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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  Form over Function - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Art - June 10 - 11:26 am

  Bad interior design. No internal storage, no place for window scraper, fist aide kit or emergency road kit. Hi/Lo beam actuation unsafe push turn signal away from you to actuate, now out of reach from steering wheel. Takes too long to heat up. Gas fill is bad design, back pressure shuts off pump. Gas cap design bad, could come off in accident. Excessive road and wind noise. Not enough driver space. Seat belt difficult to buckle/unbuckle. Beverage holder in bottom of door?Transmission seems to slip. Auto door lock/unlock disable, annoying. Too many icons, use english language, 4 icons representing lighting, could not find airconditiong, confusing. Radio controls too complicated.

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  A reliable hauler. - 1994 Chevrolet Caprice
  By lschultz - June 10 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car used in 2000 with 68,000 miles. My wife hauls the kids around and we all pull a travel trailer with our Caprice. I have the 5.7 liter engine that is great. I perform regular maint. and have had no major problems. For the flexability and the capability the wagon is hard to beat. Its too bad they are no longer produced. Leave it to GM to Kill a winner.

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  NICE 4 PRICE - 1990 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Travis56346346 - June 10 - 2:00 am

  very nice car with lots of power for being stock, and can still pull out good gas milage, what mroe could you want other than power and milage?

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  Nascar Mama - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By krystalnator - June 10 - 2:00 am

  This has been by far my favorite car ever. Its awesome to drive. Everyone had to have one after i bought mine.

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  Great Truck - 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By charley - June 10 - 2:00 am

  I love this truck! It has almost 160,000 mile and has had very few problems. I can always count, great towing power, great sound and comfort! I never want to get rid of it!

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  Like a Rock........Not a chance - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By leecirocco - June 10 - 2:00 am

  Wow.....I thought this car was a great deal but so far it has only been a great expense. We purchased it with only 50,000 miles and in excellent condition. In one year we have had to replace the muffler, the fuel pump (this repair took two attempts) the fuel sending unit, A/C compressor, Heater core, thermostat, clutch fan, rear window shocks...I think thats all! Currently we have an overheating problem that the shop can not seem to identify.

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  The Only Problems Were Caused By Me - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By blaised - June 10 - 2:00 am

  I only have about 5200 miles on this car, but they have been short trips, which is worse than highway driving. The gas mileage is excellent for such a large car (large by todays standards). The acceleration is also fantastic for this car. I think on the whole this car is outstanding except for its overall looks. (I do not think the crop of cars out there today are all that good looking, so my 7 rating of the Exterior Design is really a compliment). I slid on ice and damaged the front fascia, power steering unit had to be replaced because I hit a big railroad track, and mice got into my engine bay and chewed the wires. Exceptional.

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  sporty car - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By america - June 10 - 2:00 am

  Awesome car --- bring it back--ASAP.

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  2001 chevy blazer - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Jamie Putchio - June 10 - 2:00 am

  Overall this is a good verhicle but the body style has been the same for to long! They need to change it!

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  good car - 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
  By tom ginder - June 9 - 4:43 am