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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  SHOULD NEVER HAVE DISCONTINUED - 1995 Chevrolet Lumina
  By STEVE12175 - August 19 - 2:00 am

  THIS WAS MY FIRST NEW CAR AFTER AHVING TO BUT USED MY WHOLE LIFE AND IVE NEVER REGRETTED IT. IT HASNT COST ME ONE PENNY IN REPAIRS. RIDES LIKE MORE EXPENSIVE CAR. EXCELLENT MILAGE ON LONG TRIPS. HANDLES GREAT AND HAS GOOD PICKUP. WOULD HAVE BOUGHT ANOTHER IF THEY STARTED MAKING THEM AGAIN.

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  Bad Luck Car - 1995 Chevrolet Lumina
  By smh1543614 - August 19 - 2:00 am

  Nothing but problems, one after another. Do not purchase a Lumina with the 3.4L engine.All repair costs are double, due to increased labor costs...based on parts not being accessible under hood. Car is also a gas hog.

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  1995 Chevy Corsica - 1995 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Aimee - August 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car used, and I have not had many problems at all. Alot of people told me that Corsicas tend to stop working after they reach 100,000 miles, but mine seems to be doing just fine. I bought it with a little over 50,000 miles on it and the only problems I have had is sometime it tends to flood inside when it rains really hard. Other than that it is a good affordable dependable car. Another thing it did that I wasnt sure about is I have gone through 2 alternators in less than a year, but maybe that is my fault, I am not the nicest on my car. Good car.

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  tribute to a great first car - 1995 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Arktoris - August 19 - 2:00 am

  I just sold my 95 Corsica and I must say it was a great first car. I dont believe I could have gotten a bigger and more comfortable ride for the price they sell Corsicas. The ride was smooth and luxurious and stopped on a dime. The stereo amped and getting 440 miles/tank gave it a great cruising range. Although the paint started pealing after 4 years, an oil leak, and failed alternator, the car was very reliable. If they still made them, I would have bought another in 2002.

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  nice car - 1992 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Jens - August 19 - 2:00 am

  Gets me where i need to go with some pep and plenty of comfort and room

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  EXTREME Street Machine - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By KC_Downtown_Dweller - August 19 - 2:00 am

  Factory stripes and low crouching suspension give this truck a very intimidating look. You really have to see these beauties in person to get the effect. Plenty of room in extended cab for audio. Do yourself a favor and invest in a good Tonneau cover and a radar/laser jammer. Does 100 MPH too quickly and 80 MPH too easily. 3rd time truck owner, first time Chevy - very happy. Will buy again.

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  Great Ride - 1996 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Gander5418 - August 19 - 2:00 am

  This is my 81st auto. I am in love. You feel very safe and secure. Its a little hard getting use to driving your living room. Comfortable as can be.

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  Worth the Money - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By robert05 - August 19 - 2:00 am

  We bought this car 4years ago and it has performed well overall. The ride is smooth and quiet. The quality of the interior is not the best. Several items such as the driver arm rest and overhead visor have broken. The comment from the service advisor. Its a cheaply made car. The brokes have also required more atttention than I consider normal.

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  This Chevy is too heavy - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Gerrit Christopher V - August 19 - 2:00 am

  This truck was an exciting new purchase that has turned into nothing but problmems. It is 7 years old and was bought new and has been babied to 49k miles. The door bottoms are rusted out after being garaged and waxed every month. Paint, what paint. I would almost be better off with bare metal. The wind and interior noise is attrotious at best. You have a sore throat after a highway conversation and the build quality of the interior and exterion is severly lacking with fabric tears, blow fuses and electrical problems every year. Id have to say this car is a lemon. Just like every other Blazer on the roads. Buy a CRV or a Mseries benz. Do yourself a favor!!!

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  Bang for the buck Minivan - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By qamarmu - August 19 - 2:00 am

  Replace my 2000 Chevy blazer with 2002 Venture WB edition. Nice minivan, saw all other vans and found every thing in this van and then some. With 2 kids its fun to go out for long drive in this DVD equiped van and carying all the bags and toys in not a problem. Chevy enginers should consider the windsheild wipers, Odometer rest, cruise contol and center consoule as improvements to the van.