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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  $30,000 Performance Family Sedan - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By ChEvRoLeTfAn - June 12 - 2:00 am

  As soon as I turned over the keys to my 1998 Chevrolet Lumina Z-34 and got into the Impala and stepped on the gas, the difference was definately noticeble. The Lumina was quick and I used to be able to take the Civics and Eclipses right off the line but now, prior to experience,I have beat a 2000 BME 328i Sport sedan. I paid just over $30,000 and now that there is a special edition Indy 500 package i am probably going to trade it in.

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  impala sucks! - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Shelley - June 11 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a 2001 white Impala LS, fully loaded for $27,000 & it has been my nightmare ever since! Ten months later and the transmission has gone out THREE times! You have to schedule an appointment, 25 miles away, to have it looked at. Let me tell ya, Ive been doing a lot of reading up on Illinois lemon laws. The 0% is what got me to buy the car and I will never, ever, ever buy a Chevy again. I have tried numerous times to trade it in and its true about the value of it dropping as soon as you drive it off the lot. 10 months later and it books at $12,000 less than what I paid for it. Dont buy Impalas!

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  Avalanche - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By AvaLanceinlagrandeor - June 11 - 10:00 am

  It is the best

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  So far good value - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By SueZee - June 11 - 10:00 am

  I purchased the Impala in May of 02. I looked and drove foriegn sedans as well. I bought the top of the line. It has more bells and whistles then I could have thought of. Mine came with On-Star as well. The hands free phone although expensive, is a lovely addition for a hard working mom who needs to stay in touch. The pick-up is descent as well as the handling and fuel economy. Respectable crash test ratings and a price that couldnt be beat are what sold me. Now I have to see if it stands the test of time.

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  This car is great! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By newtrailblazerguy - June 11 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased the car a few days ago. So far I am extremely impressed. The car drives very well and the design, both inside and out is exceptional. The true test will obviouslt come in the years ahead, but for now I am extremely satisfied. I think the editors review does not do justice to this car.

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  Perhaps the worst car ever made - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By StevenSouthwell - June 11 - 2:00 am

  This was the worst car I have ever owned. I purchased it brand new off the lot in 97. It was completely unreliable. I had too many problems to mention them all here. The biggest problems were electrical and the front end. Chevy did not stand behind this product and did nothing to fix the problems. They did get really good at saying "that is not covered under warranty." I spent close to $6,000 on repairs in two years of ownership. (This was a brand new car.) This is actually lower than some people I have talked to who also purchased one.

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  Great Comfort, Terrible Workmanship - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By mlpaper - June 11 - 2:00 am

  While I enjoyed what the SUV offered in comfort, size, and handling, I was disappointed in the quality. Beginning at 3,000 miles, we had the following replaced, speedometer, windshield wiper motor, power chair, handle to recline passenger seat, heating vents (had to remove the dashboard), compass, and rear tire mount handle, among other items. We had problems with the differential fluid leaking, the radiator leaking, and now the heater core. Most of these items were covered under the warranty, but the aggravation and time spent at the dealership were not. While I will always own an SUV, I will never buy another Chevy.

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  Value and torque - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Bruce Rappoport - June 11 - 2:00 am

  Great Power and Handling.

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  Nice to drive, hard on gas - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Peter - June 11 - 1:36 am

  Wheel bearing went in the first month. Gas mileage is pretty bad even when driven gently (approx 22 MPG HWY) Nice to drive, very comfortable, poor visibility when backing up, needs adjustable delay wipers, -window controls are not lit (hard to find at night) -handbrake is awkward to reach -gearshift is clumsy to use -great stereo (with upgrade) -excellent in snow

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  Dont buy this car. - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By JJ - June 10 - 4:40 pm

  I bought this vehicle new from the lot. The window moldings kept popping off, a defect which was confirmed by the dealer. The front seat is too small for me, I am 510". It is made for "soccer moms". The pedals are too close to the seat, and the steering wheel is not telescopic. Adjustable pedals wont push them back. The plastic on the sideview mirrors was separating, and the battery died, twice. I did not leave any lights on.