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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  not up to old quality - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By john t. - July 28 - 2:00 am

  problems with engine oil use, stalling engine, air conditioner, pulley, tensioner, cheaper build than older model chevy trucks. i bought new a 95 tahoe...no problems, no oil use, no complaints with the tahoe at all (still have tahoe with 162k miles). 42k should buy a great truck! it did not.

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  2002 Z06 - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By jmarxen - July 28 - 2:00 am

  It never fails to put a smile on my face when I start the engine. This car may well be the best designed and engineered sports car in the world. You could pay more and get less, if you prefer snob appeal. 0-60 in 4 seconds, 170 mph on the local straight-away, great handling, good looks, value priced ... what more could you want?

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  best yet - 2016 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Darryl Vickers - July 27 - 10:19 pm

  This is our 5th vette, 99 Targa, 98 convertible, 2002 convertible, 2005 coupe and now the 2016 convertible. BEST YET. From hi-way to in town, easiest high performance car I have ever driven. Seats are great and the interior is plush, the leather is super and thats a big change. Auto top fast and quite. NO wind noise. Their is a monster under the hood, with the pipes open 460 hp. With a touch of the screen to close the pipes down its a quite as a kitten. Light it up and hold on. Turn the engine control to ECO on the hi-way and its get 33mph. Best bang for the buck on the market today.

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  Safety - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Terri - July 27 - 6:00 pm

  I purchased a 2005 Impala after being T- boned in my 2003 Impala last month. The safety rating was the determining factor in 2003, and it proved to be correct. While the car was totalled, I was not hurt, and the 3 carseats in the back were untouched. The car is extremely comfortable, roomy and fuel efficient. It handles nicely, and above all, it is built to protect passengers in the case of a crash.

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  Impalla SS - very, very fast family car. - 1994 Chevrolet Impala
  By Way2KeuL - July 27 - 2:00 am

  The 1994 Impalla SS is the best vehicle I have ever owned. It is a big, fast and very stylish car. For families, it is the high performance alternative to a mini-van. Great for hauling groceries and kids, or for hauling a@# or cruising the beach or town. Not many family cars that weigh 4000-plus can beat a V-8 Mustang or Camaro but the Impalla does it with ease ...

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  Looking for new owner! - 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Brent Rheinheimer - July 27 - 2:00 am

  Has tow package. First three years used to pull boat. Not since. Great SUV. No rust or dents. Paint is in very good condition. Mobile One oil since first oil change. All papers on service avaiable. Life time brakes. New Full set of new tires this year. New battery 2003.

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  1-for-1 - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By JB2 - July 27 - 2:00 am

  My first and only (thanks to the reliability) camaro thus far, though might have to look for a final year model for the memories! There are a few complaints, but the features & enjoyment of the ride far outweigh any bad marks. Should have never driven the V8 or Id still think life couldnt get any better!

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  Blazer is better then exploder - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By dv - July 27 - 2:00 am

  What an awsome and fun truck to drive. gas mileage needs to be improved a little

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  saushas review - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By sausha - July 27 - 2:00 am

  my blazer is one of the best vehicles ive bought its comfortable luxrious and all out great i would recomend this vehicle to anybody looking for a nice vehicle.

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  Say No to Malibu - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By nonew - July 27 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE FROM MY 2000 MALIBU. I HAVE HAD TOO MANY SETS OF BRAKES AND ROTORS TO EVEN COUNT. I HAVE HAD A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP, NEW BATTERY, NEW FUEL TANK FLOAT. MY ENGINE HAS KNOCKED FROM THE START. MY TURN SIGNAL HAD A BUZZING NOISE AND AFTER 3 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY FINALLY FIXED IT AFTER I THREATENED TO SEE A LAWYER. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH SMALL CHILDREN SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE BEEN TOWED AND I HAVE RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION WHEN TRYING TO DEAL WITH GM ABOUT PROBLEMS. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO GIVE ME $1,000 TOWARD A NEW CHEVROLET PURCHASE. (YEAH RIGHT)