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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  Good Truck Minor Flaw(s) - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By onefast6 - December 27 - 4:23 pm

  Heated seat only warm in the middle not on outside near legs or upper back. Spare tire very difficult to access along with jack. Only 4 speakers. Plenty of power, room and ride great.

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  Love My Z06 commerative Edition - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Z06Bill - December 27 - 3:48 am

  Every Time I wonder why I threw down 45K for a Go Fast, all I have to do is sit down and step on the gas. This thing gets your attention real fast. It spins the tires so fast it doesnt even leave a black mark, it just looks like you scoured the pavement clean. I Love It!!!

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  Happy Customer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Terry Pogue - December 24 - 10:00 am

  Overall we love the Trail Blazer, it is a pleasure to drive. It is quite and smooth with little road noise. The gauges are plan and easy to see and read. Road visibility is very good. The stock sound system is above normal in quality and performance. The drive train is sound and powerful. 2WD likes to change on its own to AWD and/or 4WD and some times it feels like the truck could easily be rolled if turning to quickly. Not happy about the three recalls but they were taken care of in a timely manner.

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  Quit making it cheaper - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Wall - December 22 - 2:46 am

  GM keeps raising the price and removing quality from the interior. I have had a 2003, 2004 and now a 2005. In 04 they took the nice carpeting and replaced it with the flat cheap stuff they use now. For 05 they took away the nice chevy floor mats and put in cheap $5 Walmart specials and took away the double visors. For 05 they also changed the rear end options you cant get the 3.73 anymore you get either a 4.10 or 3.42. They also took away the nice dark charcoal seats leaving you with tan or light gray. Both will show the dirt. I pulled the nice mats out of my 04, even dirty they look better than the cheap 05s. Someone should slap their beancounters. Its a $40000 vehicle. Stop already!

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  Good, reliable transportation - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Steve Goldman - December 21 - 11:40 pm

  I bought this vehicle in May of 2003, and have had no major issues. The only minor issue I had (Check engine light came on), the dealer took care of. I find the car to be quite comfortable, and more than sufficient power. It is basic, but considering the cost difference vs the Camry, I did not feel like I was sacrificing much.

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  Great car...few minor issues - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Daddy to my kids - December 21 - 3:56 pm

  Love the car. Had it for 800 miles now. Avg. mileage (65% city 35% highway) has been 28.7 mpg, better than advertised. The car is quiet and comfortable, although some wind noise around front doors is present on highway. I wanted seating for 6, although the front middle seat is not usable for much more than short hops. Trunk is huge, easily swallowing our stroller, other bags, groceries and more. I have a "knocking" noise when going over certain bumps similar to a loose tie rod. Will have dealer look at it. Brakes pulsed when new, dealer turned the rotors stating rust needed to be removed as the car had been on their lot a while. Still, Im glad I got the car.

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  05 Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By sfc joe - December 21 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a 05 Equinox LT in may 04. I was initially going to buy a Kia Sorento but went with the Equinox after getting a great deal. The model I bought came with 6 cd- indash, 7 speakers w/amp, onstar, and everything else I wanted. It rides great, with the exception of over speed bumps, handles great too. the rear seats are roomy enough for 3 boys (including one thats 62"/220 lbs), there is plenty of leg room. The ride is very quiet and sturdy. no major complaints.

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  Overall Beauty - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By beardown3 - December 20 - 5:37 pm

  Had this car for 4 years and I love looking at it still. Its gorgeous, though it has had a few problems. Gas gauge, steering column lock, noisy tires. But overall its a pleasure, especially after upgrading the intake and exhaust.

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  2004 Avalanche - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By hunter - December 18 - 5:04 pm

  Very good ride quality when compared to pickups - especially over rough surfaces. Hydroboost brakes big improvement over 03. I use this truck as a daily commuter and as a recreational vehicle for hunting, camping, etc... Interior refinement is required - maybe the next generation will put it on par. Overall, the most versatile SUV/pickup on the market.

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  A Great Car for the Money - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By DanH - December 18 - 3:11 pm

  I bought this car used for my daughter and she has put a lot of miles on the vehicle commuting to school. The car now has 43K miles and we have not had one problem! My other daughter has a 2000 Cavalier and it too is very dependable. It’s not a luxury car, but for the money, you get relative comfort and a well made vehicle. My brother-in-law has a 92 with 135K and it’s going strong. My niece’s 88 had 181K when she traded it in. A lot of positive testimony!