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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  TRACKER THUMBS UP - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By rgray - May 16 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE HAD MY TRACKER OR SHOULD I SAY MY WIFE HAS HAD THE TRACKER FOR ALNOS A YEAR NOW. WE HAVE HAD ZERO PROBLEMS AND SHE WAS EVEN REAR ENDED WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAT TWO WEEKS OLD AND THE FRONT END OF THE OTHER CAR WAS TOTALLY GONE AND ALL WE NEEDED WAS A NEW COVER FOR THE REAR BUMPER, IT HAD A SMALL SCRATCH IN IT. THE ONLY THING I DISLIKE IS THE INSURANCE RATEING IS TOO HIGH WHICH RATE IN MUCH HIGHER PRIMUM. I PAY AMOST TWICE THE AMOUNT FOR INSURANCE ON THE TRACKER THENI DO ON MY TRAIL BLAZER. OTHER THAN INSURANCE IT IS A GREAT VEHICLE!!!!

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  2000 Torch Red Hardtop Corvette - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By KAH_BigRedCorvette - May 16 - 2:00 am

  I bought it used with 34k miles. Since then, Ive put another 2k miles on the car. It looks and runs like new. Ive owned several sports cars and this is the best in performance. It is a world class sports car. It doesnt rattle, and everything works as it should. I had to replace the engine drive belt which squeaked. The seat rocks a bit, and the leather is worn at the bolsters. You can visit websites to see that these are common complaints. There is tire and exhaust roar (aftermarket exhaust), but I like the sound. The performance limits of the car is far beyond what most people can use.

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  2001 Tahoe - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By bharrison - May 16 - 2:00 am

  The only problems I have had with this vehicle has been the heating element in the driver side mirror, the door strap hinges squeeking, and carbon buildup in the throttle body which caused a sticking gas peddle. The dealer replaced all hinges under warranty, I havent had the time to get the mirror repaired. I got rid of the carbon build up with a Tornado.

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  Best Tahoe Yet - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Bruce - May 15 - 9:40 am

  Still new but I love this truck. Looks great, runs great, performs great. Only complaint I have so far is the height of the hitch receiver.

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  A great long-lasting ride! - 1991 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Nicolle - May 15 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car brand new 12 years ago and now have over 145,000 miles on it. I havent spent more than $800 in replacement parts and still have the original exaust and clutch. The car has been extremely reliable, getting me home safe through several snow storms and NEVER breaking down. The engine sounds better than newer cars Ive test drove lately.

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  1992 Camaro RS 5.0 w/ 5 speed and T-Tops - 1992 Chevrolet Camaro
  By CamaroRS4Me - May 15 - 2:00 am

  My dad has owned a 1983 Z28 for my whole life, it was only natural that I follow suit and get one. I happened upon this lightly used RS the day it went on sale.... 2 weeks later it was my gift to me for graduating high school. I couldnt have made a better decision! Ive owned a 1993 Lumina Z34, and the RS has the same performance, including the MPG, but alot less technical problems. Also, I know how to work on the RS myself, which is a big plus.

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  Owner - 1994 Chevrolet Suburban
  By tomo - May 15 - 2:00 am

  Great truck, total of 187K miles and still running strong.

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  Good all-around - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By mikeal1913 - May 15 - 2:00 am

  Luminas have been very good to me. This is a dependable, low maintenance cost car. Both Luminas Ive owned have gotten great gas mileage considering their size. My 4 cyl. Lumina got about 30 and this 6 cyl. gets 24. Powerful, smooth ride, good looks.

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  love it - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By blm - May 15 - 2:00 am

  so easy to make so fast

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  Aged but utilitarian van - 2003 Chevrolet Astro
  By Ron 2002 - May 15 - 2:00 am

  I have had this van for little over a year with 28,000 miles. So far, Ive had no repair problems. Cargo space is what sold me on this van, and it has been impressive. It has almost as much room as my previous full-size van. This van is by no means fast but has tremendous pulling power. The steering is light and quick, but it is also loose and numb. Although Chevy has continually updated this vehicle over the years, you cant escape the fact that this is a vehicle from the eighties. While functional, interior design is very stark and dull with plenty of monochrome plastics. All in all however, Astro is a very capable and reliable vehicle.