing I would change is the accent color of the interior, would be darker(dirt shows too easily on lighter surfaces). Nice comfortable ride Im getting around 28 mpg city and 38 mpg hwy. Much better than the cobalt I had before witch avged 20 city and 29 hwy. Nice audio system sound is clear & crisp. The trunk is a surprise I thought because the batteries were in back that the trunk would be smaller, not so I was able to fit a card table 2 folding dog crates and suitcases and still had room! you could put a compact spare in this car as well but is not an option at purchase because they want to save on weight. All in all a very nice product from GM.

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  2002 Red Z06 bought new in 2/02 - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Z06 torch - December 4 - 8:59 pm

  Ive thoroughly enjoyed my z06. Fun to drive, comfortable, fast & a great handling car with all the comforts. My favorite "passenger scare" is the 270 degree on ramps here in SoCal! Build quality on exterior is excellent. (AND if you care!: Gas mileage is exceptional on the fwy ...between 27 & 30 depending upon speed). I have had the car in for work...mainly interior problems. Im also on my 4th battery. I also changed the shifter the 2nd month I owned the car. Overall Id say its had less problems than MOST vehicles.

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  love my monte - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By brenda 2 - December 4 - 10:00 am

  This is the most comfortable, luxury,sport vehicle around. I love driving it and I also look great in it.. This vehicle will turn alot of heads when its shiny finish has just been washed.

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  The two door sports car - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By TxSkier - December 4 - 10:00 am

  This is my 6th Monte Carlo since 1982. The second FWD after our 98. I like the big two door sports coupe with the styling back from the 70s and 80s. The car gets great gas mileage (26MPG avg)...has lots of room. Dash layout is good. The aluminum wheels in the first option package really sport out the car. The car rides great, some road noise on certain pavement types, most likely due to the Goodyears, will try Michelins when replacement time comes like I had on the 98 Monte. Some people either like the styling or dont. I looked at and compared to the Imapala, too much of a grand-pa car.

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  El corvette - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By yer mom - December 4 - 10:00 am

  this car is sweet. I worship corvettes and this one tops the list!

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  Robbie - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Allie - December 4 - 10:00 am

  I originally bought a 2wd with the V6 and then traded it in for a 4x4 4dr ext cab 5.3 It has an endless supply of power and feels more like a hotrod than a truck. It is the quietest of the the big three that I tested. I bought from Rob Milliken at Courtesy Chevrolet in Poulsbo, Washington. If your looking for star treatment and rock bottom prices, this is where you need to go.

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  I love my Chevy - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Nick K. - December 3 - 8:06 pm

  i bought my Chevy in May 05 with 125,600 miles on it. It now has 140,000 on it. Let me just start by saying that this is an awesome truck, and I get compliments on it all the time. It might not sound like it after you read this, but it is very reliable. One thing I would say needs to be taken care of is the fuel sending unit. It was done at 110,000 and then I had to do it again at 135,000... not cool. The part alone is $400. One day #1 on my A/C fan stopped working, next day, #2 stopped. so its Off, or 3, which is too much, such a pain. Power steering pump went the same day as fuel pump #2, at 135K.

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  coolest car ever - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By cavi lover - December 3 - 4:14 pm

  Traded 03 cavi. For a another 03 cavi cause I wanted the sport pkg and manual tran. Car handles great. Fun driving it around with Windows down moonroof open and radio cranked up. I can go 3 to 4 weeks on a single tank of gas. I took it on a 14 hr road trip to Texas this past summer and that was fun. Has been reliable since only a few minor fixer uppers. Cluster wouldnt work when it got over 90 degrees and the car was sitting out in sun. Easy fix I just replaced it. And one of my wires on abs broke off front tire. Thats it.