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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  VERY Nice Chevrolet - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Christy - January 30 - 11:16 pm

  I waited for this vehicle to come out because of the new design and gas mileage. After driving for a few weeks I must say I love this vehicle. Do not let the 4 cyl. model scare you, I traded my 6 cyl. and was doubtful, but can really tell no difference in the 4 cly. I am impressed with this American Made Vehicle.

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  Go with the 3.5 liter - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By fu2612 - January 30 - 3:27 pm

  Ive always wanted a Silverado but when i got to the dealership it made more econmic sense for me to go with something smaller so i took out the Colorado. So far I love this truck, plenty of power, Inline engines are the best cant be touched, and also excellent decision to make something bigger than an s-10. i get great gas mileage out of a full tank i get about 250 miles which is great for me

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  Best buy for a true sports car - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Alan Rubin - January 30 - 9:12 am

  It took a little time for me to get used to a car with this much power, but I really enjoy the car. The riding comfort is great. the car rides very smoothly, however it is a little noisy. However the car is not as hot rough riding as its predecessors. Interior design is not bad and there is enough storage room for most items. There are some minor things that could have been done a little differently, but they are very minor. The exterior of the car is beautiful, a true American sports car, we can all be proud of. Gas mileage is great, I get 22 in the city and 30+ on the hwy. So far, quality and reliability are very good. Only one problem which has been corrected.

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  Nice Ride - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By HHR Fan - January 30 - 5:36 am

  From the first time I saw the HHR I wanted one. Now that we own one I love it. Its cute and it runs very well for what driving I do, shuttling kids and grocery shopping.

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  Better than expected - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Duke - January 29 - 9:26 pm

  Our Malibu has V6 option. Very good feel with power and handling. Looking forward to after break-in to see true gas mileage. Beautiful auto.

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  Best Deal on the Road! - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By intexas2 - January 29 - 8:21 pm

  Best deal on basic transportation, hands down! Drove out of the dealership with a brand new Aveo for $7250. Granted, this included a $2K GM Card rebate, but without it, I would have gotten it for $8250, a price including TTL. Performance is adequate, lots of room, and no power locks/windows that will break in a few years anyways. Great GM warranty. Build quality is very good. Engine is a bit weak youll need to downshift to make it up a steep hill. Gas mileage is good, not stellar. Appreciate the side-impact airbags. For the price, its unbeatable! Lots of 2007s still on dealer lots if you look.

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  Nice. But what were they thinking - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Kevin Haas - January 29 - 1:50 pm

  This has a lot of everything for a smaller SUV. I owned a Ford Escape; very strong vehicle, but the Chevy Equinox has more consistent power and is a very smooth riding vehicle. Outside design is sharp, interior design is modern, very comfortable. The only two complaints I have so far are the location of the parking brake and the center console (very poor design); seems like they ran out of room and just jammed them both together. It becomes a PITA, plus the fabric of the seats are weak - seems like over time they will wear extremely fast.

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  Excellent Truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By WHG4AU - January 28 - 9:46 pm

  I purchased this truck brand new from the dealer and have been extremely satisfied with it so far. The interior comfort is fantastic for a guy 68". Performance is great except for the fuel mileage. 13 MPG is my average around town. I added an Airade intake and a throttle body spacer along with a Flowmaster exhaust and it sounds and performs great! Terriffic power and reliability. Comfortable ride with a car-like feel. I fully recommend the Chevrolet 2500HD trucks!

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  05 Malibu LS - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MC - January 28 - 9:30 pm

  This car has been everything it was expected to be. It has good pickup, looks good, and is quiet inside.

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  Great Little Car - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Bob - January 28 - 4:19 pm

  Car is much more than expected. Must take into account cost and type of vehicle. All things considered it is a 10 in my book.Milege is better than rated 34 some city and more rural driving no highway. Have to give ten on mileage gets better than rated. Fit and trim inside and out is excellent. Better than other big name small cars I have owned. So far it is the best small car I have owned.