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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  A goodie - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Lyle Jones - October 29 - 6:36 pm

  This is a very nice car to own. Ease of handling. Good appearance. Comfortable. A little slow on acceleration uphill. The wife likes it. Update: It is starting to burn oil. One quart per 2500 miles. Weve had trouble with the tire pressure sensors. Were at 5500 feet above sea level and when the seasons change from hot to cold the sensors show low pressure when there is no low pressure.

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  Great car! - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jim - October 29 - 2:16 pm

  Good looking car. Get great gas mileage on the highway 30 - 37mpg. Comfortable seating. Strong engine. Easy to maintain.

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  1997 cavilier z24 - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By jon - October 29 - 11:02 am

  the car has held up nice other than the paint sracthes easy, i only have 68000 miles on it now and have bought it brand new. in all these years i used synthetic oil, installed a cold air intake. and tires and brakes and a altenator. so i feel real proud of this great purchase

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  I will buy another Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jungledj - October 29 - 2:59 am

  This is one of the most comfortable vehicles I have owned. I usually trade every 3 yrs. This equinox has me sold. Ive had foreign cars & trucks. They all seem to have a rough ride & outside noise. This equinox is quiet & takes bumps smoothly. I used it in a courier service for the first 2 years. I routinely take it on long trips. 10 months ago I drove it from Sacramento to LA down I-40 to Amarillo up to Pueblo and back to Sac via hwy 50. Temps outside ranged from 5 to 80 degrees depending on location. Plenty of power for the mountains. Not one problem with this vehicle. I dont work for GM and Im not being paid to write this. Never had a problem. My next car will be an Equinox or Terrain.

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  I LOVE this car! - 1993 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Lizzy19 - October 28 - 7:22 pm

  My lumina has been so good to me over that past 8 months ive had it..i have had to put some money into it but i expected that because it was not on the road for 5 years.. when it wants to go its going to move! its good on gas and you dont see many 93 2 door luminas out there very much..i like that i have a unique car and a reliable one too. i love my Lumina

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  OK - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
  By Gerardo Ochoa - October 28 - 3:56 pm

  Pretty slow. Saves gas though. Worth the 50 k in the long run. Not really into the whole green movement but this car is really nice.

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  Love my car - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By traverseowner - October 28 - 3:45 pm

  We purchased our Traverse to replace a 4-Runner. We love this car. The ride is very smooth. On two different road trips we have averaged 22 mpg. There is plenty of space for everything and everyone.

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  I Love My SS - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Monte2003SS - October 28 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. I traded a 2001 Monte Carlo LS for this Superior Blue SS. I loved the color from the first moment I saw it. I think the car is great and I love driving it. I am proud to say that it is the "baddest" looking ride on the street.

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  50th Anniversary Model is Awesome! - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By XFTRPLT - October 28 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had my car for three weeks but can already tell it is going to be something special! The looks, the incredible legroom, the handling are all first rate. The technological advances are matched by the superb design of the convertible top mechanism, and the trunk is beyond my expectations--at least two sets of golf clubs will fit!

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  good truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By mdje - October 28 - 2:00 am

  no problems better than any ford ever built