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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  Solid Car, Great Price! - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Mike - September 14 - 10:16 am

  This car is built very solidly, much better than the Malibu it replaces. Nice touches in the center console and the power adjustable pedals and the telescoping steering wheel are nice features on a car in this price range. Good power from the 200 horse V6, seemless shifting automatic, and commendable handling. Biggest drawback is the cloth interior, which is comfortable, but cheap looking. Like most GM products, I got a big discount, and a sweet lease deal of under $200/mo. for a nicely equipped model.

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  Way better than my HONDA - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Vicki12 - September 14 - 10:00 am

  After having so MANY PROBLEMS with my 2001 HONDA CIVIC, this is way better. It doesnt break down like the civic. The sales people were nicer and not so arrogant.

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  Im SOLD! - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By wouldyacouldya - September 14 - 10:00 am

  My Z71 has been a dream come true. I have had a Ford Supercrew and a 7 series BMW within the last 2 years and could not get total satisfaction from just one vehicle. Have sold both vehicles and now have just one vehicle and it is a Z-71 Tahoe. I am now totally satisfied. A very complete vehicle!

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  My new truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By markshuter.com - September 14 - 10:00 am

  No problems to report.

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  Awesome Truck! - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Karl - September 14 - 1:01 am

  My friends had an 05 Avalanche and they just loved it. We recently went camping with them with it and found that my wife and I loved it as well. Then we could not wait for the all new 07 Avalanche to come out. We finally got our and we love it even more. The ride and handling, are much better. The build quality both inside and out cannot even be compared with the previous Avalanche. GM did their homework. Love everything about it.

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  Awesome Car - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Brianapal - September 13 - 6:47 pm

  The car is just awesome! Great acceleration. I havent received numerous positive comments in the one month that I have owned the car. LeMans Blue, Cashmere Interior, 3LT (not a cheap option but it does have numerous aspects included), and polished aluminum wheels. The wheels really set the car off. It is beautiful. Good ride. Not a daily driver for me but it could be used for such. Great mileage for a 400HP car. Just a truly fun car to drive! I looked at numerous options including Porsche Boxster and Honda 2000 before deciding on the Corvette. No regrets on my choice. I have had the car for almost 4 weeks and 600 miles. Great car!

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  I Love My TrailBlazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Linda - September 12 - 6:30 pm

  I have had my vehicle for 4 years now and still love driving it. It is very comfortable for short and long distance driving. The only mechanical problem was the left tailight had to be replaced, under warranty, and the tires only lasted 32,000 miles. The paint looks the sames as when I bought it. Still has a great shine to it. The gas mileage is OK, expected for the type of vehicle it is. So if you want a vehicle that handles well, gives you the power when you need it, and comfort, this is great!

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  2005 C6 Corvette - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Mert Cheney - September 12 - 9:30 am

  This is a very decent driving sports car. It is my third Corvette with my last being a 2001 Coupe. This is a much quieter ride. The six speed seems a little stiff at times and not much improvement over the 2001. The power is excellent and the seats are more comfortable. The brakes and suspension with the sport package is outstanding. Fuel mileage is slightly less than my old car but I only have 650 miles on it so far.

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  A Real Winner! - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By jtisch - September 12 - 6:41 am

  I owned a 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid, the best car I ever owned. Someone once asked me why I bought Japanese car. I said that when an American automaker can build a car as good as my Civic I will buy it. Chevy did it with my 2011 2LT turbocharged Cruze. As a matter of fact, it exceeds the Civic in every way. I am amazed at the automatic and standard transmission of this car. Every once in a while I shift over to the manual tranny and feel like a 20-something again. I only miss the 47 mpg I got with my hybrid, but paying $6,000 less for the Cruze more than makes up for it.

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  What a truck. - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Highlander - September 10 - 7:57 pm

  Really enjoy this vehicle. The car looks stunning. Interior is nice. Fabric picks up lots of "things". Interior needs a little top mount center console like our mini vans. The exterior paint doesnt feel quite as nice as other cars Ive owned. The ride is incredible. So smooth. Power is great. Flexiblity is awesome. Easy to convert.