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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  ZR2 Rocks! - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By gtbrad - July 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 96 ZR2 from a private owner in Sept. 98 with only 39,000 miles on it. It now has 62,000 on it, and with the exception of relacing the A/C compressor and a broken A-Arm in the front suspension, the truck has been wonderful. Ive put my truck in some god awful places, and it still has no rattles whatsoever and drives as good as the day I bought it. I am now only replacing the brakes for the first time, and need an oil pan gasket. Other than that, the truck has been great.

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  Great looking big sedan with many extras - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By duraflex - July 7 - 2:00 am

  Great road car with time-tested 3.8 V6. Actual highway mileage up to 32 MPG !!! Intuititively designed, user friendly features. Feels big and safe to drive. Especially comfortable for long drives. Good fit and finish. Best bang for the buck in a sedan for under $30,000.

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  3 DOOR 1998 ASTRO AWD - 1998 Chevrolet Astro
  By 123113131313131 - July 7 - 2:00 am

  Very happy with vehicle performance. Good acceleration, mileage, and sits up as high as any passenger truck on the road. I only wish I had ordered the rear heating and a/c. AWD is awesome, never go back.

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  2001 Tahoe - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By WILLIAM - July 7 - 2:00 am

  This is our 2nd Generation of Tahoe ownership. They just keep getting better and better. Weekly trips to the Jersey Shore give us an average of 20.9 M.P.G., The Auto-Ride option was well worth the additional money. Lease buy out at end of 3 yrs is 22,000. We will more than likley purchase this one.

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  2002 Tahoe LS w/ pref. equipt. group - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By bige - July 7 - 2:00 am

  Just bought a Loaded Tahoe LS. After driving Grand Cherokees for the last 6 years, Im impressed by the overall solidness of Jeeps GM counter-parts. Test drove both 2002 Tahoes and Yukons and also Sequoias, just for giggles. No real discernible difference between the Tahoe and the Yukon. Much V8 pep in both, the GMC was slightly more expensive and the dealers much less willing to deal, even during July 4th week. Made a pretty good deal thanks, in part to the present $2500 factory cash. This truck is just a blast to drive. Do check these beauties out.

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  Excellent Vehicle -Drive one! - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By formerChryslerEng - July 6 - 3:50 pm

  Excellent vehicle - good fuel economy, power (for a 4 cylinder), rides and handles excellent, comfortable seats, and is quiet! Drive one - see for yourself how nice it is! 4 cylinder engine and 6 speed auto rans are matched well - vehicle shifts smoothly and is very quite for a 4 cylinder. trans is always in teh proper gear, it dont hunt like other competitiors I drove. Radio controls are very intuitive, I didnt even have to read the manual to program the stations - which by the way you are not limited to one set of AM, one set of FM , and one set of XM - you can mix and match your presets in the order you want- very nice!

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  Mothers Red Jewel - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By jsifferman - July 6 - 5:46 am

  Smooth and quiet. City 19 mpg, Suburban 23 mpg, Cruise 65 on the interstate 30.5 mpg. All the goodies except the skylight. 18 inch wheels. No wind noises, smooth shifts, Wanted to buy an American made Malibu, but couldnt get under the steering wheel. Canadian Impala was next best offer. Lots of room inside. Power and heated driver and passenger seats. Remote start, OnStar and XM. 2 tone leather seats. For a 50th anniversity car, the trim could have been upgraded, but for a Chevrolet it rocks.

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  average - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By chevy prizm-ner - July 6 - 2:00 am

  You cannot go wrong if you want a station to station car. It is a vanilla type car compared to a fancy flavor. There is no excitement in this car but it will get you there and back.

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  Finally - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Corvette kid - July 6 - 2:00 am

  I just purchased my pewter convertible 2000 vette, finally I own a car that is fun fun fun to drive.So far it is the best looking,best driving and most comfortable sports car I have ever owned, and built in the good old U.S.A.One thing that I will have to get used to is the stares from other drivers, they have that I wish I had one look. I also can highly recomend South-Bay Mercedes-Benz for a pleasant buying experience, ask for Ryan.

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  THE BEST ON THE ROAD - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Rod Stubbs - July 6 - 2:00 am

  Having a ZO6 and owning 6 Crovettes before it i am more than pleased with how Chevrolet has delt with the sports car competition. nothing can touch a ZO6 for money and not mujch can touch it on the road too i have a 01 with 385 plus a 25 hp Cold Air Induction System.