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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  Love it - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By K - November 23 - 2:31 pm

  Its been 2 months and Im very happy with my purchase. The HHR has a great look, is easy to drive and has lots of head and leg room. Averaging 31mpg is great since I log about 400 miles a week. Sits high enough for my mother to get in and out easily and a very smooth ride. Gauge panel is setup for easy viewing of all gauges.

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  Peachy - 1991 Chevrolet Camaro
  By AllConfused - November 23 - 1:20 pm

  I bought my RS, rebuilt the 3.1 and had it bored over, replace the rear end, trans mount, fuel filter and was good to go. Wish the seats were more comfortable and that the tach and speedometer were switched around

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  Wonderful little vehicle - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By shebagirl48 - November 23 - 11:00 am

  Ive had the HHR for about a week now. I love it. Had looked at PT Cruisers, but this vehicle is beautiful. First saw her on the internet and thought it was cute. That didnt do the HHR justice. When you actually see it your heart goes thump thump. So many of my friends and family that see it automatically say they want one too. Its fun to drive and like everyone else has said it sure does turn a lot of heads. There are just so many extra things such as the remote start, controls for the radio on steering wheel, sun roof, etc. etc. I Love It I Love It I Love It!!!!!

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  We Love our new hot rod - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Curt Bruce - November 23 - 9:46 am

  We traded in a 2001 Cadillac Deville on our Equinox. We love the room you have when you fold down the back seats. Great on trips. the Pioneer sound system is awesome! It is very quick for a six cylinder. Handles great and is fun to drive. We dont regret giving up Caddy because the Equinox is just as comfortable. Last thing, the heated seats are a must for the North Central part of the country, you will not regret it! I would definitly buy another Equinox.

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  Rust Bucket - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By slim - November 22 - 11:10 am

  We really liked this van until the quarters started to rust through. The area where it all comes together under the doors(looks like 3 layers spot welded) started to rust 2 years into it. Very hard area to touch up and dealer would not attemp to repair it. Only option was to drill a few small holes and spray oil into it. This retards the rust put looks like crap. Hearing horror stories from others about the head gasket. With 80k on it now I kinda cringe every time I drive it. Tried to sell it, nobody wants it so I guess I will beat it into the ground.

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  Perfect for a Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Joe! - November 22 - 9:30 am

  I have had this truck for 4 years and have put 71000 miles on it so far. I have yet to have any major problems with this truck. Also most of the minor problems were covered with in the 36000 mile warranty. The most recent and most annoying problems have been with the electrical system. It seems the truck has developed a short some where that no one can find. It keeps blowing the fuse for the driver seat and passenger window. I also have a tail light and running head light that goes on and off.

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  bills hatch - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By oldcoot - November 22 - 5:36 am

  Rock solid,so far. Good mileage,ride and handling. Good buy.

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  A piece of a clunker - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By steve may - November 22 - 3:03 am

  This vehicle is a piece of junk. Had a $3200 transmission and manifold gasket repair, had to replace two sensors for the idle for $180 and also had to have this vehicle completely grounded again to fix the temp gauge/ac not working issue...$160 Rattles like crazy, handling stinks!

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  I love my Equinox - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By mm - November 22 - 1:06 am

  This is my first SUV-AWD. I looked at the Ford Escape, CRV, RAV4 and Torrent. The Equinox was far better both in looks and in value. Way better looking! Pretty and sporty! The Torrent was nice looking too, but what about that name? Anyway Equinox is a great car. Really comfortable and just feels good on my back and neck and overall posture when Im driving. Perfect height to get in & out of - dont have to climb in like a full size 4x4, or drop down into like a car. Had "check engine" light issues when I first got the car. It took three trips to the dealer but they finally got it right - the gas cap was a bad fit so if you have the same issue get that cap checked out right away.

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  Time to bet on the little guy - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By silentsam - November 21 - 10:53 pm

  Due to a lengthy commute, I began to look at the economy segment of the auto world. Really like the look of the redesigned Aveo sedan, so I took a test drive at the closest Chevy dealer. Wow, was I caught off guard with this little guy. The one I drove was an 08 LT bright red, with pretty much all the bells and whistles. Leatherette interior (very nice), moonroof (power), auto trans, steering wheel controls, etc etc. Very smooth ride with solid acceleration. Took it out on the highway, and had no problems whatsoever in keeping up. Cabin feels very upscale and roomy. Lots to like on this one, and it has a safe feel to it.