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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  Avalanche - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By will - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Great truck Dropped Transmission @ 34,000! Would by another with the bigger engine

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  Best Car for the Money - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By luvinthaimpala - May 28 - 10:00 am

  I had my eye on the Impalas for about a year when I finally decided to purchase one. And am I ever glad I did. Not only is it a "family" car, but it is the best looking, fun to drive car ever. That is a hard find these days. You need something to fit the family, but you dont want to look too much like your mother! And this is the car that has it all. There is not a single thing that I am dissatisfied with. I recommend it to all my family and friends.

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  Solid ride - Good to go so far - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Dave R. - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Bought this after renting an LS on business. LS trim/engine/styling made the difference compared to base trim/engine. Love the buckets, leather, rear spoiler, engine performance compared to the 3.4. Only quibbles for me are that suspension is a little hypersensitive on even slightly bumpy roads, and I get a little engine hesitation at very low RPMs (smooths out with a little gas pedal). Still trying to reliably duplicate these issues before I have dealer try to resolve under warranty. These are very minor quibbles, though - I have put over 7000 miles on it in 3 months, and its a great ride! Cant beat bang for the buck, either.

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  I enjoy this car better than my Tahoe - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By pointerlover - May 28 - 10:00 am

  I really like my trailblazer. Its fun to drive, peppy and pretty comfortable. I do think the styling could be better and the instument panel is hard to read. Kind of reminds me of a Camry my sister has.

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  I LOVE THIS CAR!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By luvreptile - May 28 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS THE BEST CAR IVE EVER BEEN IN! It is very reliable, very! My car has buttwarmers (heated seats), very nice leather seats, 4 cup-holders (nice to have when you have 4 family members who love chocolate shakes, and also very silent. Trust me, this car always wants to go fast!

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  Chevy Impala LS 2000 - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Terry Callahan - May 28 - 10:00 am

  I saw one in the parking lot, on the TV and ordered one for myself after looking at the review. I was very impressed with the overall pleasent design change and they got away from the "Hot Rod" engines. I get 22.5 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway, better if I took my foot off of the gas and no A/C. I love this car. I would buy another, but think I should keep the one I bought. I bought a 2000 Impala LS with a sunroof and lots of extras.

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  IMPALA REVIEW - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By HEWITT - May 28 - 10:00 am

  My Impala has been on two road trips in excess of 1000 miles each. The car handled extremely in mountainous terrain as well as on flat plains. Fuel economy was far geater than I expected and it is a pleasure to drive even after being in the car for over eight hours at a time.The roominess of the Impala was far better than expected. Overall I would give the Impala LS a rating of 9 of 10 points. I cannot say what the reliability of the vehicle is going to be but, I am confident that it is going to be great.

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  My second 4X4 Tahoe - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By GrmnShortHair - May 28 - 10:00 am

  I was looking for a new 2003 4X4 Tahoe to replace my 1995 4X4 Tahoe. I had over 100,000 miles on the 95 with no major problems since new. I was just looking to upgrade. I bought the 2003 without even driving it. It had all the bells and whistles and I was more than pleased. Better steering, took the bumps better, better mileage and a lot better excelleration than the 95. It was hard for me to spend more money on a car than I spent on my house 28 years ago. But Im not sorry I did.

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  love my tahoe - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By herbie876 - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Great SUV. Unmatched styling and great interior comfort. Rides and handles like a semi-luxury car.

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  Excellent - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Rose Torres - May 28 - 10:00 am

  the ride is very smooth