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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  EXCELLENT CHOICE! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Chevylover! - January 15 - 10:00 am

  After doing extensive research on several mid-size SUVs the Trailblazer was my #1 choice! Despite the editors reviews I find it to corner just fine, the steering is great, and the interior is very clean in appearance. I do not find that it looks low-quality in any way and that car turns heads!! I have a V-6 and, after driving a Maxima for 6 years, it has just as much pickup and engine performance! It drives very smooth and is very comfortable and FUN to drive!!

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  Great SUV - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mbperkins - January 15 - 10:00 am

  Great SUV. Would like better gas mileage. Would like to see bigger tires and rims on LT models.

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  I really like mine - 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Sheri - January 15 - 5:59 am

  I have the LT model and I love it. It handles really well. Turning radius and parking are not a problem. After reading the comments on sore bottoms, I feel like the seats could be more comfy, but Im not certain if Im noticing something I otherwise wouldnt have. I have to say, that the seats are much more comfortable than the ones in the Toyota Sequoia. Maintaining the legroom, it would have been nice if there was more cargo space w/out having to fold down the rear row of seats -- I didnt want a full lenghth Suburban. The styling is elegant, if not trendy. And speaking of legroom, the drivers seat has plenty of legroom, this is important if you are tall like me.

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  Never go back to imports - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Apollo - January 15 - 4:16 am

  This Corvette is absolutely incredible! I have only had it about a month, but it is so smooth and extremely well put together. I drive a lot and my most recent two cars have been American made (after 5 Japenese cars.) I had such good luck with my Lincoln LS (110,000 in three years) I decided to get another new American made car. There will be no going back for me. I have had the opportunity to own and drive some of the best Japan has to offer. They make a fine automobile and spend a gob of money on the little things that make you think you have something special. When you drive this car, you KNOW you have something special. 25 miles to the gallon all around and it is not even broken in yet.

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  2007 Chevy Silverado - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By chevy machine - January 15 - 3:46 am

  Great truck, very fun to drive on or off road. Radio is not great but works. The truck looks awesome. It is reliable and runs great.

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  Excellent - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Robert Brennan - January 14 - 10:56 pm

  Ive owned the Aveo for a month. Very roomy inside for driver and passenger. Good pickup. Great fuel economy. Responsive handling. Fun to drive. Very pleased so far with the car.

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  The more I drive the more I like - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Mark - January 14 - 10:31 pm

  Ive always had performance cars, for their functional Gadgets/Power/Handling. My last car was a Loaded Trailblazer LTZ. I needed a new car to transport my aging parents with ease and security. All car makers can make a hot car but it is better to make a car handle and stop well. I chose the Uplander for its Engine/4 Wheel Antilock Disk Brakes/Stabili-Trac/Traction Control/Air Leveling/Sit-n-Lift systems. The SUV-Van concept also is nice. XM Satilite radio/6 CD Changer/Radio Station Info System is nice. Controls are easy for me to command the whole car. The Digital Info Center is a plus too. Auto Liftgate is nice too. Headrests in back are a small problem like extra passenger heads.

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  Best gas mileage in V6, has high torque - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By steineri - January 14 - 9:51 pm

  Great acceleration and gas mileage. Perhaps most importantly nowadays, it gets MUCH better gas mileage than its competitors. The horsepower looks slightly lower than some other V-6 cars in its class but most other cars list their hp at really high rpms (i.e. 6000+). The Malibus 3.5 liter v-6 has a LOT more torque (which is what matters) than the engines of its competitors. I literally get 38mpg on interstate trips with mostly flat driving when I drive conservatively.

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  This Car Turns Heads - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By RAYMOND KIMBLE - January 14 - 7:55 pm

  Since I purchased my Corvette coupe in August 2005 I have experince nothing but pure joy whenever I drive it. I get compliments on a regular basis. This car is not only powerful but its also extremely fun to drive. Believe it or not, Ive even been asked by policeman how fast it goes. I always give them the politically correct response of "55 miles per hour". I would recommend this car to anyone!

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  ChevyTrailblazerLT - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By SuperSUV - January 14 - 7:42 pm

  Great truck, not some flimsy thing like others on the market. Chevy trucks are able to tow heavy loads, too. Fabulous in the snow. Buy a cheap import SUV, get a cheap SUV.