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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  Tracking the fun - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By nospam - September 8 - 2:00 am

  This tracker has been a great car! Its the 4wheel drive, 4 door and we generally drive it over our Mercedes E class. Mileage is around 25mpg on the road, very responsive handling, reliable car. We love it!

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  Best Deal Ive Seen - 1993 Chevrolet Lumina
  By mastermechanic23432 - September 8 - 2:00 am

  Oh man, when i saw this car sitting out in this guys driveway with a for sell sign i was thinking this is a relatively new car (about in the 1997 range), but it turns out to be a 93. i bought it thinking i would resell it, but when i started driving the car i was loving it more and more. this thing has a dual cam v6 that pumps out more horsepower than most 2002 sports cars! the brakes and transmission are great and the reliability of this car is flawless so far.

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  Wow - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By n00dles10 - September 8 - 2:00 am

  My first car and i love it!

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  Pretty OK - 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Mr. X - September 8 - 2:00 am

  I think its pretty ok. It has never given me any problems.

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  Friends dont let friends drive Cavaliers - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By kray - September 8 - 2:00 am

  I have had my car for a little over a year, and I hate it. It looks good, but the transmission and clutch dont work well together. This is the only car I ever had that I wish was an automatic. The seats and other interier bits are cheap and wearing too fast. It doesnt handle very well, and it has far too many rattles and squeaks. I wish I would have spent more money on a better car.

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  Very Happy - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Stoker11 - September 8 - 2:00 am

  There has been significant improvemt to this vehicle since my 94 Burb that I put 150K miles on. The increase in power and fuel mileage is a great suprise. The ride and handling are also much better and make the truck quite easy to drive.

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  Frayed Wires - 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By graciebh - September 7 - 6:52 am

  With the exception of this, I did love my Monte Carlo. Wires frayed and broke at 32,000 miles on the shifter causing the shifter to stick in park. Also caused my battery to die. Dealer and complaint to Chevy was answered with average wear and tear, out of warranty. Sorry 32,000 miles going from park, drive and reverse caused wear and tear on wires that are hidden under the console?

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  2000 LS - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By PMcG - September 7 - 2:00 am

  Overall very good. Upgraded tires (Continental CH-95s) made a significant difference. Have had occasional problems with hesitation while accelerating (improved some after servicing), the radio has become tempermental (reception), and had to have a cracked subframe replaced. A perfectly adequate performer for my needs.

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  AWSOME - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By dazzle09 - September 7 - 2:00 am

  Good...I love this car. Before this I drove a tempo and a buick! What was I thinking?! LOL What a change of car!

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  Good Quality car - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By -dood- - September 7 - 2:00 am

  This car is a good quality car to drive. It has a sporty exterior that turns eyes and a good midsized engine that performs very well. I have had little trouble with the car and it doesnt look like i will have much later either.