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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  2005 C6 - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Sean - July 1 - 1:40 am

  Quite simply the best car I have ever driven.

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  Nice car for the price - 2017 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Jack Nappi - June 30 - 8:40 pm

  Not fuel efficient

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  Very impressed so far - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By abmwfan - June 29 - 7:13 am

  I purchased a 2011 Cruze 2LT as a commuter car and am very impressed so far. My benchmark for comparison is luxury brands like BMW and Volvo and this car measures up surprisingly well for a $20k vehicle. It handles well, steering is nicely weighted (at highway speeds), front leg room is excellent and the seats are very supportive. On-center highway feel is good. Body lean in corners is minimal. GM offers a nice choice of tech goodies for this segment. The vehicle is comparatively quiet at highway speeds. Keep in mind when you read reviews saying that this car is very quiet or "serene," its all in the context of the compact vehicle segment. Just dont expect a Lexus or BMW for $20k.

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  180,000 miles & still going strong - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By verysatisfied - June 29 - 4:06 am

  needed a car for commute of 110 mi rd trip. decided on 97 cavalier. bought in aug 97, have car 4 1/2 yrs, has all original parts (except for brakes & tires). car runs & performs today like it did when i drove out of the dealership, except for an a/c compresser which was replaced after 3 yrs. i do believe ive gotten my $s worth out of this car & being that i still do the same commute today, i could see me buying another cavalier when its time to replace this one.

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  Perfect Truck for me - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Bouch - June 29 - 3:13 am

  Basically Im a home-owner and fix it guy. Needed a truck to drive for sales calls and around the house to haul and do home fix its. Perfect truck is this! Crew cab is huge, short bed is no problem with plywood/drywall. Simple interior but nice and respectable--much nicer than Toyotas (the other truck I was considering--T has weak engine too at 4.7).

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  Much Better then Average - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Nicholas - June 29 - 2:58 am

  Have the Hatchback Premier the ride is quieter then Civic . More cormfotable the Madza 3. The Ford Focus needs a lot of improvement to even be in a class with the Cruze . For the money Cruze is a contender and you add the mileage savings that equals a winner

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  Great Car, overall - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By jbarr - June 29 - 2:00 am

  My only complaint is that is a bit cramped for a 6 footer. Other than that, it is well built and economical.

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  Dear lord I didnt want a minivan - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Landiss - June 29 - 2:00 am

  But since Ive had this one Ive enjoyed it, in relative speaking. I like my wifes Dodge van better for less money. I cant wait until the kids get older and I can have my pickup truck back.

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  Awesome!!! - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By slvrado03 - June 29 - 2:00 am

  There is no true sports car like the Chevrolet Corvette! It is truly one of a kind. The gas mileage is great for the size of engine, and the comfort is unbelievable for the size of car.

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  2006 Monte Carlo SS - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By CHRIS KLEIN - June 28 - 3:03 am

  Before I bought the car I was considering the Ford Mustang. I am a tall person and the Monte Carlo fit my bill better plus the front wheel drive is better than the rear wheel drive on the Mustang. So far Ive driven the car 700 miles and have been averaging 20.7 to 21 miles per gallon overall. Not bad for a v8. I also like the comfort of the leather seats with the lumbar support. If you have back problems it’s great. The stereo system is excellent, also the remote start is awesome too. Overall Im very happy I bought the Monte Carlo instead.