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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  it has problems - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By tracy - July 28 - 2:00 am

  i brought a 2002 trailblazer brand new after having it for a month i started having electrical problems with it .it all started with tail lights blowing out and then the problem started to get worse where all running lights,brake lights and headlights went out.after bring it back to dealership 24 times within a 5 month period i filed under the lemon law and won but after paying over 30,000 for it and was only able to drive it part time because it was always back at dealer i was never able to really enjoy it they told me they know it has problems but they wont recall nothing on it because it will cost them to much money to fix the problems

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  great vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By sandy martin - July 28 - 2:00 am

  drives like a car, ample power, great in the snow

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  I love my new Trailblazer!!! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Patti D - July 28 - 2:00 am

  Ive wanted to buy an SUV for the past 5 years and I finally found one that I absolutely love. I have a 2003 Trailblazer LT (4wd, 4 door). I purchased it in 8/03 and so far I have approximately 3700 miles on it. We have had a rough winter on Long Island so far this year and I felt very safe driving my SUV in the snow. Its got a great ride and is very comfortable. Ive always owned small to mid-sized cars. Ill probably never buy a car again!

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  Great Vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Russell McPeake - July 27 - 8:58 pm

  I bought my Z66 new, it is the best vehicle I have ever owned. I have over 124,00 miles on it, have done no repairs at all, just maintenance. I still have the original brakes and they were checked when I put new tires on a couple of months ago and they still have 65% of the pads left. I have room for 5 people and can carry all their luggage and then some. I didnt buy it for the gas mileage, but I just drove on vacation and got around 19 mpg, and that was both highway and riding around mileage. I cant complain.

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  What a car! Wow - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Richard - July 27 - 7:58 pm

  This is a great car, style, looks, fun. I am a senior who has owned many cars including a 54 Vette, SS396, Mercedes, etc. The HHR SS is a fun car with great mileage and the best thing- Its a Chevy. I am amazed at how well it handles, moves on cue and turns heads. Welcome back GM. Keep making cars like this. I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  Excellent upgrade to the original - 2016 Chevrolet Volt
  By mmalc - July 27 - 6:26 pm

  This is simply an excellent vehicle. For most people it should yield sufficient EV range that theyll never need to use the gas engine; for the remainder the occasional dip into the gas tank will get them wherever they need to go in comfort. For those who own one of the originals, the extra range will help to reduce that odd range anxiety that you get when even though you know you could go anywhere youd still rather not use gas. And the car is better, I think, in almost every way, than an already impressive forebear. Better visibility, more ergonomic, more powerful. And the "maximum regen" paddle on the back of the steering wheel a useful addition to avoid wondering exactly how hard to brake before engaging the discs. The only area of significant criticism is the iPod integration. For some reason its proving to be at best erratic. But overall a minor niggle in the enjoyment, and the CarPlay feature is excellent. The only wish is that GM had included a 6.6kW charger, but

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  2008 Red Vette - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By M13 - July 27 - 5:24 pm

  Excellent car providing power on demand, great fuel mileage, and fun to drive. Zero problems so far. Mostly in town driving with an average of 20.7 MPG in stop and go traffic..not bad! Appears to be getting about 27-28 MPG on the open road at a steady 55MPH. This is the best of 4 Vettes Ive owned over the years and hopefully it wont be my last.

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  Love It after 2 Years! - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By G. EARL - July 27 - 3:49 pm

  Itll be 2 years in a few days, and I love it as much as ever! It never gets boring to walk out to the garage and get in it to go. Great styling has always been a trademark of Corvette as well as totally awesome performance. Now, I get really good gas mileage as well (27+ hwy). I have 26000 miles now, just put on my first set of tires, change oil when recommended, and have had virtually no trouble with it. Didnt know til the day before purchase that I would get the auto trans. Always thought it wasnt a "real" Vette unless man. transmission. Wrong! Auto is the only way to go if youre in city traffic too much or have a bad hip (me). Got the 1LT (base). Didnt want/need the extras.

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  Experience Tahoe Owner - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By 3rd Tahoe - July 27 - 3:00 pm

  This is my third and most refined Tahoe. Expect about 13-14 in the city and up to 19-20 MPG at 70 MPH or below. After 70 MPH it goes down. It is well appointed and very comfortable. The rear captains chairs are nice but you lose 1 seat which seems we always need with the kids and friends. Ive had no issues with the vehicle except at 24 miles per hour when the transmission shifts it clunks half the time. This is a known complaint which is to specifications I was told. The third row seating is nice but behind it there is limited if no room. We carry a car carrier for trips to take the luggage. It is very smooth and relatively quiet. It appears safe as seats are higher in a wreck.

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  Great cars for the money. - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By MitchK - July 27 - 10:00 am

  I myself own a 95 monte carlo z34. I love the car, although ride quality and handling are lacking. I somehow got my parents to purhcase a new monte carlo ss, more specifically a 2002 Dale E. Edition SS. Styling is very nice; these cars are real head turners(especially w/ the high sport package). The handling is GREAT for a big car, not to mention the ride quality is fantastic. Overall quality is much better than that of the grand prix GTP we test drove. I conclude that the 2000-on montes are the best generation ever, and are a heck of a car for the money. A good mix of sportiness and practicality.