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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  my review - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By rotten - July 4 - 2:00 am

  its great, i really like it a lot, it is a really great car and is nice to drive. The body of it is just great, my engine is to the max, and i wouldnt trade it for anything.

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  3 Month Driver - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By mantis69 - July 3 - 10:00 am

  I have a 4 year lease, at 235 a month with 20k/yr seems pretty reasonable. My biggest aggravation about this car is the poor gas mileage. I do 90% city driving and consider myself a good driver. But dismayed at the fact that I only get 300km/tank, which is roughly 32 dollars (Canadian) a week. I had an 89-ford tempo that got that (or better), the dealer says its the break in period. It seems very similar to another small car I had and that one got 450km/tank. I am not a mechanic but I think something’s odd. I brought it back to the dealership and they said theres nothing wrong with it? Other than poor gas mileage I find it ok to drive.

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  the Maxx - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Vi - July 3 - 10:00 am

  I love it, I love it, I love it

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  Ext. cab Auto Z 85 3.5 LS - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Levins - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Overall Im very pleased with my new Colorado, its an improvement over my old S-10 . First of all there is more power! You can accelerate up hill with ease. It drives strong with a load as well. I like the interior for the most part, wish some of the sharp edge plastic wasnt there! I also like the higher safety ratings. Few other minor problems: Seat belt lock too easily. I can roll into a yield sign and try to lean over to see the road and I get held back. Maybe the dealer can fix that. I like the look in general especially the front end.

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  Why? Because The Way It Makes You Feel! - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By TheDvineOne - July 3 - 10:00 am

  I had never owned a Corvette, so was amazed at the performance of it! It corners like a dream, especially after driving an SUV!! Other Corvette owners are a tad nutty, they wave when they see you, and carry on! This is a tighter group of owners than any other car. This is a sports car ride...not a luxury touring ride, but my best friend who just bought the Lexus convertible was jealous when he drove the Corvette!

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  disappointing - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By johnmn - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Wish I had this 5.3L in my 95. Too many typical problems: steering knock at low speed turning, steering wheel shake at highway speed, touchy ABS, poor ride on bumps (CD will skip on interstate). My 95 with the 350 and five speed was superior in every way except acceleration. Bought used; GMC dealer refused to acknowledge the problems. (Also had 88 and 92.)

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  Great car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By My Chevy - July 3 - 10:00 am

  It can seat 6 comfortably.It handles well.It,s easy to drive.$3,000 incentive makes the price affordable. Large trunk.Seats fold down therefore trunk space is enormous.

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  A Nice Improvement - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Glenn Watkins - July 3 - 10:00 am

  The truck is solid, quiet, and has a smooth ride. Performance is very good with the 5.3L engine, even for a heavy truck. Towing my 5,500# trailer is a breeze. Fuel economy is somewhat lacking, even with a light foot. Build quality appears to be very good, even better than my 98 Tahoe.

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  Love that Chevy Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By kmw910 - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Love Chevs. Have driven one since 1986. This is my 3rd. Very dependable. This model has all the features I was looking for in an SUV. Small, but not too small, sporty design and low price. With Chevy quality, I think I have a winner.

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  My 2500HD Duramax - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Walt - July 3 - 7:30 am

  This is the first pickup Ive had in a while and I love it. Great performance. I was a little disappointed in the beginning with my fuel economy but now that I have about 8000 miles on it I am getting about 20- 21 mpg on the highway and about 14-15 mpg in town. When towing I dont even notice my travel trailer behind me anymore. The Allison transmission is great too. My only regret is that I didnt hold out for a leather interior because I expect to keep this truck for a long time.