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 Value/Good Choice - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Amy - February 6 - 5:33 am

  Vehicle was bought as the primary vehicle for my 3 kids and my wife. Our kids 10 month,3, and 5 required 6/7 pass seating and an easy way to get to the back row. Uplander was compared to Odyseey and Freestyle. The LT verison was evaluated - MSRP 32.2K for LT,FWD,Premium leather,XM,CD changer,Remote start,(2) power doors,Conv package, towing package, others - reduced to 28.5 k financed b-4 trade in. Likes - XM, DVD, interior trim. Confortable seats (front and last row) for 60 200 lb adult. Dual power doors Dislikes- rear hatch close effort high Rear windshield wiper control location Overall: Solid value/price - good choice

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  Great Ride - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By cklescewski - February 6 - 4:03 am

  Bought this to replace a large sedan. Ride is great.

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  Great versatility - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By David Hrivnak - February 6 - 12:04 am

  The versatility of the truck is unmatched. I have been able to use two tiered hauling, filling the area under cargo panels and then stacking an equal amount of weight and stuff on top. I can haul 2 yards of mulch in the back, hose it off and go out to a nice dinner that night.

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  A Car With a Soul - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Dennis DeBoer - February 5 - 9:23 pm

  This is my first Corvette, so I had high expectations for it. The experience has exceeded the expectations. Its a beautiful, sexy and comfortable car, and Im glad I did it.

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  04 Trailblazer LT 4wd - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Steve - February 5 - 4:06 pm

  We have taken it to the mountains of Colorado and it has proven to be a very capable off road machine. Took tough trails like Tincup, Iomogene, and the legendary Black Bear. A little short on ground clearance. I get 22 mpg if I drive it and the wife gets about 17. It is an economical 4wd if you drive it well. This is the 3rd one we have owned. No problems with any of them. Had a couple of recalls on the earlier models, but they had not affected us. Wish they would make it with a small turbo diesel. It would be very economical then. Why is Jeep (owned by Europeans) the only company offering a diesel in a SUV?

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  2002 Tahoe - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By DMeyer - February 5 - 3:28 pm

  This is my second Tahoe. My first was a 97. This truck is hands down a much better truck. I have 55k on it and have had no problems. I tow a boat and have used for off road purposes while hunting. Also we use for our trips to CO for ski vacations. In all conditions it has been a great vehicle.

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  2006 Malibu Sedan 6 cyl. - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By npillen - February 5 - 2:47 pm

  I love this car! It has a tremendous amout of room. It does have a little bit of a spacey steering, but handles great. I think it looks very sleek and overall I am totally satisified with this car!

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  C-Vette - 2017 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Charlie Wight - February 5 - 4:28 am

  I love her. She is a show stopper. Have not liked the lines of the Stingray since my last one (1968) until the 2017.

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  Great commuter, fun - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By Dave Vollmer - February 5 - 3:41 am

  Great commuter, constant 50 mile summer range, 35 miles in winter, best 59.3 miles. Bought with 48k miles, now 64k, still less than 80 gallons of gas used, 200 mpg o/a. Overnight charging runs $0.75 per completely discharged battery (35-50 miles), gas ICE backup, 35 to 40 mpg. Nice looking, quick acceleration, low maintenance. No repair issues. Quiet.

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  Love the Trailblazer - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Trailblazer - February 4 - 6:22 am

  I traded my Dodge Dakota for the Trailblazer as I wanted more room and better gas mileage. I found I got 20 MPG on the highway doing 70 mph, which was a huge improvement for me. I love the room it offers and it handles great in corners. The sunroof and 4X4 features are just an added bounce. All in all Im very happy with my purchase.