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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  Road Racer - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By mike - October 24 - 5:16 pm

  The Chevy Corvette is the top performance vehicle in the United States. The car handles corners at high speeds greater than its competitors and lets face it, since the late 50s and early 60s the Corvette has been the innovator of the sportscar industry. Drive is real fun yet sophisticated.

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  Never again, GM, Never! - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By quidproquo - October 24 - 11:53 am

  My first and absolute last GM product, ever! It would be easier to list what hasnt broken or worn out prematurely than what has, with GM never taking any responsibility! (Quick list-Tranny imploded, water pumpx2, brakes a total joke, wheel bearingsx3, rust everywhere! and no, harsh environment except a heated and cooled garage, transaxle, now engine is bad have babied this truck from day one (Synthetic oil changes every 1500 miles), never towed or off road, never remotely abused or driven hard, Pure junk. I have bought new 6 Japanese cars, 5 American and two German cars and understand there may be some problems upon delivery, but to not stand behind your product I have found only with GM.

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  Big timebrake problems, $$$$$$$$$ - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Wesley R. - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I had to ship this one. It was bad. Right fron spinde would not allow for the mounting of the spare. Any spare would run on the calipers. Went through brake pads & rotors like a movie theater through popcorn. Rear shooes did last almost 30k. Pads every 5 or 6 k, rotors at 8-10k. It is the only time I knowingly traded in a vehicle with problems.

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  Love My Avalanche - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Boate8 - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I have the 2002 Pewter Z-66, 5.3 engine. I jsut came back from a drive from New Mexico to Florida, the round trip logged nearly 4000 miles. It was the most enjoyable long drive I have had in years. My wife and I were able to knock down 1100 miles the first day. The roomy interior allowed for one us sleep comfortably while the other drove. Gas milage avgerage was 17.6 we stayed withing 5mph of the speed limit. We also had very strong cross/head winds. The Avalanche was very stable and comfortable in those conditions. Ray

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  This is the car for you - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Sullivanmark1 - October 24 - 10:00 am

  The car has an electronic information center that tells your average speed, mileage, average mileage per gal. I average 32 miles in town and 35 on the freeway. I have checked it the old method and the electronic mileage unit is accurate - WOW... (I have the 3.4l engine on a sedan).

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  # 1 In My Book - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Johns Silveraldo - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 2000 silveraldo extended cab sportside new. I have had no problems out of it. I think it is wonderful. I can not go anywhere, without someone telling me how nice it is, plus so many have offered to buy it from me. It is not for sale...lol I have the 4.8 engine, and it truely has the power. The cab room is amazing, and I love the 4 doors. I have pictures of my 2wd in snow up to the top of the wheel whales, yet I have never had it stuck. I have been able tp go, when I seen others stuck. That makes it the right truck for me. It is dependable, yet it is sleek in design, and is very durable.

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  Trailblazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Knoxville - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I really liked this vehicle the day I bought it. I made a really bad mistake by purchasing this vehicle. For $34000 I should have purchase a Jeep Grand Cherokee. My friend bought one and it is 10 times the vehicle my Chevy is. The Jeep will run circles around by Trailblazer. There is no way my trailblazer makes 270HP. I wish I would have driven a Trailblazer first.

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  Great Improvement! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Ben Shuster - October 24 - 10:00 am

  What an improvement! After driving a 1997 LT and a 1999 LT, the 2002 is 1000% better! Very powerful and very smooth, it represents what GM can do when it wants to do something right! Such a great SUV, I cancelled my Nissan order just to have one!

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  Trailblazer LS worth waiting for. - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By tomsal1 - October 24 - 10:00 am

  Typical GM ...good drivetrain, smooth, reliable, well executed design and production. Well worth waiting for!

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  K2500 4WD Diesel - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By kegler - October 24 - 2:00 am

  I have the diesel version, so my experience is probably different than others. The diesel runs very well and is extremely reliable. It pulls a trailer without problems (both a heavy boat and a camper). Overall, a very nice vehicle that gets better than normal fuel mileage because of the diesel package.