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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  2014 Chevy Silverado Engine Misfire!!!!!!!!!! - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By dthatcher - August 10 - 11:28 pm

  Just took my 2014 Silverado in today because of an "Engine Misfire" I only have 6600 miles on it, and do not feel very happy at this time. I have learned from reading other forums that Im not the only who has this problem. There are some real horror stories going around that GM might not really have fix!!!. The problem started when I came to a stop. A real hard down shift hit first followed by the motor started to miss like it jumped timing. The check engine light started to blink constantly and the Track Light came on. I know we have GM customer service people on this forum so I would like to see what they have to say. However I dont want the standard responsive of take it to the dealer.

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  End of the line! - 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ed Purmann - August 10 - 2:48 pm

  This is my third Impala in a row, 2000, 2007 and this 2014 and Ive liked each one a bit less so this will be my last. Love the styling, interior comfort and drivability but the car was recalled twice the first year although they were minor repairs, but the fuel line ruptured within the first six months, and a wheel bearing went at less then 50,000 miles. Its not very good in snow with a lot of wheel spinning on very slight inclines and am now getting a hum from the rear that is pretty annoying. Just doesnt seem as well built as the other two.

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  SS - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By steve needs - August 10 - 12:10 am

  Beautiful red attracts lots of attention. Hi-test gas only; costs $62.00+ to fill. Ample accelleration, but Id like another 100 HP from the factory. With the special trim it is not possible to add a lot of the extras that typically fit trucks (i.e. running boards). It drives beautifully, has zero wind noise, and has no water leaks. Still not really enough room for people in the rear seat.

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  Not sure what i think about the Equinox! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Christine - August 8 - 12:20 pm

  I have had so many problems with the car and dealer. The gas mpg is not nearly what it says it is. The interior is nice but not for long rides driving. The back of the seat curves in so you have to slouch to drive. the cup holder in the arm rest is in the way to use the e-brake! The material on the steering wheel gets annoying after a little while. Very stylish get many compliments from people who never seen it before

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  2007 Chevy Coupe LT2 - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By lillipad86 - August 8 - 2:13 am

  Love it! Its like a relationship, it takes work. Theres somethings to get used to but for the price, its an unbelievably great buy! Get a sunroof if you can, its a great feature that I find myself using everyday! (weather permitting)

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  2012 Chevy Silverado - 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By tdr_honda - August 6 - 11:50 pm

  Have a 2012 Silverado crew cab, 4x4, LTZ. Have 1300 miles on it and so far it has been great. MPG is about 16.5 mixed city and hwy. Only complaints so far are that this came with Goodyear Eagle tires and they are horrible. have already slid several times. Why do they put these cheap tires on a $50K vehicle. Also, the interior gauges are somewhat outdated and have not been changed since 2007. Otherwise, I think it will be a great truck.

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  Better than the rest - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jneal - August 6 - 10:50 pm

  This is a great truck. I use it as my daily driver and on the weekends it doubles into my harley hauler/drive to the woods to cut firewood truck. It is much better built than is the Ford or Dodge of this year.

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  Rate it - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Larry Carpenter - August 6 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive! Good V8 performance. Very comfortable. Trailers very well. Fit and finish are great! Second Tahoe Ive had and this 02 is Great!

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  2003 Silverado SS: Fun and Functional - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Bryan C - August 6 - 10:00 am

  Okay guys, heres the real scoop on SS performance. Im just back from Palm Springs where I hauled my 23 foot travel trailer 120 miles with my new SS. 12.9 mpg while pulling 2 tons+ of trailer (and I wasnt even trying to be conservative!). I set the cruise control at 60 mph, pushed on the trailering button and let it go on its own. To get that kind of performance out of a vehicle thats rated at 13 mpg city and 17 mpg highway is awesome! My personal modifications: electric brake control (for trailering), SnugTop solid tonneau cover and carpet kit to the bed. Now, all Ive left to do is tint the windows!

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  My review after 3 years of ownership - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By Jason - August 6 - 2:49 am

  I purchased my 2013 Volt Premium off lease with 14k miles. Then drove it 85% of the time in electric mode for over 3 years to 65k miles. During this time, the ONLY issue was a passenger seat airbag. This car was super reliable and from reading on GM volt forums was “over built”. Meaning GM could not afford to let this car fail. I have since sold the volt and thinking of purchasing a newer generation or Bolt. I feel confident in GM battery technology and from what I have researched these cars are designed to handle 100,000 charge cycles. At 38-40 miles per charge = 380-400k miles on these batteries. Love the comfort of this car, could be quicker. Tight handling and smooth driving car.