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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  solid runner - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Smokin Joe - July 22 - 2:00 am

  i recently move roughly 40 miles away fom my job and i needed a commuter car. i looked into smaller cars, but found my 6 2" 265lb. frame comfortable in the malibu. so when i found one with very low mile i went for it, and ive been pleased with the results

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  AWSOME TRUCK - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By BLUE AV - July 22 - 2:00 am

  AWSOME TRUCK, RIDES LIKE A 4 WHEEL DRIVE CADILACK. I HAD IT FOR 8 MONTHS AND NO PROBLEMS. THE ONLY DOWN SIDE IS THE GAS MILAGE, 14 CITY AND 16 HIGHWAY BUT I DID NOT BUY IT FOR THE MILAGE.

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  3 Months & Loving It - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By ohiodriver - July 21 - 10:46 am

  I researched the heck out of this before I bought it and havent been disappointed, except maybe the sluggish acceleration (freeway ramps, etc.) Love the looks inside & out. Extremely comfortable seats, plenty of room inside. This is my first Chevy and first American car in maybe 10 years. I had to pay top dollar and fight off others trying to buy it out from under me, but no regrets. I have about 2,500 miles now and last week I got 35 mph on an all interstate trip...pretty impressive! If youre looking for a crossover, you should definitely give the Equinox a try!

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  What A Pleasant Suprise! - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Hal Rhoads - July 21 - 10:00 am

  Been driving Ranger trucks for 20 years and wife owns a Saturn. Neither of us could believe the interior roominess of the Aveo. For me, the very best part is getting in and out of the car. I have to step UP out of most small cars, and DOWN out of a truck. With the Aveo I just step OUT! This is great when you have bad knees. Even with the automatic this car is peppy. The ride is quiet and smooth. Tilt wheel is great. The wife is jealous.

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  King Corvette - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Mo Makki - July 21 - 10:00 am

  Driving a Corvette is like being free,, and thers nothing better then bieng free,, its fast,, handles like its stuck to the ground,, beutiful car,, im 17 and i love my corvette, because im free, intll i get to the gas station, and i have to empty out my pockets so i can be free, but i guess thers a price for having fun.. peace

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  04 TRAILBLAZER - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By RFA9 - July 21 - 10:00 am

  1700 MILES, DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW MOLDING SUCKS DOWN INSIDE DOOR WHEN WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN. LOUD NOISE WHEN COOLING FAN COMES ON. MOLDING ON RIGHT REAR DOOR IS TWISTED. WEIRD DISCOLORASION ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR MIRROR.WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD NO PROBLEM FOUND FOR MOLDING AND FAN ISSUE. FOR THE MIRROR I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER I BUOGHT IT FROM.I DONT THINK THE DEALER COULD FIND THEIR BUTT WITH BOTH HANDS. CHEVY SERVICE STINKS!

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  Lumina LS - 1995 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Dawn E - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car with 75000 miles. At 82000 miles, the transmission went out. At 90000, the head gasket went out. It warped my heads due to the block being iron and the heads being aluminum. I felt kinda bad for those people who had the 3.4L engine those head gasket kits were NATIONALLY BACK ORDERED. Must have been a very bad winter on a not-so-good engine. Now, at 93000, I noticed transmission fluid leaking. It bothers me that I still owe more than its worth and that Ive put over $1300 into it the two years Ive owned it. If I were you, I wouldnt buy one.

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  Maximum Extreme - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By neon_breze - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I went to buy a base model s-10, but the flashy, tripped out extreme package wouldnt let me go. This being my first new vehicle, I have had nothing but fun driving it, and love the looks and comments people make about it. Way to go Chevrolet.

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  rate my truck - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By jesse - July 21 - 2:00 am

  vehicle runs very smooth, makes no engine noises. real reliable car, exterior body style is beatiful, wouldnt mind if interior had a little more silver plated panels, great with gas. probably can need a sunroof, and be a little more wider vehicle

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  Yesssss!! - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Pedro - July 21 - 2:00 am

  This is my second C5, a 2001 roadster.. Ive had it for almost three years now and it consistently makes me smile. The performance, looks, and ride are all worth the price of ownership. I have made "corrections" such as intake, full-length headers and exhaust and the car has rewarded me with improved performance. On two trips from Florida to Bowling Green Kentucky, my vette averaged better than 27MPG!