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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  Smooth and Powerful Ride - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By dashmax - October 5 - 10:00 am

  My Monte Carlo SS growls and goes at the touch of the accelerator. It is a joy to drive under any and all road conditions. The stylish lines of the design are the finest in the class. Im quite happy with my MC.

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  GREAT CAR FOR THE MONEY - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By lynette - October 5 - 10:00 am

  I JUST PURCHASED MY MONTE CARLO A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE GAS MILEAGE, HOWEVER THE CAR HANDLES GREAT, FEELS GOOD TO DRIVE, THE ONLY PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED IS MY DASH IS WARPING AND COMING APART AND MY TRUNK OPENS WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, NOTHING THAT CHEVROLET DID NOT TAKE CARE OF!!!!!!!! I WOULD DEFINETELY RECOMMEND THIS CAR TO ANYONE OF ANY AGE

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  awesomeness - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By pauly pocket - October 5 - 10:00 am

  I love it more than any other car on the rode. chevy is the best.

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  Enjoy the HHR - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Mike - October 5 - 5:42 am

  I purchased this vehicle in May mainly due to (1) an immediate need for a vehicle, (2) a desire to get better gas mileage and (3) a very good Memorial Day weekend sale. I have been pleasantly surprised by the vehicle. It is fun to drive and has more pep than I expected.

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  Its OK, if you have no other choice - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Leona - October 4 - 10:53 pm

  I got this car 4 years ago (in January) and when the lease is up, its gone! Dont get me wrong, the car gets great mileage, and its fun to just step on the gas and go! But its a really light vehicle, and I get afraid of driving thru a puddle on the highway. Ive had to bring it to get fixed twice, and its had a recall. The gas gauge also never says that the tank is completely full, something thats evidently a recurring, "accepted", problem for Chevy cars..

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  How much fun is this? - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By NC Dad-UCLA Daughter - October 4 - 10:45 pm

  About a month ago, I purchased a 2009 Aveo5 2LT for my daughter. The only options not on the vehicle were leatherette seats and a sunroof. After driving small, medium, and large SUVs for several years, I had forgotten how much fun driving a small car really is. My daughter needed to get to grad school at UCLA and we drove across the country from North Carolina (2700 miles). Since I am 6 feet 3 inches tall (with long legs) I was concerned, but I found it comfortable, quiet, and with good handling, even on the day we traveled 680 miles. I was very pleased with the overall 31 mpg we got on the trip, especially since the little thing was loaded. It cost just $318 in gas for the trip!

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  Cobalt Review - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Daniel - October 4 - 6:00 pm

  The new Chevy Cobalt is an awesome car. It has great handling as well as some real get up and go. It out does V6 Mustangs and other cars with that kind of power. it has had some kinks like the E-brake light flashing on and off for no reason. Chevy realized it was a simple error in the car computer and fixed it. Both my interior door handles broke but all of that was covered in the warrenty. Overall, the new Cobalt is a fun car to drive. I am happy with the work GM put into this car.

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  Cant beat this car - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By robert - October 4 - 3:53 pm

  For the size for the money you cant beat this car import or domestic. Under $20k for ls model. I get 33 mpg highway in a full size. I did my homework and this a better deal than Toyota Camry, Honda Accord. This car is a plain Jane inside and out but that is what makes it a great car

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  2009 SS Cobalt - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Why Not - October 4 - 1:02 pm

  Bought the Cobalt SS Sept 15. So far I’m very impressed. The turbo really helps the 2.0 liter create power. It feels faster, stops quicker and handles better than my 96 TransAm WS6 (and it was a performer in its day). The reconfigurable display is awesome, the Brembos fell like an anchor is thrown out to help stop it and it handles like its on rails. The seats feel great, standard bluetooth is cool and the short-throw shifter is outstanding. Ive had Vettes, TransAms, and tons of 60s era muscle cars. At 54 years old, this car puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. With the GMPP plan offered last month, I’m sorry I didn’t buy two of them for $22,400.

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  What a car! - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Sherry - October 4 - 11:50 am

  I love my Trailblazer. I travel more than 45 minutes each way to work and this car makes it worth the trouble. It is loaded with so many comforts like 4WD, seating for 7, leather seating (heated), OnStar, XM radio, and much more. I bought the medium red color with gray interior and I get so many compliments! I highly recommend this vehicle.