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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  from Monte Carlo to HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By montecarlo - March 14 - 9:00 am

  I recently survived a crash with my 2001 Monte Carlo and a snowplow. Although it was totalled, it gave me the opportunity to buy my HHR 2LT sooner than this summer. What a GREAT CAR! Super roomy for a guy 62". We thought something was wrong with it because people drive really close to us on the highway. They are just getting a better look at its sleek styling! Its sunburst orange metallic II and it glows! The 2.4L has good pickup and keeps up with the big SUVs. Great options that are standard and what a sound system from pioneer! Excellent cargo space for the size and the gas mileage is nearing 26 mpg around town. Cant wait to take a road trip this summer. Its a charm to drive!

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  First suburban wont be the last - 1991 Chevrolet Suburban
  By mountain dweller - March 14 - 2:00 am

  I purchased it to get the 8 passenger seating plus it came with a plow. Engine is ultra powerful! Tows large loads without complaint. Plows snow without even seeming to notice. My wife loves the thing.

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  old Blue - 1990 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Koots - March 14 - 2:00 am

  Bought car in 93. Replaced head gaskets once. Two water pumps.One rebuilt failed Two crankshaft sensors, one non gm. One ps pump, got one from junk yard. Two rear brake calipers, poor design. One cat converter. Has 206000 miles on it. Drives like new. Very dependable. Rusty rockers.

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  Dicks Impala - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By randr - March 14 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car in Wenatchee,I understand it was the second one sold in the area ,so I paid almost full bore ! The car has only 2 problems that Cascade Chev couldnt or wouldnt solve1st the radio gets very POOR reception outside of town ,every time I tried to get it fixed they said the problem couldnt be dupilcated, ( I guess so,nobody takes time to drive it far enough out of town ). And the front break rotors seem to warp every 6000 or so miles ,been turned 4 or 5 times and replaced once ,they blame our driving habits,but my 99 Dakota or previous cars havent had that much of a problem.

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  Problems Problems Problems - 1998 Chevrolet Venture
  By Kevin Dolan - March 14 - 2:00 am

  Ever since we bought our Venture (with approx. 17K miles), things are falling off. I agree with the comment above, lots of plastic parts, then the power windows not working, a blown headgasket, machineing of the heads to finally a blown engine with only 97,000 miles. This has been pouring good money after bad. My Nissans have had over 180,000 miles with my first one over 350,000 miles. Never issues like this, not at only 97,000. What is it with american made cars, you pay them off then they die!!!!! What happened to quality that you can count on??

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  Great Improvement - 2000 Chevrolet Express
  By DaveScans - March 14 - 2:00 am

  This design is a huge improvement over previous Chevrolet Vans. I find the interior to be much quieter, ride to be better, and handling to be much easier. I do have this van in a conversion form, but it outclasses my older GS van by far.

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  buy again - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By BDdavis - March 14 - 2:00 am

  ONE OF THE BEST VECHICLES I HAVE EVER OWNED. WIFE AND KIDS LOVE IT. PLENTY OF ROOM.

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  2003 Z06 - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Charles Boone - March 14 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this car for over 1 year and 10,000 miles. This is my 2nd Corvette and 8th Sports Car. There is very little on the road that can keep up with the Z06.. stock vs. stock. The newer vipers and porsche turbos are it... under $100K. Mine is a daily driver, and is very comfortable even during rush hour. Absolutely no problems with the car... and I have not babied it. This is simply one very awesome, affordable, easy to drive rocket.

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  Equinox Review - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By martm - March 13 - 11:20 pm

  I bought this car in December 2004 and have driven it in the city, on basic roads, and on the interstate. I have also driven this car through a major snow storm and this car blew me away by how it just rammed through the snow and kept a tight grip on the road throughout this storm. Mostly, the car has great shocks and it rides increibly smoothly. Im very pleased and impressed.

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  This car is a nightmare a couple years in - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Steve - March 13 - 10:21 am

  We ll not much to say but this car has problems, at 50,000 miles its all downhill from there. Camseals leaked, oil pan leaked, need new valve cover because the intake manifold has a check valve that goes bad which screws up the PVC system in this car. Transmission seal leaked at 77,000. Now at 97,000 miles and out of warranty for 3 months and need a new valve cover again, oil pan leaking again. Never in my life have I had a car that has had so many leaks and engine problems.