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 choice - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By tallbored - August 22 - 9:11 am

  I have the LT 4x4 regular wheelbase with the amazing 4.2L 291hp six. This car is underated by many consumer magazines. This is still the most powerful 6 cylinder SUV you can get. V8 power, 6 cylinder fuel efficiency. I pulled a 5500 pound trailer last month about 400 miles, and the TrailBlazer took it with ease. It can also pull my two ATVs to the camp and back through moderate off road conditions with no problem, thanks to the automatic four wheel drive. After 11,000 miles, I find that my highway mileage is around 23, city mileage is as low as 17. The dashboard is intuitive, but ugly. Check the Envoy out if you worry about that kind of thing.

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  Tire woes.... - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By linda1951 - August 21 - 11:42 am

  I bought this Maxx SS with just 48000 miles on it in Jan. 2013 the dealership pushed the fact of the low miles. I did ask for a bit on its history, they gave me a page that explained just oil changes. I knew better but was hoping it wasnt to bad with repairs. My problem is the car wears out the drivers side front tire. Just that one but it will kill off the tire in less than 20000 miles. So no matter what kind of tire you put there, it wont last. So the reason for the low miles on the car, the person that first owned it just didnt drive it much. So though I love the car, how it handles and all that. I too dont drive it much. :(

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  Its about time, big bang for the buck. - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By pstone - August 21 - 10:00 am

  If you want good power and very good fuel economy look no further. This is a very comfortable vehicle to drive smooth and quiet. It is suprising that the Malibu is the quietest car GM makes? Go figure is is quieter than any of the currently available Cadillacs. Safety was a concern of mine but all the data thus far seems to indicate that this is a very safe car. I was driving a Honda Accord EX before this car which was a great car, but I think Chevrolet has been trying for years to measure up to Honda and Toyota and has never been able to get the job done until now. Now they have the better car inside and out.

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  Awesome ride - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By cocod08 - August 21 - 10:00 am

  I love my Monte SS I think it was a great buy though I do wish I had held out a little longer and got the supercharged edition. tough the 3.8liter v-6 does travel if you know what i mean.

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  Juuuust what I wanted - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By mhowie - August 21 - 10:00 am

  I was in the market for a midsize SUV last year, but didnt find any of the available vehicles that attractive. I had myself talked into a Ford Escape, but hated the fact that there was NO legroom for rear passengers, and the overall look was only OK. Then I saw the Equinox at the Detroit auto show. It seemed to fit perfect. After doing some online research, I ordered one. When I went to order it, I knew more about it than the dealership. I ended up getting one of the first ones delivered at my dealership. Its exactly what I wanted. From the exterior to the interior, I love it.

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  2004 Impala LS - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Bob C - Long Island - August 21 - 9:09 am

  This car has proved to be 95% of what I had hoped it would be. It is very comfortable, fuel efficient, plenty of room and performance is decent. I have 18,000 miles on it without any major problems and only one minor intermittent problem with dashboard lighting - sometimes becomes very dim, but only during daytime. I definitely recommend this car for anyone wanting a comfortable, safe and reliable car.

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  Best Car Ive owned - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Bill - August 20 - 8:29 pm

  Ive only owned the Impala for about a month now and I love the gas mileage. It averages between 23 and 29 MPG and I havent had a chance to get it out on the open highway yet. It handles great on curvey roads. Interior could be a little more plush but its OK.

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  Couldnt be happier with this vehicle. - 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Grandma C - August 20 - 5:18 am

  The LT 2.4 4 cylinder is perfect for us. Gas mileage is great. Very comfortable. Instruments are very easy to use. Incredible how much passenger room there is in the front and back seats. Plenty of cargo area.

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  New to SUVs - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Melissa - August 20 - 12:13 am

  I am new to driving an SUV but I love my Equinox. I test drove a TrailBlazer and the Equinox. While the Equinox is only slightly smaller than the TB, I felt like I had much more room in the Equinox. It took me a while to get used to my new turning radius (coming from a small convertible) but now its as easy as driving my Moms Impala. It looks good, too. I have received several comments about being mistaken for a Lexus!! I highly recommend the Equinox to anyone looking for an SUV that isnt a road hog!!

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  Great truck - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By gump155 - August 19 - 2:20 am

  Vehicle is built to last. Truck has a great 5.3 engine. Only flaws so far is that the gas mileage is poor, and when the truck shifts, rear axle is rough, otherwise this truck is a great buy for the money, compared to the Ford F150, which was about 5 grand more.