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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  Thank God it was just a rental - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Onlyhonda - January 22 - 10:27 pm

  I would rather drive my 17 year old honda than this p.o.s. the ride was so noisy and unsteady,too many blind spots,interior is very poorly designed. I seriously didnt feel safe driving the car due to its poor outward visibility, and shaking, I had to to exchange it a better designed sedan (sonata).this experience has forced me to never consider GM products for anything.you would think a brand new car would have more pep,but then again its a chevy.

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  So far so good - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By jbomaha - January 22 - 5:53 pm

  Purchased a 2007 Avalanche last weekend. Traded in my Yukon Denali. I have always liked the concept of the Avalanche, just could not stand the body cladding. I love the 2007 style inside and out. Much needed improvement for Chevy. I have the LT version, with most of the LTZ upgrades. 20 inch wheels, sunroof, rain sensing wipers, locking differential etc. We will see how the "V4" does with the mileage. So far on my first tank I am averaging around 12mpg in city.

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  2006 Impala Super Sport - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By dennis penberthy - January 22 - 1:13 pm

  The 2006 Impala SS that we bought was the first one in our area. Other Chevy dealers would stop us and ask to check it out because they couldnt get one. This car is not only very powerful but very comfortable to drive and ride in. The rear seat is one of the best to get into and also has one of the most comfortable rides I have ever seen. The fuel mileage is not the greatest but we get about an average of 22.5 mpg during the warm months and 21.6 during the winter. The highest we have gotten was 24.6 mpg. My 2004 Impala SS has a 3.8 Supercharged engine and it averaged 30.4 mpg on a trip to Oklahoma.

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  Stars Cobalt Review - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Star - January 22 - 5:36 am

  This car is great! For a small car, it has a LOT of room. You can actually sit comfortably in the back seat! The sound system is top notch and the mp3 player is an added bonus. This car handles great and has a lot of pickup. If you want a smaller car with room and speed...choose the cobalt.

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  Low mileage, full leather - 2009 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Frank Dalton - January 22 - 4:58 am

  Resale prices on these are VERY low. For me, best looking Corvette ever--and I had a new 1965 Fifty years ago. Amazing performance but no fun at seven- tenths. If you are in a position to drive 100+ mph daily, this is a great ride. At legal speed, not so much fun. Less than 9,000 miles--mostly highway--in seven years. Always garaged. Always starts & runs reliably. Awesome performance. If you want a premium example of the previous Corvette body, check it out.

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  Good every day car - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Intech - January 21 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned my monte carlo for 2.5 years and have really enjoyed it. Great ride, large trunk to carry all the tools and equipment for my computer business. Front rotors have been turned twice but havent held up very well. Slight pulsing at higher speeds. Overall, good comfortable car with very little maintenance.

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  GM should be ashamed - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By BrentH - January 21 - 10:00 am

  Bought car with 20k miles on it. Since then, I have put about 35k on it, and have had nothing but trouble. Things that broke: Alternator, A/C, recline handle, axle seals, transmission, power locks, windshield wiper switch. Probably missing some, but thats what I can remember. Vehicle drives well, has decent power, and is comforatable.

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  Excellent Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By chevyman16 - January 21 - 10:00 am

  This truck is the best. I cant say one bad thing about it. I own 5 Chevys and have never had one single problem with any of them. GM is superior to all other vehcile manufactures. My Silverado is great. I advise all looking for a new truck to head to your local Chevy dealer and take one for a spin. Youll love it!

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  Tough as a rock - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By nemesis - January 21 - 10:00 am

  The best chevy SUV built, never seen such a quality from GM. Owned the truck for a year now and still impresses. drives like just from assebly line.

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  2002 ls ext cab - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By the65gto - January 21 - 10:00 am

  I think the response of the engine has been quite good. Gas mileage has been surprising, the 4.3 got nearly 20 mpg in town, the new 5.3 gets 17.5 in town and close to 20 on the highway. This is conservative driving, with no load. Ride is somewhat less than expected, vibration is common, I think due to the tires originally supplied on the vehicle. (General 660s) Dealer replaced all four in the first 200 miles, and for the most part, that fixed the problem, however the vibration is returning. I will not get another General Tire. Comfort in the cab is great, radio, a/c all work well.