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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  Recommended - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Recommended - April 20 - 6:06 pm

  Excellent overall vehicle. I drive fairly gently, obey speed limits, and use cruise control. 22.5 mpg hwy and 17.5 mpg city. When wanted, great power from the inline 6 cyl (275 hp). Fantastic brakes! Super-tight turning radius... Made driving/parking in chicago a breeze. I bought used with 7k mi 3/06 now has 39.5k mi... Absolutely no problems. 4wd works well... several excursions beach driving at Outer Banks, NC without problems (deflate tires to 15-20psi). I suggest changing OEM tires from Goodyears. I installed Michelin LTX tires and handling, ride, and offroad greatly improved! Outstanding everyday vehicle, in my opinion.

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  Amazing truck - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Bowtie - April 20 - 1:43 am

  This truck has been great. A long awaited replacment of the S-10 (and I had 1). I have the Z-71 package and it does well off-road and I have put it through its paces.

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  Long term information - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By KW - April 20 - 1:41 am

  I have over 56,000 miles on my 5 spd hatchback. Love it. Absolutely no problems, never been in the shop. Ride is very smooth and controlled. Turns on a dime (18 ft turning circle). Lifetime average MPG is at 34.7, top was 44, lowest was 27, but only been below 30 MPG four times. Last 6 months overall average is 38.9 MPG. I cant believe the value I got with this purchase. Engine just purrs. Ride is quiet at 60-65 cruise speed (but Ive been keeping it at 55 lately for better MPG). Acceleration is adequate for all my needs. Would by another without question. Fit and finish is supurb. Seat is comfortable for long drives. Plenty of room for backseat passengers.

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  LTZ is a Great Package - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Luv da LTZ - April 19 - 12:51 pm

  I bought the LTZ New Years Eve, and I am very pleased with this vehicle. I drive a lot of highway miles and average about 23 mpg, driving 65 mph. It drives smoothly, handles well, though turning radius isnt the tightest. With the back seat pulled all the way forward, there is plenty of cargo room, and with it all the way back, plenty of leg room. The Pioneer sound system w/subwoofer gives premium sound. I would suggest adding more storage compartments. The drivers visor extends, but the passengers does not - kind of odd.

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  Great truck, a joke for gas mileage! - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Butch - April 19 - 8:43 am

  I have really enjoyed owning this truck for a 1 1/2 now. Truck rides very smooth, very comfortable on the highway. White, Z71 Ext Cab Std Box, 5.3. Pulls my 5,000 lb travel trailer no sweat. Only problem Ive had with the truck was the battery went out in Oct of 07. Absoloutely love this truck, however two very annoying things. 1 the seats collect a ton of lint! 2nd, the truck sits way to low in the front! Why did GM have to design these trucks with the nose dive. With my 5,000 lb trailer on the back just levels the truck out. You look at the 2wd and the 4wd Silverados and you cant even see a difference. GM should design these trucks to sit up a bit higher in front. Otherwise very satisfied!

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  Great gas mileage - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Ty - April 18 - 11:46 pm

  With regular maint. This has been such a problem free car. Me and my son drove from AL to SD for vacation road trip, I got great gas mileage!

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  So Far So Good - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By justducky150 - April 18 - 8:16 pm

  So far we have had a very positive experience with our Uplander as we had with our Montana. The AWD certainly worked well in the deep Pennslvania snow. Phatnoise is a wonderful idea, Im not sure why GM discontinued their relationship with that vendor. Basically we have unlimited amount of MP3s at our fingertips on a 40 GB Phatnoise Harddrive while the kids watch their DVDs in silence. We took it on our first roadtrip and it performed magnificently. In addition the snubnose SUV styling tricks everyone. I still dont understand minivan apathy, these cars rock with good power in a utilitarian wrapper. We love it. GM should continue to manufacture these vehicles.

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  First car/suv in over 10 years - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Russell Davidson - April 18 - 6:04 pm

  Havent owened a car/suv in over 10 years. We own a Suburban now but the poor thing dosent get drove any more. All Ive evered owned is trucks and a few Suburbans. We fell in love with the HHR on our first test drive with in 4 miles. Im 6 foot tall and this thing has more room than my trucks. Its so easy to get into and out. Great job GM. The fuel mileage is great the ride is also great. The main thing I love is my wife is right by my side. With all my trucks and the burb you have to much room between you. I love to reach out and touch her without taking my eyes off the road. Im sure this will not be my last HHR.

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  A true all around sports car - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Sam - April 18 - 2:24 pm

  For years I didnt seriously consider the Vette due to the "gold chain" image and cheap looks. The looks and performance of the C6 got my attention and the 08 improvements really got me thinking. I finally took the plunge and bought an 08 JSB/Cashmere car w/ 6sp and 2LT. You cant help but smile when you nail the throttle, hear that big V8 scream, and feel the tires fighting for traction. I came from Porsches mostly but I have owned something from about every sports car manufacturer. My most recent was an 02 911 Cabrio. I have to say that this is my favorite of anything Ive owned. GM has done a magnificent job and no excuses are necessary. Drive one and youll understand!

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  Sturdy vehicle with performance. - 2004 Chevrolet SSR
  By Lotis 61 - April 17 - 10:58 pm

  Ive owned 5 Camaros in the past and this is the only vehicle Ive ever test driven and now owed that came anywhere close to the performance I was looking for. I test drove a lot of trucks and cars and the SSR was the only one that I liked that had the sound and motion to go with it. Its very comfortable and not too low to the ground like my Iroc. Great handling and love the little extras that came with it. Handling and speed are my most concerns. The convertible top is awesome on summer nights and days. It has been a very reliable.