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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  Kens New Chevy Impala - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Kensakad2 - June 23 - 2:00 am

  Since buying this car, I have driven in the snow and wet pavments and I am very impressed with the cars proformance and stopping ability. On a long trip of over 100 miles, I got about 29 mpg and thats quite acceptable to me. The one draw back to me is driver visibility, the post and rearview mirror are in the way.

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  Chevy - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Destra - June 23 - 2:00 am

  The Tahoe is a great SUV but it has poor fuel economy and its not too comfortable in the third row.

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  The 2005 Eqinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Sharon Ward - June 22 - 10:33 pm

  The Equinox has a very smooth ride, and a lot of get up and go when needed. I like the looks of the vehicle. The interior is really nice. So far I havent had anything to complain about.

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  The Best - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By chelsea - June 22 - 12:20 pm

  If you want a car that is a smooth ride on the highway but at the same time fun to drive this is the car for you. Depending on how far you go, it eats up gas, but thats what happens when you go to a bigger car. Overall, I can go down the highway and before I know it I am doing 80 mph or more.

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  Nice overall entry level car - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Sunburst Orange - June 22 - 2:00 am

  Its a great car for someone looking to not spend over $20,000 and still have some room and functionality. Great trunk room along with easy to function stereo, driver information center, and cruise control. Smooth drive with decent gas mileage in town(21 mpg..expected 25-28), but lower than advertised.

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  07 Impala SSweet - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By jimmyo0317 - June 21 - 2:40 pm

  If you are looking for a practical sedan with style and power, this is your car. This car is a real sleeper. GM has finally gotten the audio system right with XM, Ipod jack, and Bose speakers. The interior is very nice and the 303 HP V8 5.3L packs a lot of power. I had an 02 Impala and put 120k on it in 5 years with only a catalytic converter issue at 60k which GM fixed under warranty. This 07 is much nicer. The ride is quiet and smooth. The fuel management system is only noticebale by the savings at the gas pump - the power is there when you need it. I only wish that it was RWD.

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  monte carlo z34 - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By shelbyvillepd232 - June 21 - 10:00 am

  only big problem was the alternator. car handles like a mix between a sports car and a luxury car.

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  1999 silverado - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By aatchevy - June 21 - 10:00 am

  I bought this truck new in 1999. The motor is the 5.3, 325 cu 8 cylinder. I was and still am pleasantly surprised by the outstanding fuel econony. approx. 17 mpg.city, 22 +- highway. the slogan is "like a rock", and over the last 3 years i have had no problems. 72,000+ miles and still the original brakes. I still feel the excitement whenever I drive this truck.. i love it.

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  Sounds good on Paper,but... - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jzr1sy - June 21 - 10:00 am

  Mine is equipped with the Z71 option. Very annoying hesitation while in slow driving (heavy traffic)when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear followed by a hard shudder, then it shifts. Been to the dealer 6 times, tried many things, including replacing the transmission, to no relief. When factory representative drove it, he decided that since this problem is in other vehicles there was nothing he could do about it(New standard?). Shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear the same happens but to a lesser degree.

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  Love it! - 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By larry - June 20 - 11:40 pm

  Have had NO problems with this car. Purchased it used with 11,000 miles on it. The gas mileage is fantastic! I learned a new way to drive by watching the mileage on the information center, and average 30+ per gallon. On a trip, I can get up to 40 mpg! (stay away from the ethanol, it ruins the mileage!)