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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  Van - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By ckwalters - March 13 - 2:00 am

  None

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  Disposable Transportation - 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Wagoneer - March 13 - 12:18 am

  Money trap. Recently required $1000+ in repairs. Head gasket replaced at 90000-still leaks. Needs muffler. Trans getting quirky. Shifts slow. Accelerates pathetically. 0-60 in five miles. Whines and complains all the way. Noisy and underpowered with a 2.0 four banger. Only thing its good for is the spacious area behind the front seats. Front bumper sags. Best part is bumper sticker in the rear window "HONK IF ANYTHING FALLS OFF!"

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  I love my Malibu - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Sassyberry - March 12 - 11:04 pm

  Previously I have owned only Toyotas and Nissans but the Malibu was love at first drive. After having owned a 200 SX SE, I was spoiled to sport style handling but needed more room for my growing family. I cant find one thing to complain about with this car. Good on gas and fun to drive, it was a great buy!

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  Cruzin HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By mark & Michelle - March 12 - 10:56 pm

  We love this car! The looks is what attracted us to it in the beginning, but the gas mileage is great considering I drive 80 miles a day. We have only had it for a week, so Im still trying to get use to it (I traded in my 2002 loaded windstar) the kids (2 girls) really like the looks but miss the entertainment system that was in the van. We will add dual monitor DVD players later. I think Chevy has out done them selves this time!

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  Homely hatchback - 1998 Chevrolet Metro
  By Jwist - March 12 - 7:00 pm

  Metro is a fun,very economical little car,one of the most reliable GM ever maketed.Excellent quality for the money!

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  2001 Coupe bad C.S. problems - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Randal - March 12 - 6:37 pm

  I bought this car new and have had massive oil burn problems..1 qt every 1000 miles, Chevrolet cust. service is the worst in the industry they DO NOT CARE... They would not fix and do not want to replace the car. It has had the clutch assm. and shifter replaced,vibrated badly

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  the most beautiful domestic sports car - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By mgaskins - March 12 - 3:10 pm

  After 20 years of loving Corvettes, I finally bought mine. The Z06 is incredibly fast. 385 hp really guns you down the road. Punching it when shifting into 3rd guarantees a quick zoom as fast as you can comfortably go on most public roads! The hardtop gives ample storage space behind the seats. I easily packed my full-size suitcase in the trunk for a trip this week. Good luck on your purchase of the best value in high-end sports cars!

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  Great new SUV of 2002 - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By RMS - March 12 - 2:25 pm

  GM has listened to owners, and has come up with the answer to the Explorer. The TrailBlazer has a wider stance, firmer ride, and lots and lots of room over the Ex. Deserves a second and third look in your search for a good SUV.

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  Cost Saving Fun - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By rjw - March 12 - 12:42 pm

  Just a quick note to say that I totally disagree with Edmunds review of the tracker. I have found my tracker to be fun to drive, fuel efficient and reliable. It is more than capable on back roads and on snowy main roads. It has started every day no matter what the temperature outside. The driving position is fantastic. Poop on Edmunds for making people of average incomes feel inferior for not driving more expensive vehicles.

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  Perfect vehicle for my use - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By k2b2 - March 12 - 10:00 am

  I bought a 2002 Chevy 1500HD Crew Cab first. It was too long and drove too rough. Traded for the 2002 Avalanche and glad I did. Its got a smooth, comfortable ride and is fun to drive. I think my wife likes it better than her 2001 Tahoe. Due to its versatility, its just about the perfect vehicle for my use.