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 vehicle - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By hawkeye - July 29 - 9:45 pm

  I have over 21,000 miles and love the vehicle. It has great power. Ive had a transmission flash which improved what I considered good shifting, already.(people complaining of "slipping or harsh shifts" should get it) The interstate mpg is 22 at a steady 76 mph-back highways at 60mph is up to 24 mpg-around town is in the 14 mpg range.

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  The Catfish of cars (they just dont die) - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jolex - July 29 - 8:12 pm

  They say that cars are a liability not an investment, but my 1998 Cavalier proved that statement wrong! I bought mine brand new and drove it for 13 years. It still runs and the only thing I ever really needed to do was regular maintenance. Its been through a lot and if anyone says that a Chevy is no good then there is no way that they have ever truly owned one. I would recommend a Chevy to anyone. It was worth every penny and it showed that American made cars are at the top of the list with foreign competition. I loved my car and my faith in Chevy will never be diminished.

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  I love my Chevy Cobalt LT Coupe! - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Steph&Lou09 - July 29 - 3:53 pm

  It is my first car! Love love love it! It is the best. Hands down. Others are jealous. Its a sexy car. I named him Lou. It has good gas mileage. Never had a problem with it :) Chevy for life!

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  Never Again - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By lowdwn - July 29 - 3:38 pm

  If I would have only known the car would be worth a 3rd of my purchase price after 3 yrs of ownership and 15,000k, I would have never bought it. The build quality makes my Wonder why and how gm is still alive. But hey, the next guy who gets the car for next to nothing sure wont have much to complain about.

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  A LOT of car for the money - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Johnny - July 29 - 11:28 am

  The Aveo is not a Mercedes --we all know that. It also costs a fraction of what a Mercedes costs, and thousands of dollars less than a similarly equipped Honda, Toyota, Kia or Nissan. Frankly, I dont see the value in spending a lot more money for Honda or Toyota badging. This car is roomy, comfortable, very reliable, cheap to operate, and has a good ride. I could not be more pleased with a car that cost me $10,999 + tax that has air conditioning, a great stereo with MP3 connectivity, and even a rear spoiler. Get one. You wont regret it.

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  Exceeds our "expectations" - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By dtgriffin - July 29 - 11:21 am

  My wife and I love our new Malibu! Our Malibu exceeds "all" of our expectations. The standard turn by turn navigation is awesome and easy to use. Hard to believe a family sedan comes standard with the paddle shift, which worked great while we took a drive through the Smokey mountains. We love everything about our new Malibu lt!

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  Best American Option - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By rgwaz - July 29 - 2:04 am

  I love Hondas, but decided to give an American car a final chance. I purchased an Equinox for its style, safety, MPGs, 100K warranty, and low costs for the LS model. The interior is comfortable with lots of room. The vehicle says “wow” to the eyes, but “cheap” to the touch (too much hard plastic and fragile controls). The 4cly is quiet and provides great performance in town, but only acceptable highway acceleration. The EPA estimate of 22&32 Mpg seems mythical. I drive in the “eco” mode and make it a game to get the best mileage. I average 19 city & 26 highway. Also, the computer reads 2 miles more than actual mileage. Be sure to also look at the RAV4 and Forester.

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  Changed my mind - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Alex T - July 28 - 9:27 pm

  I used to be a Toyota only driver. I have found a new love with this Chevy. I feel comfortable, and confident. This truck allows me the comfort of knowing that my wife and daughter will not have to wait for a tow on the side of the road. Good Job Chevy.

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  Bad bowtie! - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By ChevyDemon - July 28 - 8:29 pm

  I have had my 02 3.8 liter camaro for 4 years now. I drive it hard. It is a great looking car and amazing to drive. After a long or bad day just take the T tops off and stomp on the gas and a smile will always come! I plan on keeping this car until it rots!!

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  Very Nice Alternative to MiniVan - 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Laurie - July 28 - 6:31 pm

  Ive driven mini vans since the early 1990s and this vehicle is the next best thing for space and comfort. Actually had my heart set on replacing my 5 year old AWD Toyota Sienna, which was a lemon, with another Sienna, but the Traverse won. Lots of cheap plastic finish features in 2010 chevys, fords and toyotas we test drove. Gas mileage about as expected around 20 mpg. I chose fwd instead of awd to save $2000 and higher auto insurance for awd. Hoping I dont regret it. Relying on stability and traction control to get through northern US winters. On Star and satellite radio are a new treat for us. Nice features. I think Chevy did this one right and they must too, warranty is best Ive seen.