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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  2005 Chevy Malibu review - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By dmjones - January 16 - 2:00 am

  I just traded in my 2002 SUV for a more economical car. Versus other cars in this midsize sedan category, I like the solid feel of this vehicle. The interior is much better than some I have seen. It is stylish and fun to drive. I am VERY happy with the gas mileage. It is loaded with a lot of neat extras that I enjoy such as the Driver information center. I am very happy with my decision to move to a 4 cylinder. When asked to, it will scoot! Great pricing, plus GM rebates, make this an affordable vehicle to own. Maintenance is a breeze as well - very affordable.

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  Silverado 2500HD - 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By chevyallday1 - January 15 - 12:26 pm

  I just fully purchased a silverado 2500hd single cab with a 6.0 liter v8, the truck has tons of power and can get through anything even stock. I would advise a toolbox or extended cab if you need space. Overall fully satisfied.

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  Great except no Vanity or Map Lights - 2008 Chevrolet Colorado
  By JimK - January 14 - 4:48 pm

  The truck is fun to drive, It has OnStar, leather, heated seats, etc. Handles great, and tows well. The Z71 PKG is a must have.

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  Uplander Lover - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Mark Clark - January 14 - 4:15 pm

  Family friendly: SUV front end, roomy, remote electronic side doors. Entertainment system. Traction control. Gave up my Suburban for these best options and comfort for my family. Started with as a car rental, now I own one.

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  Great Family Truck - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Dave - January 14 - 2:55 pm

  I purchased this vehicle needing a truck and also an SUV to haul the family around in. I havent been disappointed. It is extremely comfortable and the design is sharp inside and out. The locking truck bed is nice to keep luggage and equipment in when you have passengers up front. Im also an XM guy so having it standard on GM vehicles was a big selling point. Developed a couple of rattles after about a month - the dealership really wasnt interested in helping to fix them so I eventually found and fixed myself.

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  Lovin it - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By BayouMan - January 14 - 12:33 pm

  This has been a fun car to own. The interior and exterior design are great. There are some blind spots but these are nothing compared to many vehicles. I have a bad back and have found the car to be quite comfortable and it also accomodates my 61 frame well. Storage and rear seat leg room have been good. Gas mileage has been 29 mpg in town and the car possesses adequate power withe 170hp engine, better than the Matrix, Corolla, and Civic. I have found this car to be great value for the price. The only complaint is a periodic light (very light) rattle in the door frame but I have not attempted to fix this yet. This is my favorite car yet in my 27 years of owning vehicles.

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  I Want to Keep This Car Forever! - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By maxx_girl - January 14 - 11:33 am

  I have had many cars, new and used, from MBZs to several other GM cars, and although my MBZ 300 was a work horse, I have never had a car I love more than this. Reliable, attractive, lots of leg and head room, can fit tons of stuff into it, great mileage on the open road particularly, just a great car.

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  HHR - Won over my heart and my wallet - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By SuzanneIN - January 14 - 11:33 am

  I have had my Black HHR 2.4L 4CYL DOHC high output for a week and love it. I thought I would never own something that was not a 4WD until now. I went from 10MPG city to around 20MPG. I cant belive it. I purchased mine fully loaded, the chrome pkg makes heads turn. I have been very happy with the ride and the comfort. I took it shopping last night (for my family of 4) and because of the storage in the back had no problems. I would suggest going the extra mile and getting the entire "Perma-Plate" protection on the inside and out. I can not wait to take it to visit the family next month.....I should be a VERY nice ride!

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  Well worth the wait - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By car nut - January 14 - 4:46 am

  Best American car that has come out in years. I have owned a lot of Japenese cars, and this Malibu surpasses them all. GM really has it going on with the style. I have been following this car on the internet for almost a year and it really has lived up to all of the hype and the reviews. It seems to be a well thought out and well crafted car. Seems solid, looks good and does not feel cheap and plasticky like American cars of the past. Took alot of homework on my part to buy this car, and I am glad that I did! Proud to say now, that I am glad that I bought American! Way to go, GM!

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  Comperably the Best - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Dennyeh - January 14 - 2:00 am

  I wanted a 4 wheel Drive Pick up. But since I am a on the road sales rep, I also wanted a comfortable ride. I drove a new Ford 150, and a new Dodge Ram. The Ford was not too bad ride, but the interior quality was very lacking. The dodge was by far the worst. Both the interior quality was poor and the ride was absoultly terrible, like riding on steel wheels with no rubber on them. The Silverado was execeptional for ride compared to the others, and the interior quality was as good or better than any other.