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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  Exceptional bang for the buck - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Ray - June 16 - 12:35 pm

  This car has been everything I could have expected and more. Its getting around 30 mpg and the car is actually fast with the manny tranny. 5th gear is tall and the engine speed is comfortable at 80+mph It handles well despite small tires. With the rear seats down, the cargo area is surprisingly big. Only design issue would be that the rear seats are very close to the back of the car and I think in a rear-end accident rear passengers might be mush. Maybe. I drive the car pretty hard and it still gets 30mpg. The stick on the manual is pretty rubbery, not solid feeling. Dont buy a Civic. I paid less than 9k for my SVM model and had enough left over for 2000 gallons of gas-60k miles!

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  Nice ride - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Dave - June 16 - 7:46 am

  This SUV is not a Tahoe but the next best thing Chevy has to it. The ride is great and plenty of room. Gas milage is one reason I bought this SUV. The 4WD works great, and we love the separate climate controls in the front. Much easer to get into the third seat than the Tahoe, and the the third seat sits higher so your knees arent in your face.

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  Best Vehicle I Ever Had! - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Trailblazer - June 16 - 5:17 am

  This vehicle has been used by my family for so many, many things from transporting kids around and loading all their sports equipment in the back to being able to put an entire shed building kit in the back. There is so much room in this SUV and it is super comfortable. We have taken it on trips and never one complaint. It is so versitile for so many different things. The rear air is really nice in the summer. The back opens up big so two of us can load groceries together or just sit in the back at the drive-in. I highly recommend this SUV whether you have a family or not. Endless uses and just so practical.

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  Pleasantly impressed with my new Tahoe - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By 3rd Platoon - June 15 - 11:26 pm

  I purchased my 07 Tahoe almost 2 weeks ago and really like it so far. I opted for the leather and rear sensors (LT2 package). The rear sensor is a great addition and well worth the extra cost. The leather is good quality and very comfortable. My buddy has an 04 Tahoe and there is no comparison between our two. The turning radius is just awesome in this thing! Im also surprised that Ive gotten over 15 mgp so far in mostly city driving, all while the engine isnt even broken in yet! Im really liking my new Tahoe!

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  Its a summer thing! - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By shastashark - June 15 - 1:41 pm

  I really like this Tahoe. I bought black on black. Black leather interior with black on the outside. It will be hard to keep clean... but when it is its a very sexy ride! With the 2nd row leather bucket seats its very roomy on the inside. It looks and feels like a limo! Fuel mileage is not bad, but what do you expect from an SUV at this size. All in all Im very happy!

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  Great Vehicle - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By MCH - June 15 - 11:35 am

  I traded in my 2005 Avalanche and this is a much improved vehicle. The front suspension is much improved and no longer pops and shakes like the older body style. The inside is much nicer and quieter too. Rear back-up sensors are a must, as rear visibility is terrible.

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  Good and bad - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By DOYLE CORNETT - June 15 - 9:36 am

  The factory running boards are dangerous. I have had two people fall while getting out of my vehicle. They seem to become slippery and dont have a good amount of traction to them. This should be reported to GM and corrected. I also dont like the exterior door handles. My driver door handle seems to stick in the out position when closing or opening. I am a tall guy, and when I get in I often hit my knee on the dial that controls the lights on the left side below the steering wheel. This should be better placed.

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  Great Car - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Silver HHR - June 15 - 5:10 am

  We love the looks, silver with the 16" alloy wheels. The car is not the a sports car, but it is the most fun I have had driving around in a long time. Between the looks from other drivers and the custom look, its great fun. I think General Motors did a great job with this car. Oh ya, I use the car to commute daily to work, thanks to its good gas mileage. We also use the car on the weekends for our growing family. We love it.

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  My Z06 Covette - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By QuickRick - June 14 - 11:24 am

  I really cant believe what a docile driving beast this car is. You could easily step out of a Honda Civic and into this car finding it so very similar. Easy to drive, easy ride quality and refinement. Then the tach reaches 3500rpms and the beast is let loose big time! I take friends for rides and never do anything outrageous until the end of the ride and they are so surprised how quiet and comfortable it is. When they feel the power like me they wonder where it came from so quickly, so brutally. It is totally up to you...drive carefully and get 27mpg or like Mario Andretti, 3.6 seconds to 60 you can do either with this "everyday driver" able supercar.

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  good car - 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By okteltim - June 14 - 2:00 am

  Good car and is fun to drive. Good mileage around town (25+)when keeping the foot out of the CARB.