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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  Sweeeeet! - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Moe the Dog - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Where has this truck been all my life? It has both power and fuel efficiency. The ride is so smooth that you sometimes forget your in a truck. If your in the market buy this truck immediately.

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  after the first 3 months - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By till - June 27 - 2:00 am

  purchased my colorado in dec 2003 took it on a long drive (ohio to florida) the following so i got a pretty good test drive handles pretty well i think a 6cly would be better suited for the size on the crew cab 4x4 but the 5cly is under powered you can tell ther should be more there when your in traffic and want to pass and changing lanes could have done more with the wheels the dull gray is just kind of bla

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  A great new truck from Chevy - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By omowasu - June 27 - 2:00 am

  I test drove this truck today, and WOW, GM has designed a great new smaller pickup. I personally found it to be a much better truck than the Dakota. The Colorado gets much, much better mileage than the Dakota. Also, the Colorado handles better and accelerates superbly. Granted, you can get the Dakota with a V8, but why would you want to suck up the 13mpg?

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  Excellent Small Pickup - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Pete M143 - June 27 - 2:00 am

  My Colorado came with the I5, auto, buckets and the ext. cab. I spend countless hours in my truck. Contrary to the pro reviews, I find nothing wrong with the interior design/materials. Compared to Japanese branded trucks, the quality difference in materials was negligible. Every part on this truck is aligned as expected and perfectly matched and spaced. The ride is wonderful, the truck goes exactly where you point it, and doesnt wander over bumpy roads. Dodge, Toyota and Nissan trucks were nice, but not as good. GM got it right, this is an excellent truck.

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  Kicks some a$$ - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By racinjason - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Nice all around truck

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  BISHOP - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By TERRANCE - June 27 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE MY CAR

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  Fun to drive - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By bio - June 27 - 2:00 am

  I test drove this today as it is finally showing up in dealships. It is fun to drive and I like it a lot.

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  My Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Shelbyand john - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Overall I guess you can say that it is one of the best looking and better handling SUVs on the market. It has such a unique design. It reminds you a lot of a lexus but for half of the price. It is so stylish, and it handles just as good as a car or better.

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  Very satisfied owner - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By ken - June 26 - 10:05 pm

  Ive had it for a year. Its a wonderful compromise between a sports car and a family vehicle. Better than an X5, fraction of the cost.

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  My TrailBlazer is a piece of crap - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Chris T - June 26 - 2:34 pm

  At first I loved it - smooth ride, good size. But weve had nothing but troubles: 3 transmissions in 50,000 miles, electrical problems, computer issues, problems with the fuel injectors. Its been in and out of the repair shop for the last 6 months, and the last time we only had it home for 12 hours before it wouldnt start again. Too bad too, because I loved driving my TB, but the reliability stinks.