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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  my covette - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By wmikefarmer - April 19 - 2:00 am

  I have not been back to the dealership for anything. the car is perfect. it is the ony car Ive ever owned that needed no adjustments at all.

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  Multipurpose Vehicle - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Pugmaster - April 19 - 2:00 am

  Aval. Z66 was very smooth. Comfortable with bucket seats. Versatile use as truck or as 5-passanger SUV. Very useful storage bins on either side of truck bed. Bumper foot assist and handle made it very easy to climb in or out of the back. I traded my 02 Z66 for an 03 Z71 because I like this vehicle very much! The 4-wheel drive will come in handy.

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  Great suv! - 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Sarah - April 18 - 7:13 am

  Only complaint is have is I wished it got better gas mileage. Other than that its been very reliable and great.

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  It is what it is, and its good for that - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Frank - April 18 - 3:36 am

  It kills me that some people want or expect a Corvette out of this car. The Impala is a great car for its class. The engine is responsive but not overpowering, the exterior design is very nice, and the interior isnt bad, but could use some improvement. I have not attempted to blaze through s-turns at 130MPH, but I imagine that it wont do so well. So what? Its a full-size, 4-door sedan, not a Porsche. The sound system is good. Its pretty quiet compared to a Maxima or Taurus, although its no Caddy in that department. Overall, its a great value for its size and class!

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  Metro tons of power for small dollars. - 1998 Chevrolet Metro
  By mvlion - April 18 - 2:00 am

  Metros are excellent cars for the small amount of money needed to buy one. Always, make sure you get a 5 speed. Never, buy this car in a power and mileage robbing 3 speed automatic. This is the reason that it so hard to find a used low mileage stick and so easy to find a low mileage automatic. Expect, to get 40 mpg with a stick Metro with pretty good comfort and equipment levels. 1998 and newer models had Fuel Injection and are much quicker!

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  My Astro Van - 1990 Chevrolet Astro
  By JJones3 - April 18 - 2:00 am

  I have driven my Astro since I bought it new in 1990. Drove it on a trip the next day for 1500 miles and have loved this van ever since. I now have 193,000 miles on it and have only done routine mechanical for it. AWD has saved my bacon a few times. It now gets about 22 to 24 miles to the gallon on the hwy so I just cant let go of it.

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  Reliable Car - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By Carmine - April 18 - 2:00 am

  The Chevy Impala has been a great car. It handles extremely well in the snow,and it holds the raod very well. It will seat up to 6 people. It has a large trunk adn is a great all around car.

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  Disappointed in Camaro - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Fabby - April 18 - 2:00 am

  Just bought the car and come to find that it need a distributor, which is $1000!! Chevy has a design flaw in the engine. The distributor is behind the water pump, what were they thinking? Terrible on gas, but hauls butt.

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  what else can go wrong - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By waterboy19812001 - April 18 - 2:00 am

  It is a fun SUV to drive except for the time when i had to replace the front rotors, fix intake manifold gaskets, new fuel pump, etc. Other than that it is a reliable car with a nice look.

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  2000 LT Tahoe - loves it - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By bkjohnson - April 18 - 2:00 am

  We purchased a used 2000 Tahoe with approximately 25,000 miles on it. It was our first used car purchase so we were initially a little apprehensive. Luckily, we have had no problems whatsoever (*knock on wood*). The main reason we bought the Tahoe was for its towing capacity, and we have not been disappointed. My husband trailers cars and when doing so with the Tahoe, you wouldnt even know it was towing unless you looked out the back window. Overall, our experience has been very positive. The Tahoe is a great vehicle. We would definitely recommend a Tahoe and purchase another one in the future, but we plan on keeping this one for a long time.