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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  Great car for the price - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By bethlrn - October 7 - 10:00 am

  This car is value for money. It is roomy, comfortable, quiet, smooth and has plenty of zip. The sound system, heater and a/c are all first rate. And it was less than 20k!

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  Its one of the best SUVs. - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By trailblazered - October 7 - 10:00 am

  All I can say is I love it. No problems, tons of power, plenty of space, its stylish and I got it loaded with everything except the DVD. Gas could be better but I didnt buy an econo car to save money here. Ignore the editors review. Hey editor, the steering is fine unless youre racing around corners. I mean really, its an SUV people not a Ferrari!

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  Equinox 2005 - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Ezelle - October 7 - 10:00 am

  Very comfortable ride; priced well; drives and handles like a v8; as much fun to drive as my old Camaro

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  Great little truck - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Sexieblueyes25 - October 7 - 10:00 am

  I ansolutely adore this little SUV - It drives like a car- handles great and is perfectly designed with comfort in mind !

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  looks great - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Pat54 - October 7 - 10:00 am

  The vehicle is very roomy and has a very nice ride. The rear hatch is very difficult to close and normally takes 2 or 3 tries to close, the rear doors are about the same and take some effort even with the windows down. The gas milage was very disappointing we average about 20 to 21 highway and 15 to 17 in rural driving. I hesitate to think what city milage would be.

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  Way cool car - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By fire61765 - October 6 - 11:40 am

  This is the best sporty car I have owned. I would not want to get any other car. The power is great. The fuel mileage is great. Mine is at 32 miles per gal. Its fun to drive.

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  Wow Toyota & Honda Just Got Beat - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Karl - October 6 - 12:36 am

  The Chevy Traverse just beat Toyota and Honda. The Pilot and Sequoia are cars I test drove and hated. My friend talked me into test driving and I fell in love. The Traverse has a gorgeous interior. The design and suspension are elegant. The transmission is a bit hesitant on the downshift but other than that its sexy. This car has beautiful function all throughout it. The cargo is nice. If you get the chance by American its the way to go.

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  Great Gas Mileage - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Hollswirth - October 5 - 11:20 am

  I love this car, it has get up and go,its roomy, the car looks very small on the outside, but on the inside its bigger. Its fun to drive, and I get great gas mileage with this car.

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  My 2nd Impala SS - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By John - October 4 - 6:40 pm

  Just purchased an 06 SS Impala Blk on Blk. Its maiden trip was to upstate New Hampshire from Western Mass 5hrs each way. Previously owned a 96 SS. The power is outstanding but the front drive limits the ability to take advantage of the power. The plastic on the doors and dash is similar to my fiances 01 Cavalier, in a word, its cheep. Suspension is more like a Buick than my last SS. I did not feel comfortable on VTs RT 91 above 85mph due to curves. Heated leather seats are adequate, could use a bit more bolstering, but they are fine for me. Get the Bose stereo, I didnt and I regret it. No way the engine gets 28/18 hwy/city mileage, more like 22/13.

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  Gas mileage - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By joe320 - October 4 - 12:29 pm

  Overall am pretty happy with my Equinox. Although I am very disappointed in the gas mileage.... the best I have seen is 26mpg under interstate conditions. I have owned 3 Chevy v6s that have gotten better than that on the hwy...the one I traded for this vehicle was a Venture Minivan. and it got better than 28mpg under the same conditions..... I was hestitant to buy the 4 cylinder but did so because of the advertised mileage..... Consequently disappointed ...would have bought a 6 cylinder had I known!