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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  Fast z24 - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Tom P - August 12 - 2:00 am

  This car has been Good to me. No problems 2.4l has the best power of any 4cyl I have driven.Great shifting trans,shifts hard no lag.

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  CHEVY SILVERADO Z71 LS - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By J.Davis - August 12 - 2:00 am

  I have had this truck for a little over 10 months so far and I absolutely love it. I have 16000 miles on it and have had no problems whatsoever. I love the sharp new front end and rear tail light design! I like the Vortec 5.3 but it seems like it needs a little boost in horsepower, it doesnt seem like 285, i think it should be around 300 or so. Gass mileage isnt the best i get about 300-400 miles every time i fill up. Also, the interior electronics seem out of date and need updating, but those are minor improvements. So far, the best vehicle i have ever driven!

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  Lots of small problems - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Ghost Rider 6 CE - August 11 - 10:00 am

  In about 18000 miles, this truck has been back to the dealers about 9 times for small things that should never have happened, in my opinion. Air leaks, rough idle, pulling to the right, surge, stumbling, fuel pump replacement, 2 computer reprogrammings, window replacement, spare tire lock improperly installed at build, DRL lamps burn out, steering box replacement, cold knock if use 10W30 oil, tappet noise if using 5W30 oil, etc. Worst part is dealers seem fairly incompetent. The customer has to do the troubleshooting for them and look up the tech bulletins too - they are too lazy or ignorant to do it.

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  Best car I have ever owned! - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Erik D - August 11 - 2:00 am

  Has a brute amount of power, great handling, comfortable seats (front ones anyway), and gets between 24-30 mpg on the highway. Youve gotta love that from an engine that is a 5.7L 350. This car is in its own class when it comes to looks, performance and price. The engines potential seems almost unlimited. There are setups out there where people are making over 700 HP, but still get 23 mpg on the highway with the a/c on. Drop the clutch at 1500 rpmÂ’s and youÂ’ll have a huge smile in about 5 seconds!

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  92 lumina-great car - 1992 Chevrolet Lumina
  By babyshu - August 10 - 2:00 am

  my 92 lumina has been a really great car, very dependable, sometimes way over mileage for an ail change, but she has always gotten me there and back.we are just miles short from turning 240k miles and she still runs strong, all original parts.

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  fun but trouble - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By tom - August 10 - 2:00 am

  lots of fun to drive but engine problems galore

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  Great Ride! - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By purplegina - August 9 - 12:56 pm

  I love everything about this car except the lack of storage inside this car. Its the only drawback. I wish I had noticed this before I bought. May have gone another way, but everything else is great..

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  Not your ordinary lumina... - 1991 Chevrolet Lumina
  By drumchum - August 9 - 2:00 am

  I paid $1,000 for this car this spring (still worth around 2,900.. good deal huh?). When I first got it, my friends did not know what kind of car it was. When i told them it was a lumina, they couldnt believe it. And with the 3.4 200 horse V-6 its not much short of a Camaro. Overall. a good car.

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  sturdy car & reliable - 1998 Chevrolet Suburban
  By surburban lover - August 9 - 2:00 am

  Not much better mpg than a semi-why? because it is a big car. It is very safe and you feel safe in it. Very comfortable, great for growing families. Mechanicaly it is good. Yes, it goes through brakes but it is a big car and heavy. They last for a long time and for many miles.

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  Good Dependable Transpotation - 1995 Chevrolet Lumina
  By verticalbackdraft - August 8 - 2:00 am

  This model I own is basic by todays standards. I feel that is has a good reliable drivetrain and suspension.