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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  Great Car - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By slp - November 17 - 4:26 am

  Had it for 3 months. Love the car. Very spacious. Kids love it. Husband had enough room in the back seat with the front seat all the way back and he is not a small man. I love this car.

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  My Chevrolet Avalanche - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By drsmithmm - November 16 - 4:19 pm

  This vehicle is a joy to drive. Backing up, especially at night, is a little bit difficult due to restricted visibility. The rear window is vertically oriented, so lights from the instrument panel tend to glare off of it further reducing visibility. I have found that I must depend heavily on the side mirrors. I still would not give up this vehicle for the world, it is an absolute pleasure to own and drive.

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  Great Ride - 2005 Chevrolet SSR
  By jwxlv - November 16 - 9:07 am

  I always wanted a hot rod but I also wanted all the modern automobile technology. This is the first production vehicle that I enjoy driving as much as I do riding my Harley.

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  Keiths Corvette - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Keith Stalnaker - November 15 - 6:06 pm

  A great red Corvette that turns heads every where I go. The adjustable electric seats with strong back support make traveling much more enjoyable than the old Vettes. Visibility is not bad. Gas mileage is amazing for a car like this. The 6-speed transmission is the only way to go.

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  Woo Hoo! - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Jasonzo6 - November 15 - 10:52 am

  WOW! What a car! I moved up from a Grand Prix GTX and have been MIGHTILY impressed with this "race" car! Incredible speed that still scares me at times, VERY comfortable - even on an 800 mile trip back and forth from Tallahassee to Indiana - and a real joy to drive, even in daily traffic. I wouldnt recommend the 6 speed for those who have to sit in highway traffic for hours at a time (Atlanta) but it is perfect for my daily 15 minute drive back and forth to work. I STILL get comments on the Zo6 even a year and a half after purchase! Its amazing how much more peeps will pay attention to you when you drive a corvette! Go for it, you only live once!

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  Its still a blast... - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Don Althaus - November 15 - 12:36 am

  The 2004 Aveo is an amazing little car. It has all the interior room you could ask for in this class car. It really will carry four normal adult humans in relative comfort. Instruments are well placed and easy to read. The interior layout is extremely well thought out. On the outside, its small and nimble enough that you can zip through city traffic and find almost anyplace to park. On top of that, it handles the highway with amazingly refined manners. It is relatively quiet even at 75mph. It can move away from a stop light smartly and it gets to highway speed in a reasonable amount of time, but it does need some help in the passing department. With 103hp, it takes some planning to pass.

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  The best first car ever! - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Elcke - November 14 - 5:16 pm

  I love my little purple Cavalier, its so cute. I swear it has a life of its own because it looks after me, I couldve been in so many accidents with it. Ive hit numerous things with it and it still runs better than the day I got it!! I wouldnt trade it for anything.

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  3rd blazer - 2005 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Dean M Klepp - November 14 - 3:38 pm

  I enjoy the ride, My first was a 1994 4 dr blazer and then my second was a 1998 2 dr blazer and the performance of the 98 with the same motor ,,the 98 would have blown this one away,The pickup getting on a highway is poor compared to the 98,I enjoy the looks and im interested in posibly purchasing a new Blazer if you continue 2drs,i was told the ZR2 I bought was the last of the 2dr, Well seeing your coming out witha 2005 im still intersted, but the performance has to be increased, plain and simple 4wheelin is great but this motor is dragin. my only complaint.

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  great little car - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By kikismith - November 14 - 10:00 am

  So far this vech is a great little ride

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  One month, 600+ miles later - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By maxx_owner_part2 - November 14 - 10:00 am

  When I 1st saw the Maxx at the Auto Show, I thought it was intriguing but I never thought IÂ’d own a Chevy. After 600+ miles (since my 20-mile review), my opinion has only improved. The car is very cute appearance-wise. Gas mileage is decent: 24 mpg (driving almost exclusively on suburban surface streets). The easy handling is growing on me. The car does a good job of shutting out road noise and has a very smooth ride. The doors and hatch need to be closed with a bit of force, though. The die-hard sports-car aficionados I know turn up their noses at my car, but people who appreciate fun, comfort, and convenience love it!