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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  Overall, The very best bang for the buck anywhere. - 2016 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Reuben Wright - December 9 - 7:34 am

  1. there is a $1,300 gas guzzler tax for the 8 sp automatic. 2.Fuel mileage for the 8sp auto is down right awful. The manual has no tax and mileage is way up compared to the automatic. 3. If you did not purchase the aero package then you are going to have road rash on the leading front edges of the rear fenders very expensive to repair. 2. Watch tire wear closely, tires have only 7/32 tread brand new and any alignment issues will present themselves within the first 2 or 3 thousand miles. In ref to my first review, at this point in time the least expensive way to go is with after market skirts. Bear in mind, this fix only applies to 2015 and 2016 Zo6s. The GOOD NEWs is the 2017 Zo6s and GrandSports all come with the side skirts. Still the best bang for the buck. Fuel mileage has picked up a tick to 22mpg. Better but with the cylinder deactivation feature I still think it should be more.

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  Built to last - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By David Baum - December 9 - 2:00 am

  Wait for the 2006. It will be a blast. The 04 is a good design and is driver friendly.

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  small tiffs over an expensive vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By lageist - December 9 - 2:00 am

  small annoyances are the brake pedal and gas pedal seem to be far apart and have to move my entire foot from one to the other all the time. ajustable steeing wheel blocks my view of the speedometer when it is down all the way. dimmer switch cant be found at night because it is the only thing not lighted! finally, cant tell if the seat belt is latched when we clip in the kids car seat because it doesnt click when latched.

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  trailblazer04 - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By peach - December 9 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is fun to drive. Has great steering capabilities. Lots of interior room especially for a mid-size SUV.

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  great value - 2017 Chevrolet Sonic
  By No name given - December 9 - 12:23 am

  Bought it and have not regretted it. It is an inexpensive car, but has great technology and drives well for a small car. I also think it is a good looking car.

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  My lake cruiser - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By J.R. - December 8 - 9:52 pm

  Im happy with my 2004 Z71 Tahoe after almost 5 years. Just turned 45k on the mileage & just replaced the original tires with Goodyear Silent Armor. The ride really smoothed out. Problems: Mileage is really awful. The black painted front grill pealed (think a rock chipped it). The tire pressure monitor went haywire (I got a tire gauge). Lastly I wish the driver seat was a little more firm. My wifes Honda Pilot seat is awesome. With that said I still love my Tahoe. The room, the height, the looks, the cushy ride. Its my highway cruiser that can off-road it if need be.

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  Still Not Sold - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By TRARAR - December 8 - 8:34 pm

  I bought the Equinox brand new with 0 miles in Feb 07- coming up on 2 yrs of owning it I still have mixed feelings. It handles horribly in the snow, even with the AWD feature. Its been extremely reliable other than 2 factory recalls (winshield & airbag) the stereo isnt that great, buttons are breaking off, engine knocks even w/ regular oil changes. It has a hard time getting up steep country hills. Very sleek vehicle. Its black. Decent gas milage. Needs a bigger trunk and the hatch is heavy and slow to open. Its ok for now but Im already looking at buying something else for winter. Its good for summer driving. I wouldnt purchase another. I think its too costly for the quality of it.

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  Great Mini SUV - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Great Mini SUV - December 8 - 7:17 pm

  I drive my Equinox 150 miles at least a day. I have had no problems to report. My wife and I love to get into the Equinox and driving. The vehicle does ride a little loud and has a big turn radius. But coming from a truck and a Buick station wagon the turning radius really isnt an issue. My biggest complaint is the gas tank being on the passenger side.

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  A nice suprise from Chevrolet - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Renee - December 8 - 2:50 pm

  I had honestly not heard of this car until I visited the dealership. I had come in for an Impala and drove away with the Maxx! I liked it instantly, and test drove alot of cars. I was looking at the Ford Fusion for the same price, but the Maxx offered a standard V6, ABS, and a remote starter for less, and drove better! You truly get a lot for your money.

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  Impala SS: Update to my 01/21/08 Review - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Morgan Hayden - December 8 - 12:05 pm

  I thought I would update my 01/21/08 review to help fellow readers my ratings have been adjusted a little bit. Since Jan 08 I have added a complete Magnaflow exhaust system, K&N intake, and had the car extensively dynotuned. I realize these are steps most owners will not take to fully explore the SSs capabilities, but if you do-- wow! Highway MPG is up slightly, 0-60 times are down to the low 5s, HP is now around 335. Friends and clients often ask to drive the car they love the room, the power, and how tight the car feels. My SS is Silverstone Metallic & garners many "Thats so classy!" comments. The only downside is that Ive had the steering shaft replaced under warranty.