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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  Top of the Pack - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Captain Mike - December 14 - 2:00 am

  SMOOTH! QUIET and just super nice! I can see myself owning this vehicle for a lonf time. The rear seats are real seats. Not some joker seats that were an after thought and were placed in the cargo compartment. The front and rear A/c are freezing and we are in the tropics. The hills here are torture chambers for vehicles and this one seems geared just right. No unnecesary shifting. NICE! I really like the way this thing drives and how big it is inside. We have three under 7 kids and drive guests who visit us in Paradise frequently. The price we got was a steal compared to the imports and I feel VERY good about having bought a US made car.

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  Love the style - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Teeez - December 14 - 2:00 am

  Unfortunately, we have had some pricey problems with the mechanics of our vehicle. The rear main seal started leaking at 40000 miles and had to be replaced at a tune of $500. We have had to have several things fixed on it, which has cost roughly $2500.

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  owner - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By lichtenfels - December 14 - 2:00 am

  I like the vehicle, took it for 1st ride today and found the headrest bothers me, I must hold my head at an unnatural angle. Drivers seat hard to get adjusted and not sure I like the limited manuerability of the steering wheel. Buick had more up & down positions avail. Other than those things, handles great and nice ride. Like the idea of tilting back seats & adj. offered in back.

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  Best Car I have owned! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Larry Bowser - December 14 - 2:00 am

  I owned a 2003.....This car is not even the same, at all. I have never driven a car that has the handling, ever. I let my friends drive it and the only way for them to descibe is, it drives itself! I beg someone to find a car for $30,000 with the same ride experience.

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  Mired in mediocrity - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By MVP019 - December 14 - 2:00 am

  I have had this truck for 5 years on a lease that is about to expire, and I am glad I am getting rid of it, as I feel were I to keep it I would be on the verge of spending a LOT of money in service. Good looking vehicle but beauty is only skin deep in this case. As others have noted, the gas pedal sticks (repeated "fixes" have not fixed it), and the truck has had cooling system problems (water pump replaced at 50,000 mi.) OE tires were nearly bald after 28,000, and the power window motors both had to be replaced. In short, its a typical American car - shot at about 75,000 miles. I am going back into Japanese models.

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  great - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By the happy catholic - December 14 - 2:00 am

  bought this truck off ebay 6/03 for $9,750 with only 10,500 (16,000 today 1/25/04) miles on it. a/c switch and anti-freeze switch went out but was replaced under warranty. go with light color that doesnt show scratches. use the wal mart rubber mat in the back for flexibility and if you get in an accident the rhino lining spray on bed liners ruin the bed. paid $3000 down and $206 a month for 3 years. cant beat this deal!!!

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  03 EXT TrailBlazer w/ 5.3V8 NorthFace Ed - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By SadamSez - December 14 - 2:00 am

  At the moment, I have a total of 4500 miles. Still rather new. The V8 is getting better than expected mileage. Better than my 98 Blazer w/ the V6! Im mostly around town in stop & go & I have every option on the thing so weight plays a factor. Avg. 14+ easily. Fit & finish is typical G.M- nuff said. But is holding up well, so far. Smoooth V8 & ride from the EXT model. Quiet too. Great Bose system. Nice features w/ NorthFace! I would be jhappy to assist anyone interested who is concidering one of these vehicles!!!

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  A good solid truck - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By slider1727 - December 14 - 2:00 am

  Horsepower and torque exceed others in its class. I took a Pathfinder owner for a ride and he agreed that the TBlazer had more kick than his truck. I have a black Tblazer with the deep tint package and I get a lot of questions asking me what kind of truck I have. That is something that a Ford Explorer owner will never get!

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  My car - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By 4 door sedan - December 14 - 1:13 am

  If I were designing a car for myself, this is the kind I would design. And for someone buying a new car on a tight budget (like mine), this car was not only economical to purchase but also it has been economical to operate. As an added bonus, it has an attractive compact appearance with contemporary styling. As a practical 4-door sedan it has adequate interior room for four full-size adults even on extended trips. (The back seat has seatbelts for 3 adults in a pinch, but this arrangement would get snug quickly on a long road trip.) Its 4-speed automatic shift makes for responsive performance when needed but also good on gas mileage if it isnt pushed hard continually.

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  2003 Avalanche - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Rick - December 13 - 11:23 pm

  Love the truck. Runs great. An all around great utility vehicle. MPG is poor but what the truck does makes up for it.