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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  Best Diesel on the Market - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Brandon - July 25 - 5:36 am

  I have had my Silverado for over a year now with no problems to report. The Duramax/Allison is an absolutely amazing combination, leaves the competition in the dust. My only complaint was the small wheels and tires from the factory. Overall, an excellent built truck period.

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  Nothing But Frustration - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By aarrrggh - July 25 - 2:00 am

  Only 1 year old and in the shop 6 times now.4 times for the same problem: excessive road noise in front tires--I think somethings off in balance/make of the car. They swear that the loud squealing is normal. Hum. Something in the steering column broke within 1st month, trunk pops open everytime I drive, and somethings wrong with the engine,excessively downshifts and I cant make it up the smallest hill without being passed by 1982 Volvos. GM says, "youll just have to drive it in 3rd all of the time to fix this, nothing we can do" What?! This car has NO POWER. Im getting rid of it before something MAJOR goes wrong and I am stranded on the highway.

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  cool truck - 1995 Chevrolet Suburban
  By jomibu - July 25 - 2:00 am

  its big, refined, and tough. it rides like a sedan and has a pretty good turning radius.Its ride is 10x better than and ford epedition or exursion. Its the best SUV on the planet

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  Shame on me for believing the commercial - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By goombatz - July 25 - 2:00 am

  Of course, it all happened after 37,000 miles. Breaks, rotors, AC electrical (twice), rear light circuits, front lights -- total cost of $1600. Dealer did not think this was unusual or unexpected. Rear right panel loose for no reason. Power steering hoses wore out -- $250 Where is the quality here. Foaming falling from dash, blocking vents, Shift loose, lots of rattles

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  They finally got it right - 1998 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Stanford S - July 25 - 2:00 am

  The C5 Corvette is truly an awesome vehicle. Ive had mine more than four years and have only had one minor issue. Everything about the car is just about perfect.

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  Tahoe-1 - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By macman - July 25 - 2:00 am

  I have owned other SUVs, but the Tahoe is definitely delivers a lot more for the money. Overall the Tahoe has been reliable and fun to operate. The interior manufacturing quality and design is somewhat less than what I would expect from a $38,000 SUV. A few trim details have come loose and had to be repaired by the dealer. Door hinge spot-welds have come loose also requiring a trip back to the dealer. The interior could be improved without have to upgrade to the full leather package. Overall... very satisfied.

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  Awsome Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By great truck - July 24 - 3:56 pm

  I only have about 3600 miles on my truck so far, but I like it more every day. I towed about a one ton load plus trailer weight, and could not tell it was behind me, even up hills. I average between 18 and 20 mpg city 25 + hwy. I have had a few minor problems a vibration from the tires, and a speaker problem that the dealer has not got fixed yet. I had a bumping noise in the front end when the truck was turned to the left, the service dept. told me that the bolts were too long in my after market steps, but when I told them it was the factory body bolts they just said OH. Other than these minor problems, I have no complaints and have recomended to everyone that this is the truck to buy.

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  What a car! - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By PRizm - July 24 - 2:00 am

  The 1.8 liter engine pumps out a lot of ponies for its size. I was very happy with the way the thing took off. I think that the 3 spped auto is a joke and the 4 speed is the way to go. On previous models, the 3-speed was the only auto and Chevrolet changed it and added fuel economy bu the little overdrive button on the shifter. Great car. It is a shame they are discontinuing the Prizm.

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  1998 Chevrolet Tahoe Review - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By John Wagner - July 24 - 2:00 am

  This truck is a brilliant package. Towing is bliss with the power of the Vortec 350. The interior is well designed, everything is right where it should be. I have 81,500 miles on my truck and there isnt a squeek or rattle to be found. The 4WD autotrac works flawlessly in low traction situations. The transmission performs wonderful...smooth shifts, with or without towing. I have yet to find something I do not like about this truck! I recently made a 1,500 mile trip and the truck averaged 21 mpg on the highway doing 75 mph. I am not complaining with all of the available power and torque on tap. JOB WELL DONE CHEVROLET!

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  Very Good Vehical - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Happie44 - July 24 - 2:00 am

  This truck is a big improvement over previous models. This truck has been problem free.