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 Car! - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By BB - September 22 - 8:54 am

  Got the LT with luxury pkg. Love the smooth ride and handling. The interior looks great.Drove 600 mile trip the first week and go over 30mpg. The trunk space is awesome,esp. with the folddown rear seats. Can handle 4 golf bags. The Bose sound system is amazing,esp with the XM music. OnStar with the turn-by-turn option is wonderful,eliminates the need for GPS. Would recommend getting the upgrade package as it eliminates 90% of the complaints mentioned in the other reviews.

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  Great truck - 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Huey Long - September 22 - 8:00 am

  This is the ideal truck for business that includes taking clients to the field. It travels superbly, and gets better than 18 mpg if driven 65-70 mph. MPG drops quickly if over 70. The only complaint is its ground clearance, which has resulted in some scrapes to the wheel well corners not noticeable, but it would be nice if it rode about 2" higher. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone who can afford it, although its value to me has far exceeded the pick-ups I have had in the past. I will drive an Avalanche LTZ as long as GM can afford to make em.

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  Amazing Truck! - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By iTAPout - September 21 - 10:30 pm

  I just got my Z71 extended cab Silverado 2 weeks ago. Coming from a Chevy Equinox, I was used to a car-based SUV feel and didnt particularly like the disconnected steering I found in most trucks and large SUVs. This vehicle handles great, and I dont feel akward driving it.

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  My New Gold Cobalt - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Linda - September 21 - 9:50 pm

  I am very diappointed in the interior design , the headrests are very uncomfortable in the cloth, makes your hair stick to it. We turned them around. The sun roof tinting is very light, have to close the shield in the afternoon, not what I paid extra for. The arm rest on the door should not be cloth, soils to easily, center one makes it hard to fasten seatbelts. And to adjust the seats there isnt much room to put you hand between the door and the seat. I think that covers my problems with interior design.

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  I Love my Captiva Sport - 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport
  By samiaminiowa - September 21 - 3:20 pm

  I wasnt even looking for this car, but it fulfills all my needs, without too much technology. I can use E-85 gas in Iowa. It has Bluetooth and I am totally Captivated by it :-) Ask me again in a year.

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  loosing value fast - 2010 Chevrolet Impala
  By chiapa - September 21 - 12:41 pm

  Nice car but it does not stand to its name, perfect rental car but no to keep it for a long time, got 32 mpg on high way with plenty of power. Will trade soon for something better before Im to far upside down on value.

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  Two months later - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Happy Camper - September 20 - 11:29 pm

  With just over 2200 miles, Im noticing the MPG going up.. average has gone from 31 to 35. Acceleration is a real kick, and with the windows now tinted black, this little white coupe looks even sharper. A/C works like a champ, and cools the car in about a minute with fan speed initially set at 3. From there it drops to 1, or its too cold.. and were talking So. Ariz. The engine runs cool.. about 195 in the heat of the day. The ride is great, and was complimented by a friend who drives a Volvo. I love this car, and as an old motor head, I rate it right at the top with some of my past hot rods and trucks, even my Sentra. Killer mileage, and it doesnt get hot. What a relief.

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  I love my Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Mike Haynes - September 20 - 8:30 pm

  I love my Equinox. The only things that I would change are options that I didnt purchase. OnStar and AWD will be on the next one along with leather seating surfaces. I do wish that it got a little better gas mileage, however my partner gets better mileage that do I. The styling, size, horsepower, and overall curb appeal are outstanding. I shopped for six months before I made my decision. I do not regret it and my next vehicle will be a 2007 Equinox LT AWD with OnStar and leather. Thank you, Chevrolet, you hit the nail right on the head.

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  Good Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jason - September 20 - 8:26 pm

  I bought the Equinox over 1 year ago and have over 26K miles. Here are my thoughts: a) The gas mileage is a disappointment. I get about 18-20 driving about 90% highway miles. b) It drives more like a truck (feels heavy) but rides like a car. c) It is VERY roomy. d) The interior quality inferior to Honda/Toyota, but better than prior Chevy models. e) Ive been in the shop A LOT (tailgate recall, CD Changer, Front Strut Assy, rear differential, antennae holder 2x) but I also had an accident with my nox in late 2004 which might have cause other problems. I also got one of the first models.

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  GREAT TRUCK - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By SKYBOHOBO - September 20 - 7:26 pm

  THIS HAS TO BE THE MOST COMFORTABLE TRUCK I HAVE EVER HAD....AND I HAVE HAD MANY......USED TO BE A FORD MAN....MAYBE I WAS MISSING SOMETHING ALL THESE YEARS.....I WILL DRIVE THE WHEELS OFF OF THIS ONE!!