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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  Bigger is Better - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By 3lakeswi - March 7 - 6:12 pm

  Traded in a 2001 Yukon for the 2002 Suburban and the ride, acceleration and mileage are similar. The Z71 affords a stiifer ride and should since it is the "off road" suspension. The General delivers a more highly refined and better built vehicle than ever before with the Suburban. My wife has a Toyota Sequoia and the Suburban and Yukon were both head and shoulders above the Toyota in every aspect.

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  the best car - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By dmitriy - March 7 - 2:58 pm

  i love it it is sow fun to drive

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  Great small SUV - 2000 Chevrolet Tracker
  By DAHDFW - March 7 - 2:00 pm

  I still love my Tracker after 2 years. very solidly built - no squeaks or build-quality problems. I have done some light off-road driving (camping) and my Tracker performed very well on steep hills, deep muddy ruts and slippery wet dirt roads.

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  1998 Vette-beautiful but not perfect - 1998 Chevrolet Corvette
  By TMvette - March 7 - 12:08 pm

  Beautiful car and fun to drive even with the automatic. Only drawbacks were the cheap plastic interior, especially the door panels, and some nagging quality issues--plastic parts breaking off in the interior, needed to replace entire exhaust system, stuck ignition intercept lock that required a tow to the dealer.Also continued leaks from tires.

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  I like my Tahoes - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Derk - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Have owned two tahoes (LT) and have not been back for any problems. I was nervous about trading in the 2000 because I thought I would never get one as good as it had been. The new one has been perfect so far. Im not nuts about the fuel mileage, usually averaging about 15, but I accept it as normal for a large vehicle. One concern has been the fast steering. The steering is a little too responsive for me. I have adjusted to it but would prefer a little less resonsiveness. My wife likes it just the way it is because it "steers easy".

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  used to ford but chevy has a good thing - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By rebco - March 7 - 10:00 am

  This SUV is a really excelent all around it has all the comforts of a luxury car but you still get the truck to go with it have absolutly no complaints about power and ride along with the way it holds the road the only thing I can complain about is the climate control system should be much more powereful!!!!!!!

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  I Love it - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Lisi - March 7 - 10:00 am

  I really enjoy driving it I never want to get off. As a passenger it is very comfortable it makes you want to take a nap. I am so Very Happy that I purchased this vechicle

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  2003 Tahoe - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By debhodges - March 7 - 10:00 am

  The Tahoe is a fantastiv SUV it is like riding on a cloud. The room is beyond compare and it is easy to manuver. This best of all the kids (6 & 11) love it.

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  It is a truck - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By BowtieOrDie - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Great truck. I own the Z71, No real problems after 75,000. Only been in the shop once for repair. 4WDR console went out after 30,000 and A/C drainage clogged so flooded the baseboards. Tranny clunk when shifting into reverse. Engine runs great and plenty of power while getting about 18mpg. Interior is more comfortable than most cars especially the back seat, after driving the Dodge and Ford this is a caddy. Doesnt have to try and look like a big rig to impress, does all that under the hood.

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  Love it! - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By MMT - March 7 - 10:00 am

  I just went on my 1st road trip with my new car and was blown away by the 35 mpg! I drove my mother-in-law 200 miles and she felt it equal to her Avalon. Smooth and quiet, handles great! Pooh on the snobs who think you have to buy a foreign car...