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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  TAKES A LICKIN - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By autotek - June 15 - 2:00 am

  Loved this van when it first came out. I work on them at work{rent-a-car} and they are very reliable and can take a ton of beating. If you have a family this is the vehicle for you.

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  Watch the gas gage - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By jhenry - June 15 - 2:00 am

  I bought a used Impala after driving one for my company car. Both the company car and my car had gas gage problems after 50,000 miles. It is a great car (very reliable) except for the gage.

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  Get it before its gone! - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By earl - June 14 - 8:50 pm

  I love my car and that is after nearly 2 years of mostly freeway miles. I get 27 there and average 19 mpg for a 303 hp V8. My Z28 had 315 and the insurance is half as much. The radio system is awesome. Buy the car loaded if you can. The chromatic mirrors and leather seats make for an enjoyable experience. This car is a highway interceptor. It outruns most vehicles on the freeway with ease. It outhandles my 02 Z28 in the curves. Get one while they are still around.

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  Luv My 2010 Equinox - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jackie - June 14 - 8:53 am

  I purchased my 2010 Equinox 2 weeks ago and so far it has been a great experience. I love the comfort level inside, the exterior design (well the front end is kind of big), gas mileage, and creature comforts offered in the cabin.

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  2008 Silverado - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By David - June 14 - 4:13 am

  I have the LS regular cab with 4.8 V8 and am pleased with the truck. It has excellent pickup, is quiet, and is quality built inside and out. Very impressed, owned a F150 previously and this truck beats it in every significant category.

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  Cheap, Fun, Reliable! - 2000 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Sammy592 - June 14 - 2:00 am

  We researched a lot of cars before buying this one seven months ago and it really paid off. We wanted a reliable used car that we could keep for a long time, so the low price combined with Toyota reliablility appealed. The fuel economy and relativly good safety rating are nice, too. Pretty comfortable, and yes, its fun to drive!

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  The Best!!! - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Camero2005 - June 14 - 2:00 am

  I just recently bought this car from a friend of a friend. The 1995 Chevy Camero is terrific. Its fast, safe, and beautiful. Its V6 engine is powerful.

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  Sure surprised me! - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By saukuf - June 14 - 2:00 am

  I have never been a GM fan. I owned an Expedition prior to buying the Suburban. The Burb is by far the better vehicle. I have had a great experience with this vehicle. Runs great, spacious, comfortable, drives well. I have 4 growing kids and there is plenty of room.

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  Very Pleased - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By CCG - June 14 - 2:00 am

  Very pleased with the performance so far. Seats are comfortable. This is our first SUV and we love it. Our experience in purchasing this vehicle was the best so far,the dealer knocked off $7500 off the MSRP and a $5000 rebate from GM sealed the deal.

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  Last Truck I will need to buy - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By lrdillon - June 13 - 10:43 pm

  I bought this truck used with 60K miles. I now have over 90K. I have only replaced the battery and tires. Runs like a dream so far, tows great and very comfortable. Hope to baby this for the rest of my life, I just retired. With regular maintenance I have had no mechanical problems with a small V8.