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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  its a keeper - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By MUNCH MAN - January 7 - 2:00 am

  HAVE DRIVEN IT 1500KM SO FAR FUN TO DRIVE. NICE FIT AND FINISH.

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  Editor must have never driven a cavalier - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Davierik - January 7 - 2:00 am

  Obviously the editor never actually drove a Chevy Cavalier. The interior is neither outdated or cheap. The power train has been redesigned to limit engine noise and reduce vibration. And my Cavalier can easily keep up with any car in its class.

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  My 2004 Cavalier Coupe1 - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By jdgryphix - January 7 - 2:00 am

  I love my 04 Cavalier. It is quite zippy, stylish, and feels good behind the wheel. I drive it back and fourth to work 35 miles each way and it is perfect for this or any other travel application. It is small enough that it is highly manuverable, yet large enough that I dont feel intimidated. A great car. Im sure the "Cobalt" will be even better.

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  Strong player - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By mrbreakit - January 7 - 2:00 am

  95% of my driving is on highways, in all sorts of weather, over hill and dale. Does great in rain and snow. Pulls strong right from the start (4.10 gears), but milage suffers - avg 12.2 MPG. Better MPG with the 3.73 gears, or get the DuraMax. Quiet ride, Bose / XM satellite combo is amazing, very comfy seats, rides great for a HD truck. Heater is really hot, A/C is mediocre at best. Aux driving lights are actually useful. One gripe - the weld job on the bed is terrible - top of the bed rails are full of ripples. Besides that - Overall, very pleased.

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  I would buy this car again. - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By wpksr - January 7 - 2:00 am

  I live in the mountains and have 61K miles in both Sierra Snow and California Freeways. No unusual problems and I consider this car several steps above the 96 Grand Cherokee that I traded in. Only gripes are VERY minor... Rear visibility when backing up is bad, and ground clearance isnt quite the same as the Jeep. However, much nicer package all around and VERY capable in snow.

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  SECTON8 - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By SECTION8 - January 7 - 2:00 am

  I love this truck. This is what a truck should do and feel like.

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  A Real Looker - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By tommy3652003 - January 7 - 2:00 am

  This truck is a real head turner.This truck drives like a dream in any kind of weather. The power is excellent and the 20 inch wheels makes the statement this truck is special. Try it you will like it!

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  Good Truck! - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By edgar - January 7 - 2:00 am

  We recently purchased this marvel of a truck...and i love it! Its fast and i got to admit it lookes good too.

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  One of the best cars Ive ever owned - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By TexasGal - January 6 - 10:47 pm

  I bought this car because it was a Consumers Digest Best Buy and because of the MPG rating. I wasnt disppointed. Extremely reliable, the MPG is great, Ive had no mechanical problems, and at 84,000 miles, Ive never needed an alignment! I would buy another one if Chevy was still making them. I guess thats why GM cant make money.

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  Like a rock - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By Joe Harper - January 6 - 7:13 pm

  Bought this truck two years ago. This is a fun, powerful, mean, attention grabbing truck. It is not quick or nimble but has incredible highway manners. The 6.0 engine is sublime on cruise at 80 mph and at idle. Only had two problems in that time, the instrument cluster (replaced by the dealer under a recall) and a steering wheel shaft bearing. After thinking I was hearing a knock in the engine, I read about using 89 octane and the knocking stopped and I got 10% better mileage. The stock tires were 245/65/16 or about 29 inches, theyre just too puny for this truck. 265/75/16 is pretty standard on these, and Load Range E is a must, I see 15-16 mpg highway. Do yourself a favor, get a Chevy.