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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  new car purchase - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By percy456 - November 15 - 9:17 pm

  Replacing 04 Maxx LT w. 32K miles on a whim. Also drive Buick Lucerne. LTZ has almost all features except memory seats. On 2-25 mile test drives at 64MPH,LTZ averaged 41 per DIC on I80. LTZ is quieter,seems more solid than 04.Think we are going to enjoy it!

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  HHR LS Rental - 2010 Chevrolet HHR
  By HHR LS Rental - November 15 - 11:10 am

  I had a rental HHR LS for one month. It had 600 miles on it with a 26.3 mpg. I turned it in with 1650 miles with a 27.7 mpg. It was peppy,fun and easy to drive. I was never fond of small vehicles but the HHR changed my views. I had plenty of leg room, seats were comfortable. My wife loved driving it.Perfect for groceries, parking at the mall. I plan on buying one next year.

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  "Z06"...whats left to say - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Nomad - November 14 - 10:35 pm

  As with most American boys...I have always dreamed of a Corvette. I have owned several BMWs, Camaros, a Mustang, and a Trans-Am/Formula Firebird (original 6.6) My RED 2006 Z06 is by far my favorite. I have had people get out of their car in a bank drive through to look at it. I had several grown men ask to get a picture of them standing next to it...and its an AMERICAN car...WOW! I get more people looking at it on a daily basis than any car I have owned...Including the BMWs. I love the fact I can drive it everyday...with the only exception being in the snow.

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  Love My Impala !!!!!! - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By Kenny Ray - November 14 - 10:14 pm

  I love this car, I owned a 2001 and when it was time to replace it, I gave the 2009 model a chance. Everyday I cant wait to get a chance to drive it. It commands attention everywhere I go with it. I love everything about this car, color, handling and the sound system (bose) Ive always owned GM cars and mainly chevrolets and this is the best by far.

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  little catty - 1992 Chevrolet Lumina
  By robert thoms - November 14 - 8:06 pm

  car drives excellent, gives on trouble.every body in the family drives it when they need a ride.i drive it mostly to work about 45 miles a day. my daughter drove it to jackson,ms about a year,the rubber part on the transmission lines broke, had to replace them,did that myself a/c line busted, never replaced it, to get the a/c going again would cost more than the car was worth air vent works real good

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  Great car to drive - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By RICHARD - November 14 - 7:56 pm

  Nice quiet ride. Bought the LT with sunroof, and auto transmission. Love the auto start, and would not buy without sunroof. The light in from sunroof makes it appear larger inside. Took on trip to Norfolk, VA and at legs of trip got 33 mpg in gas mileage. Enough room for me being 511". If you buy one, get the one with sunroof. The 2.2l has enough power for whatever you want and the automatic gets you the auto start and door locks.

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  Love my Van! - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By MaryQ - November 14 - 7:26 pm

  I bought my uplander new off the lot. Researched this van before I bought it. I think I knew more than the sales person! I have had no major repairs done. Any repairs were under warranty and have since purchased an extended warranty to last a few more years. I would recommend this van to anyone. My 5 grandkids love to ride with me. The DVD player is great. They watch movies and also play video games. I have driven it from FL to OH three times and felt safe and comfortable each time. Handles well in rain. Plenty of storage space. ONLY drawback is the leg room up front for my husband. But I am the primary driver so not a problem. Need a nice van? Get this one.

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  No problems - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Charles - November 14 - 6:10 pm

  Purchased vehicle 2 years old with about 32000 miles. I have had zero problems with the truck. It has fifth wheel for pulling gooseneck trailers. Long bed has plenty of room for large tool box and extra gear. Normally carry 3000-4000lb payloads when needed, it does this effortlessly.

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  My SS is awesome! - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Mikeyfett - November 14 - 10:00 am

  If you buy this car, you get a lot for the money. Leather, sunroof, super sound-system,OnStar, heated seats, information center etc... You get a lot for your money compared to smaller 2dr cars like the Mustang or Sebring. I traded in a 96 T-Bird w/V8-rwd and I feel the Monte has more power. My favorite is that its big and comfortable. Im a big and tall guy and I feel very comfotable in it. Very safe too, rated highest in front collision safety.

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  The Best Car Ever - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By No Doubt - November 14 - 10:00 am

  This is my Dream car. So fun to drive. This car will be back