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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  2016 Equinox SUV! - 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Donna Smith - July 20 - 5:04 am

  I love to drive my new Equinox. I am leasing for two years and plan to enjoy those two years. I really love this SUV!

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  A nice truck for the money - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By e8retired91 - July 20 - 2:00 am

  I owned this truck for 35 months and never had a mechanical problem, rattle, or anything...period. It looks sharp and gets considerable attention from young folks. However, because the suspension is lowered 2 inches from the factory and comes with wide (235) tire it does ride rough even for a truck. The 4.3L, 180HP V-6 has a fair amount of power but its not a drag racer its more like a boulevard cruiser. The extended cab is a nice feature with the 3rd door, but dont expect anybody to sit back there for very long...just use it to stow your stuff. This truck doesnt pretend to be anything but a minimal factory custom and I enjoyed it for a few years.

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  Nail on Head - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By Berky - July 20 - 2:00 am

  Im 25 years old and I have owned my Impala for about 4months. The only problem with it so far is the rear axle bearings are shot and I am about to get them fixed. Other than that it runs like a champ, drives like a champ, and looks like a champ. Lots of add ons are available from car lovers like us. This is one of my dream cars. I wanted one since the day they came into existence and it took me six years, but I got one. I dont think I would ever choose to get rid of this car. I plan to put a supercharger on it from NAISSO superstore in FL and up the horse by about 300hp. Thatll snap your head back heheh.

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  Beretta coupe - 1993 Chevrolet Beretta
  By thabigcahunaman - July 20 - 2:00 am

  I bought a chevy beretta. I was somewhat pleased with the acceleration. I had to fix a few things as it had 127,000 miles on it when I bought it. But, it still seems to be going strong. The gas mileage is pretty good too. For the price I got, I couldnt have asked for more. Sporty and quick, this car will make most people happy to be driving a chevy.

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  The most fun Ive had in years - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By spifeme - July 20 - 2:00 am

  I have owned my 1998 Red Camaro, with its V-8 and T-Tops for about 18 months. But in that time my 2 teenage kids have decided that I am too cool. That for a single parent, made buying this car worthwhile. Its performance is awesome. I have pushed it up to 140 mph and felt safe. It corners great and it looks great. If a person wanted to look and feel good, get one!

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  Cavaliers are Awsome!!! - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By apracing - July 20 - 2:00 am

  i dont know why this rating is soo low people must just be writting crap without knowing what they are talking about. For a very affordable price the cavalier is the perfect car for any student high scool or college!!

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  Why is edmunds so biased? - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By tony blate - July 20 - 2:00 am

  One of the best cars I have owned, a great buy for the money. Ride and handling compares with cars many thousands more. I looked at everything from BMWs to Hondas to Nissans...best buy for the money. Get the bigger engine and leather seats..LS version Obvious Edmunds is pushing people away form this car but for what reason?

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  Good and bad - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Cobalt Review - July 19 - 1:36 pm

  When I bought my Chevy Cobalt, I loved it. It has great pick up, and it is fun to drive. I commute, so in almost a year I have driven 24k miles. It is hard to see out of the back windows, there isnt very much arm room when shifting. When I ride around with my husband, we always bump arms. After 3 months of having the car, I brought it in for a rattling noise and they replaced my steering shaft. That fixed the problem for a month and then the problem returned. I let it go for about a month just to make sure the problem was returning, and because I work all the time. I have had my steering shaft replaced twice and my whole column replaced, and the problem persists. They say its not a common issue, argh.

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  Gas is a killer, but I love my Tahoe - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By cschell - July 19 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased my Tahoe, and it is everything I thought it would be. Gas is a killer, but dont you hear that complaint with all BIG SUVs. I wanted it..I got it...and I am HAPPY!!

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  Teedoff N. Texas with 02 Trailblazer LS - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Teedoff N. Texas - July 19 - 10:00 am

  In shop 5 times-SIR(air bag)light going off and on-safety issue-air bags dont deploy when light is on. Dealer recon.ckts, repl.modules, driver&passenger sides, prob persists. Resorting to "Lemon Law." Xmission&eng. probs-now @15k mi., gets 13-17 mpg, others get 21-22. Wind noise, door rattle, hatch strap&weather stripping coming apart, LS emblem fell off. A/C blows cold @dash vents when A/C OFF. Heater set @floor only but blows from defrosters! Dealer says xmission, eng.,air/heat within normal specs. Owned 2 new cars, several used-NEVER experienced this. In 2 yrs., PCM reprogrammed-software upgrade + 2 recalls. What next?