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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  borken down on highway... - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By kevin - January 19 - 2:18 pm

  ....90 degrees outside 17k miles. driven gm for 30 years 17 k leaves me on side of hiway will be trading off not sure what to buy driven gms so long brken down on highway

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  Great buy - 2008 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Lee - January 19 - 10:35 am

  Great value. For the money you could not get anything even close to the roominess and comfort of this vehicle. Gas mileage is terrible in the city but on highway pretty good. That is given by the size of the vehicle. The engine is perhaps too big for the vehicle, I would sacrifice the power for better gas mileage. I bought the basic version nothing extra and it is still luxury compare to what the standard was few years ago. Power windows and locks, remote, heated mirrors, OnStar, CD and satellite radio.

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  Good Value - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By KJT - January 19 - 10:00 am

  This is a nice car with a great price.

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  Love my Lil Red Coupe - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Kyle - January 19 - 7:06 am

  I traded in my 00 Mustang V6 that was a piece of junk for this 09 Cobalt. It is my first new car and I am really pleased with my decision. The OnStar and XM are my favorite features plus the XFE sticker on the trunk is cool even though Im not sure what it means. I assume it is the sport package? At 64 and 330 lbs I fit very comfortably and dont feel cramped like I was in the mustang. I drive 100 miles to college and then 20 to work. so the gas mileage is very important. I am getting double what the Mustang was. Great car and worth the money.

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  My Red Cobalt - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By RedCobaltLS - January 19 - 4:16 am

  Its a good car no problems yet? So far Ive got 2800+ miles on it. I hope the next 5 yrs dont bring me pain..Knock on wood. But Im finding out how hard it was to replace the headlight bulb. I wanted brighter lights and had to take off the whole headlight to gain access to the bulb. But other then that its a good car.

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  Very economical - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Sas - January 18 - 10:42 pm

  I really like the vehicle and its very comfortable. When my spouse and daughter get into the car they love to fall asleep because the leather seating is so comfortable. My coworkers do the same thing. I do not like that the battery drains quickly when I leave the vehicle sitting in the parking lot over 3 days.

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  Never left stranded - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jtucker - January 18 - 7:48 pm

  I bought this car in October of 2003. Its had brake pads, rotors, and calipers. The A/C hasnt worked since around 36,000 and GM wouldnt cover it. Also i avoided the dexcool related problems by replacing it around 60K with a Prestone Universal coolant. Also the car has very poor electrical systems. (replaced over 30 lights) Other than those things, its been great, never left me stranded. I bought it because of the deal I got on it.

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  Great Car - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ron D. Rice - January 18 - 3:31 pm

  Have considered this car to be one of the best purchases in the auto line that I have ever made.In varied driving, mostly town/local (two trips) I have been averaging close to 27 MPG. (Trips 31, daily 24), which I believe quite remarkable for this size of car. Have had no problems at all.

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  Very satisifed - 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Troy - January 18 - 7:55 am

  Weve been eyeing an Avalanche for years now and finally bought one with the employee pricing in Sept 08. Interior is very impressive and the ride is suprisingly smooth for a truck. The climate control knobs could be easier to use when driving and a coin holder would be nice. Backing up is tough but the park assist helps a lot. Everyone who rides in the truck comments about how nice the ride is (even other truck owners). Gas mileage is almost exactly the same as the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee 6cylinder we sold to buy this. We avg 15.5 mpg and could do better if we tried to use 4cyl mode more often. 4WD engagement is seamless.

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  Tony Stewart SS - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Bob Carter - January 18 - 2:26 am

  I bought the Tony Stewart SS model and have had it for about a year. I have had no problems. This car is a real head turner. Dont buy anything but an SS--this baby will get out and go