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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  Great Vehicle! - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Doc Watson - May 30 - 2:00 am

  My first 4WD...Had 95,000 when I bought it but it had been taken cate of very well. No problems at all other than regular maintenance. Could benefit from larger brakes. Get a K&N air filter! No "Clunking" noise here! SNOW! Im not scared of any stinking SNOW!

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  The Great Cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By PimpCav - May 30 - 2:00 am

  This car is great for a new driver. I got this car when i was 16 and i still love. Its so easy to drive. It almost takes no effort at all.

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  Loving life so far... - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By VegasGT - May 30 - 2:00 am

  Im insane for spending so much on a car, but Im glad I did. Ive had my Vette 8 months and its rock solid, no shakes or shimmies, and rides suprisingly smooth - smoother than the Mustang it replaced. It gets better gas mileage than the Mustang GT, too. It handles like a dream and everyone loves it.

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  The Best Car Ever - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Alan Roganelli - May 30 - 2:00 am

  This is most deffinatly the most exciting, efficent, well built car on the face of the Earth.

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  Corvette - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Corv - May 30 - 2:00 am

  Horrible interior. Performance does not make up for this. 50k for a car like this? Get a M3.

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  The American Dream - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Dale Weaver - May 30 - 2:00 am

  What can I say, It is a Corvette. The best build Sports Car in Americia.

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  Comfort and Class - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Rob Lee - May 30 - 2:00 am

  When I decided to buy the Tahoe I knew I would be spending more than I ever have for any vehicle I ever owned in my life. But I can tell you without hesitation I am glad I did. This vehicle has to be the most comfortable to operate that I have ever experienced. It is like driving a luxury car on a truck chassis. The steering is awesome, it is a tight radius, and very smooth. Maneuvering the truck is extremely easy. Interior controls on dash as well as the L.E.D. driver display information center is a breeze to set up.

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  The best truck yet - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By travisaz - May 30 - 12:03 am

  This is my 3rd Chevy truck and this is the best by far. I have more than enough power to get up and move (More than fFrd and Dodge). I have lots of room for passengers (More than Ford or Dodge). I really love this truck. No problems as of yet.

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  I Love the HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By livingfortheride - May 29 - 8:00 pm

  I actually sold my Harley to get this vehicle. I am glad to say we made a good choice with the HHR. For my wife with the kids, she has plenty of room for shopping bags and items in the trunk area. We went with the LS because neither one of us care about power seats or chrome mirrors. As far as the hubcaps, we are looking into getting rims for it anyway, so why spend the extra? Also, on the base stereo, it is fine, good volume, bass, and treble. The 2.2 engine has plenty of pick-up and great gas mileage, averaging 33mpg on the freeway. Usually around 30mpg per tank, if not more, depending on how much stop and go driving we do.

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  A Must Have for the Family - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Pintoguy - May 29 - 2:33 pm

  We have owned this car for about five months. The build quality is the best of any previous new car that I have owned. No problems as of yet. Would like to see a better center console, and different positioning of the power window switches. Other than that, I wouldnt recommend any other wagon for a small family.