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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  Almost completely satisfied - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Dennis - September 11 - 9:45 pm

  Bought this one new. Use for towing pop-up camper and boat. Good power and reasonable fuel economy with I-6: 18 mpg (suburban) 21 (highway) 16 mpg (highway towing). Only two mechanical problems: fan clutch (my pocket) and loose baffle in muffler (warranty). Original Goodrich tires went 60,000 miles. Very satisfied but will likey replace with one of the new GM crossovers for better economy and increased passenger capacity/cargo space.

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  Love It! - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Mitchell - September 11 - 12:33 pm

  I am 17 and this is my first car. I bought it with 93,000 miles. It is fun to drive, and gets great gas mileage. The only problems that I am having are, the sunroof switch has a short and will only open all the way if its been in the sun. It has great acceleration, and response. I also need to fix the struts in the front, but its not the cars fault.

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  Awesome Ride - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By drhjmacleod - September 11 - 10:00 am

  The 2WD Silverado is a great choice for someone who needs a truck, but also does not want the gas mileage of a 4WD truck. I opted for the locking differential. With a little weight in the bed at winter time, my truck has yet to get stuck. I love the comfortable and smooth ride and the power from the 5.3 liter engine. I have been able to achieve just over 20 MPG on long distance trips which I feel is outstanding for a truck of this size. Go buy one - you wont regret it.

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  WOW - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Renorad - September 11 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Colorado in July of 2004 and I have yet to get less than 20 miles per Gallon. The transmission is smooth and there is plenty of power. I live in the mountains and have no problems climbing the hills. I recommend this truck to anyone looking for a midsize pickup. p.s. to all those dads....the car seat fits easily in the back!

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  Best Ever - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jo Hawk - September 11 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car that Ive ever driven. I love everything about my Equinox!!!

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  Great Vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Linda Etheridge - September 11 - 10:00 am

  We owned two Chevy Blazers and decided to buy a new vehicle. We were shown the Equinox, but had never heard of it and were alittle skeptical of a brand new vehicle to the market. We took it for a test drive and love the way it handled. We traded are Blazer in and now are the proud owners of the Equinox. First, this SUV is priced just right for the middle class family. Secondly, once you get behind the wheel you are sold. The interior and exterior of this vehicle is beautiful. The dash is user friendly, so you are not looking for control knobs and switches. From the side, not only does the Equinox resemble a Lexus SUV, but it rides like one.

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  Smooth Ride - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By pghbob - September 11 - 10:00 am

  Moving up from a Zuziki Sidekick, we have found this vehicle to be a very smooth riding, great looking, easy to drive "car". Great view from front window, great view thru rear view mirror. But passengers have complained about rear head rest. And they do block some rear vision, though not much. Window controls are a little difficult. They should all light up like the drivers does. Adjustable rear seat is great. Center air conditioning vent should have more upward adjustment. The parking brake is in a kind of awkard position. Hood is easy to open and easy to handle. Dashboard is nice. We love the large sun roof. My favorite part is the acceleration, which is great!

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  Equinox - the Right Balance - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By L2roar - September 11 - 10:00 am

  Equinox is aptly named for its balance between the "too small" sport ute and the larger SUVs. This is my 4th SUV and its the one Ive been looking for! Just right. Its much quieter than my Ford Escape (very important to me). Its easy to get in and out of and my black lab fits in nicely. I love this Chevy!

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  great suv - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By ch1455 - September 11 - 10:00 am

  I really like this auto. Its cute and good price. Great handling and fast responce.

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  Mina Has Been A Joy! - 1992 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Sara - September 10 - 5:29 pm

  We bought "Mina" as I call her with 65,000 miles,from a small country dealer. She was our family car for 10 years, and then went with our son for his last two years of college. She has now been our daughters for these last 2 years. Except for the brakes (approx. every 18 mos. they need replacing. Defect at manufacture, and regular maintenance items she has been so reliable and has served us so well. We couldnt ask for anything more from this car! Has a lot of body issues now, and we have decided to sell her. Sad, I would like to keep her until she lies down and dies, but, the daughter needs something more safe at this point.