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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  GM has done it again! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Tachikrusher - July 7 - 10:00 am

  Finally, GM is back to putting quality products on the road. I almost bought something else after my experience with my 2000 Blazer. Instead, I gave the TrailBlazer a try, along with two comparable competitors. The TrailBlazer was a much smoother ride and had more comfortable seating. The gas mileage is typical SUV mileage, but there is lots of room and even though I didnt get a lot of "bells and whistles" the 17" wheels were a nice option. The acceleration is a nice improvement over the Blazer and though there have been comments about cornering, I have found no problems and actually enjoy the way it corners. I look forward to the day when I buy my

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  Its the greatest! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By robert boos - July 6 - 5:30 pm

  My first Chevy in 12 years and the moment I saw it on the road, I fell in love. Had 1994 Chevrolet SS and it beats that one. It is a head turner and I believe the PT Cruiser is a vehicle of the past, compared to the HHR. The ride, the look, the color (black) with the running boards, sunroof and soon to add fog lamps and roof rack will really set it off. Nice going to the people at GM.

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  Great Alternative to Traditional SUV - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Dave - July 6 - 4:30 am

  The Equinox has been great, no mechanical problems/defects to-date. AWD is great for winter driving.

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  Well pleased... - 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  By Richard Shutt - July 4 - 5:09 am

  You will really be surprised if you put your foot in the 3.6L v6....

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  Great car - 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By BigC - July 4 - 2:00 am

  love everything about it, the lookand the performance,not a V8 but good enough im tall and it is very comfortible. one recuring problem i have is with the light senser, i have to replace almost every 8 months becouse of short. had same system in my camaro, that work flawlessly.

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  Wouldnt buy one again - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By bruce2 - July 4 - 2:00 am

  Bought what was to be an excellent driving and dependable car from an elderly lady. turned out to have a lot of problems in the next 8 months. Ball bearing in front suspention needed to be replaced w/ only 40000 miles and head gasket leaked at only 38000 miles. Bad shocks.

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  dog cab - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By elmo daddy - July 4 - 2:00 am

  I love this truck. I really enjoy its versatility and its comfort. It is perfect for hauling my 2 dogs (both over 100lbs). We open up the back end and fold the seats down and away we go. It is also perfect for hauling friends around for a night on the town.

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  No Longer Speaking Japanese - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By CMT - July 3 - 7:10 pm

  Made three trips to 2 dealers before purchasing my vehicle. Waited 10 weeks and picked it up the 1st week of January, 2010.(Present mileage-4,800) Forget any preconceived notions about this vehicle that you might have. Quite simply,it lives up to and beyond my expectations. The On-Star turn by turn nav is amazing and makes me wonder why anyone would spend $2K on the built-in nav. The blu-tooth feature is exceptional in sound quality and ease of use. The seats are way beyond the comfort of my previous Hondas. Styling, handling and engine performance are first rate. Mileage is avg, about 23 in mixed urban driving. Car is both quiet and smooth on the road. GM sent this one out of the park.

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  WHAT A JOKE - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By tloe - July 3 - 1:06 pm

  When I purchased this vehicle I had to take it back in for problems..I heard a noise in the engine. Then I had to take it back again because when i drive in the rain it blows under the glass and leaks on my feet...and still have the same problem...Then i took it back for front end work..Then i took it for the sensors on the wheels had to be replaced. It has been to the shop 6 times and still have the same problems and now it has a knock in the engine at 49,000 it shouldnt do that..I keep the maintenance up, however it doesnt help..I just put new rotors and brakes on it and the front end shakes...this is a lemon of a car and I hate it...the dealers dont care to fix the problems correctly.

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  Problems - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By rh. - July 2 - 6:13 pm

  I bought the on November 3, 2001, but did not take delivery until November 15, 2001. Today is February 12, 2002. The car has been in the dealer 5 times already. 1. wind noise it sounded like the windows were down at 45 mph. 2. vibrating of the once the car hits 75 mph. 3. and last the transmition is giving prolems already. the car only has 5900 miles and it has spent more time in the dealer than on the street.