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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  tahoe of the northland - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By DEP - April 18 - 2:00 am

  My Tahoe has done everything I have asked it to do. Only complant is the fuel economy seems to be much worse than I expected. I was hoping for 18 on highway and 15 in town, but I get 15 highway and 11-13 in town.

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  Nice cruz - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Gary kemp - April 17 - 4:14 pm

  Good mpg

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  Sleeper sports car - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By chris - April 17 - 8:56 am

  This is the second front wheel drive car I have owned. Does not take long getting used too. Surprising how much power this vehicle gets. Handles the road good and has a smooth ride. Just took a trip from Houston to Colorado and had no problems and was very comfortable driving. I only got 24mpg on the highway using 87 octane. I get a steady 19mpg with city driving.

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  Replaced our Cadillac - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By jim and randa - April 17 - 7:33 am

  We wanted a good over-the-road vehicle with lots of storage, good ride, good mileage, good audio. (Our 1995 Caddy has 116K miles and wanted a newer car for the mountains and countryside.) Our new LTZ is a great car as our Caddy replacement on all counts! We got 29.4 mpg on our first trip, loaded to the gills. The ride is much improved from our 93 Impala. We looked at Honda and Toyota, as well as Buick, but the Impala was the best price performer out there. The fold down seats will be handy for runs to Lowes. We are happy to see GM make such a fine sedan. Our first Chevy was a 66 and GM seems to be regaining their form with the new Impala. And our import owning friends like it!

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  1993 Suburban - 1993 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Sammmy - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Great truck, has over 140,000 miles. Only problems: rebuild trans at 112,000 and intake manifold gasget at 115,000. Still running strong at 16.6 mpg highway, 14 mpg city.

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  Great fun car - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Black Magic - April 17 - 2:00 am

  After owning a Corvette coupe this was a big change. It is definitily a must have car. There is power everywhere on the tach. Basically a 4 seat Corvette.

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  Dependable and Versatile - 2000 Chevrolet Astro
  By OKIE - April 17 - 2:00 am

  The LT option interior design is great. This is a very dependable vehicle, no repairs necessary in the first 80,000 miles. Great for hauling people and/or cargo. Vastly improved ride from earlier models. Astros are truly "Like a Rock", my 1986 model Astro that I bought new, has 335,000 miles on it with orginal engine and transmission, no rebuilds on either one.

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  Love the blazer - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By RacknHorse - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my blazer for almost two years, done everything in it, from hauling horse trailer to hauling a boat, taking vacations, going around town. Ive had a few problems with the brake lights, and just heard they were recalled again. But the dealership took really good care of me. The gas mileage isnt bad, and its easy to get the kids in and out of.

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  Cavalier is Junk!!! - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By marks - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Bought a 2002 Cavalier coupe. Car stalled at 60mph on second day with 75 mile on car and would not start. Called Dealer from cell phone on side of road. Dealer was rude. Car at Dealer for 1 week, fixed car and now the same problem. Bought car 3 weeks ago and drove it 3 days... Need to see a lawyer and get my money back...

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  Wears poorly with time. - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By mpsrent - April 17 - 2:00 am

  AV is a good idea for those looking for room, ride and the benefits of a truck. Unfortunately, like most GM products, this truck doesnt age well. After two years and 36k, problems are starting to pop up on a regular basis.The truck is babied and serviced regularly, but exhaust baffles just went, steering coupler seized up, ABS sensor died etc. The good deals on new Avalanches mean huge depreciation for used units. Buyer beware, buy one to run to the grouond, not for just 3 or 4 years or epect to take a huge hit. Good for a few years or low mileage users, but I fear how long this truck will hold up.