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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  Fun to drive!! - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By ponymare - February 2 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE to drive this car... and I hate to drive! I dont understand why all these car magazines, etc. give it such poor reviews. MUCH more comfortable than any Honda Accord Ive ever ridden in... or the new Toyota 2003 Camry I was a passenger in. I love the way it handles...its small enough to maneuver but big enough for a family of five. My teenager also loves the sound system! Says its better than alot of his friends customized systems.

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  Dont buy this car. - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By tezdel81 - February 1 - 2:00 am

  My mother always said, "you get what you pay for." That is exactly right with this car. The best thing it has going for it is gas mileage. Otherwise, its built to last only a few years. No trade in value, you will end up owing way more than its worth in the long run. Stay away is my opinion.

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  Best bang for your buck - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By dkushnir - February 1 - 2:00 am

  I love this car! If you are looking for high performance at a relatively inexpensive cost, this is (or was) your best option. 305hp (before modification), excellent brakes, very good fuel economy for the size of the engine, and above all...its a fun car to drive. Im very sad that it is gone because the Mustang GT (not the $35k-$40k Cobra models) is now the only V8, RWD car left in the $25k-$30k price range, it it doesnt even come close to the performance of the Z28 or Trans Am.

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  Good Car - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By alfreckly - February 1 - 2:00 am

  Very good and reliable car.

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  Love my SUV - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Cindi B. - February 1 - 2:00 am

  Great drive glad Chevy brought the 327 back great speed not afraid to move into traffic excellant visbility.

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  review - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By lilbluebrown924 - January 31 - 10:00 am

  very execellent car, it is my first and it is a very good car for a teenagers

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  My Own Personal DeathTrap - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kitten - January 31 - 10:00 am

  This wasnt my idea to get this car. My parents bought it for me and i wish they hadnt. Ive been to the dealership 3 times since ive had it and i only have 7,000 miles on it. Both back tail lights went out. MY Trac Light go off everytime i hit the slightest bump. Oh and stopping in the snow or rain is a joke. It feels like it wont stop and thats just scary.

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  Love it, need more room for gas - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mmmmm - January 31 - 10:00 am

  Im very pleased with this one. Its fast, it will tow my 22 foot boat, and it looks gooood. Its comfortable, but could use a little bit more room in the back seat. Child seat is very hard to install in the middle because the seat is shorter, to inclined and the split between seats makes it lack support. No problem on passenger side though.

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  Movin on up - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By California Commuter - January 31 - 10:00 am

  Purchased the TB two weeks ago to replace a 2000 Olds Silhouette, have 1,100 miles on it so far. This truck is AWESOME. It rides and handles like a dream. The wind noise is less than the van. The freeway handling is fantastic. Had it offroad once so far and it handled the steepest roads with little problem. Ive been getting 20 MPG @ 70 MPH on my 42 mile commute to and from work.

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  I love my trailblazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By jackxtreme - January 31 - 10:00 am

  Compared to other models no other can compare. The design,performance, dependability, and comfort are wonderful. I was lucky enough to buy the vehicle from a superb dealership. Dan Perkins Chevrolet... My salesman Jack DiNuzzo Jr was very knowledgable and I got the best price up front. If you are considering a trailblazer go for it and stop by DAn Perkins in milford CT.. I would recommend asking for Jack DiNuzzo JR