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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  Ford Cant Beat it - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By KEN JOCHUM - May 21 - 11:36 pm

  I would love to have one with a V8 but at age 63 a V6 goes fast enough. The gas mileage is great. I average 27.2mpg a tank driving at 60-73mph with some city driving included. It has remarkable correction on the road. This car will not go on the block for sale anytime soon.

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  Good to Go - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Pearl - May 21 - 12:46 pm

  Our LT is fun to drive. I have been getting 16.5 MPH in all around driving.

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  Poor Quality - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By CB - May 21 - 7:23 am

  Traded Suburban for Equinox looking for better gas mileage and smaller size. Poor decision. This car is cheaply made. In windy conditions car blows all over the road. Akward interior, window controls should be on the doors. Horrible road noise in the interior cabin. Leather seats are hard, and backseat feels like a wooden bench. Gas mileage should be better considering the size. I traded it in for a new Yukon, couldnt have made a better choice getting rid of it.

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  Me & my Chev truck - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By kacollins - May 21 - 3:06 am

  I bought this truck used with 111k miles. I havent had one problem with it mechanically. The previous owner who bought it new said he never had any problems before me. This is my first Chev truck after owning 3 Ford 150s. I can honestly state even if not as "pretty" as the Ford its reliability is excellent. Especially since I expected to spend money on a truck with 100+k. Regards,

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  review of 1999 Prizm - 1999 Chevrolet Prizm
  By MAUREEN - May 21 - 2:00 am

  Overall, this is a very good car for general transportation and for individuals and small families. My model is pretty basic, but has enough frills to get by (radio, AC, power brakes/steering, automatic trans). The gas mileage is a plus. This car makes for good, reliable, affordable, fuel- efficient transportation.

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  Bye Bye Z34 - 1994 Chevrolet Lumina
  By RobertGA - May 21 - 2:00 am

  Bought w/ 30K miles 7 years ago. 100K miles now. A blast to drive. From 3K on the tach, feels like a V8. Curvy roads are fun. Rearward visibility is poor. No electrical problems. The tranny just blew. Repair costs are $2700. "Bye Bye Z34" An oil seal cost $1K to fix. The intake leaked and a computer chip went bad - about $1K. Hidden rust cost several hundred dollars. Timing BELTS must be replaced every 50K miles. Alternator went out. No leaks, but needs half a quart of oil a month. Turning radius is poor. Possibly the most fun Ive had in a car. Would not buy another one and Im a bit leery of Chevy now after 20 years of loyalty.

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  Good Performance For The Money - 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Crawl731 - May 21 - 2:00 am

  Overall this car has been very reliable and fun to drive. The Z24 has performance that the other cavaliers in 1993 didnt have. It comes with a 3.1 V6 that has some good power and acceleration. The look of the exterior is very nice and sporty. The interior is basic and comfortable in the front seats. The back seat can be tight for taller people. I have only had minor problems so far. I have 109000 miles on it now. It still has the original transmission and it is working fine.

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  Excellent Truck - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By bauerman - May 21 - 2:00 am

  I have the 4 cylinder engine coupled with a 5 speed transmission and could not be happier with the truck to date. Smooth shifting - good power - and great gas milegage so far. If you are thinking of the 4 cylinder engine - go for the 5 speed manual as well, its the best pairing of engine and transmission. Fit and finsh seem to be excellent - especially for a used truck with 65000 miles. No rattles to this point - takes bumps well and seem to be "screwed together" very tightly. Im getting about 28 MPG right now and am very happy with that. Hauls a load pretty well and sits low enough to the ground to make loading the bed easy.

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  like a real rock - 1996 Chevrolet Suburban
  By ahik Eisenberg - May 21 - 2:00 am

  first its a truck and others know it. Idrove long long trips and it is so comfortale like no other car, you can drive and i love the gas tank it holds 42 g.it was areal pleasure and now its time to by a new one,thinking denali or cadi excalade.

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  97 Corvette - 1997 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Ramjet319 - May 21 - 2:00 am

  I love the car, but disappointed that I have had to have it towed on three occasions: (1) locked steering column, (2) Broken serpintine belt bracket, (3) Broken serpintine belt.