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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  Was a Great Car! - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Jan L. - January 12 - 11:20 am

  My 2007 HHR was super reliable, and a fun car to drive. Acceleration whenever you want it, nice cruising along the highway. It never broke down. When one dark night a large buck deer jumped into the road and collided with my car, the crumple zone took all the impact, and I walked away without any injury. I would purchase another in a minute. Great car.

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  Best vehicle Ive ever owned - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Suzanne - January 12 - 8:55 am

  My 02 Z66 is hands down the best vehicle I have ever owned. Room for kids, lumber, landscaping stuff. It stands out in the crowd with great lines and top shelf reliability. I have never had to put this vehicle in the shop! Its got 106k miles on it and I fully intend to drive it until it just wont go another mile. No, I will replace what ever breaks and give it to my soon to be 16 yr old. I love this truck.

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  Smart Buy is right! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By brs - January 11 - 4:43 am

  A very solid SUV! I have plenty of legroom and headroom in front and back and Im 64. It feels very roomy. Im getting over 21 mpg so far, thanks to the 5 speed automatic, very cool. The engine is fairly quiet, and accelerates the vehicle fine. The ride is comfortable for an SUV, not too soft and not too hard. Steering is different, no way to describe it, nothing bad, just different. Stereo is average, the XM satellite is neat, but i will not renew once the 3 free months are up. Its just not worth the money. I love the compass and temperature display in the rearview mirror. This should be a standard feature in all vehicles. The 17 inch wheels look really sharp. I have had no problems at all so far

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  A Dream Come True - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Ron Dudeck - January 10 - 7:50 pm

  My First Vette - Crystal Red Metallic/ Cashmere interior. I have been looking and wanting a Vette for over 40 years, ever since I had my 69 GTO Judge. Your going to spend some money on your dream car, then don’t cut corners. I got all the options. I love the Nav System. The Z51 package is a must. Chrome wheels. The 3LT PEG gives you all you need (headsup display, heated seats, memory pkg, Bose). Six-Speed Paddle Shift w Auto modes, you have a standard without a clutch and an automatic. Remove the Roof Panel and you really improve the looks, more folks turn their heads as you drive past. With premium gas the cost to drive is less than my F150. The cost of insurance is also less than my truck.

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  Perfection - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By John Nix - January 10 - 5:26 pm

  We purchased our Tahoe as a combination work and play truck, it performed both fantastically. With its leather seats and luxury feel we were proud to have clients ride in it, from a custom home on a paved road to acreage located on top of a mountain with no road, all were very comfortable. On weekends we went four wheeling and our Tahoe got down and dirty like we did. We went thru rivers and to the tops of mountains, dirt road or no road at all made no difference. Best truck we ever purchased.

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  Waste of my money - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By zmillg - January 10 - 3:26 pm

  I saved my money all through highschool and my dad through in half, I got a Colorado for 22k. A year and a half later, 3 power steering pumps, 2 motors, and one steer column. Its worth half what I bought it and the problems keep coming. I cant complain about the gas mileage and it gets going but the problems arent worth it. Im overly displeased with my truck

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  Great car - good MPG for a car this big - 2001 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Pete Anderson - January 10 - 12:51 pm

  I bought this car used in 2003, and have driven it for about 15,000 miles a year since then. I have only had minor issues with the car including replacing brakes, new tires, and i had a fluke where the ignition switch had to be replaced one time. Overall ive been very happy with this vehicle, one of the most trouble free cars Ive ever owned.

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  RoseRetrading - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Rose - January 10 - 11:30 am

  Overall, I am happy with my Cavalier. Fuel economy is excellent and there has been absolutely no problems with the performance of the car. My only dislike is that the windows and mirror adjustments are manual. Would like to go electronic now but for dollar value, this car is excellent.

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  Cant Get Enough - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By hitorq - January 10 - 10:45 am

  This is my second TrailBlazer. I loved my 2004 so much when it came time to trade in I just had to get another even after shopping around to other trucks. This is a reliable well built truck that is as comfortable as can be and still is capable of off roading here in Utah with ease. Perfect amount of space and great easy to use features and reliability. I have never had to have either of my trucks serviced for anything except the basic upkeep. I have the leather seats, on star, xm radio and bose stereo...this truck rocks!

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  Love My Traverse - 2017 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Linda Ross - January 10 - 10:26 am