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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  awesome car - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By wolfyskitty - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Awesome car. Easy to shift and fun to drive. Great to street race in too.

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  Supercharged a big PLUS - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Snocmpr - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Smooth ride except on bumpy roads due to suspension package, Supercharged version much better than either regular SS version. (Have owned both) Great seats & comfort and plush with all the toys. Only negative so far is the sound of the engine, very tinny like a Honda or Toyota. Need to get sound up to go with 240 HP.

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  So Far So Good! My LTZ is a GREAT car! - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Markj5362 - May 8 - 2:46 am

  I have now owned my 06 LTZ for 10 months and have driven it for 34,000 miles. This is a great car so far.I love the styling, ride, and features like XM and OnStar. Only had it in the shop once for an annoying rattle coming from the rear headliner. Found out it was the antenna bracket coming loose. Would like to see GM improve the climate control. Make it automatic like on the Regal/Lacrosse. This is my first Chevy for a while, so Im hoping it provides many trouble free miles. I have had Buicks in the past which have been very reliable cars.

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  Get It while You Can! - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Vman - May 7 - 3:20 pm

  A slick looking Ferrar-like in speed and design. The car is clean looking; even the simple interior design is nice. This car should go into the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art.

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  Great to drive - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By CharlesBarton - May 7 - 10:00 am

  Owned since the end of Jan. and have loved every minute of it. Turns alot heads and lots of great compliments.The silver color is perfect out here in Arizona and gets great milage both in town driving and out on the road. It was better driver than the Grand Prix but would have loved to get more power under the hood. And the sound system needs no upgrades.

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  Well worth the wait - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By gdsbls - May 7 - 10:00 am

  My husband and I purchased the crew cab, LT, diesel this weekend. We love it. For about the same amount of money and with all of the options on this truck - Ford could not begin to compete. Towing was no problem - the ride was just as comfortable with or without equipment attached.

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  Dream Car For Sports Car Lovers - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By DoomDriver - May 6 - 2:01 am

  Although I have had only one year of driving this car I can honestly say I grin ear to ear every time. With the top off, the glass roof or the matching coupe look, this car looks like its going 100 MPH standing still. It has easy access and egress even for the older folks. Twin power adjustable seats snuggle you into a comfy cockpit. Once you let out the clutch on this amazingly forgiving manual 6 speed the car purrs away just like a Honda or Toyota. The car is that easy to drive!. But step on the gas the car transforms into a jet on wheels. The active handling keeps you safe and straight but lets you fly. This car is AWESOME

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  A Great Car - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Rcc702 - May 5 - 2:02 am

  I love my Cavalier. I have had it for 6 months and have put over 11,000 miles on it. I use it as a family sedan with my 3 children and its wonderful. The LS interior is great and isnt showing any wear despite numerous spills. It has more than enough power even when loaded for a trip and the auto transmission is flawless. Fuel economy is astounding on the freeway and exceeds the mileage on the sticker. It doesnt wander at all on the freeway and goes straight down the road. I traded in my Honda Pilot when I got the Cavalier and have not looked back since. This is much more of a driver friendly vehicle than the Honda was and the kids like the seats in the Chevy better anyway.

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  05 Chevy Uplander - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Sundevil99 - May 4 - 2:52 pm

  Our family has been very pleased with our purchase. The exterior styling is great for those of us who arent extremely happy about transitioning into a minivan. :) The large wheels are a nice feature. The van sits a little higher and other minivans, putting the driver above traffic. Thus far we have had no mechanical or cosmetic problems (such as molding). We love it.

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  Duramax 4x4 - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Toyaholic - May 4 - 1:03 pm

  The Duramax is quiet, smooth and powerful. 0-60 times that will make most cars see your tail lights. The interior of the LTZ is all luxury, void of squeaks and rattles on the roughest roads. The Bose 6 disk is very impressive for a factory system using a center placed subwoofer and 6 speakers. Smoother, stronger and better mileage than the 6.0L 2005 2500HD it replaced.