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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  So far so good. - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By HandyAnna - November 19 - 2:00 am

  My car is cute, incredibly peppy, and so fun to drive (5 speed) that I was laughing with delight on its test drive.

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  Colorado - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By sheik830 - November 19 - 2:00 am

  so far so good but I dont have a lot of miles on it yet.It has lots of room inside the cab.Plenty of power also.It looks really aggressive.This truck should sell very good.

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  Finally! - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Skkoner - November 19 - 2:00 am

  I used to be an S-10 owners, but went Ford/Mazda for 10 years. lots of interior head and leg room. I can really notice the 220 ponies, but the torque is a little lower than my 4.0L Mazda. I wont be pushing the truck to its limits so this is entirely acceptable. four wheel drive engages very smooth and quietly, and the General tires on it perform excellent in the snow. The engine is virtually silent, and has plenty of power for my uses. An occasional load of dirt or lumber, or towing walleye boat. Overall this truck is a perfect fit for my needs with pleanty of power and more than adequate torque.

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  boat and dive truck - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By olds442 - November 19 - 2:00 am

  truck is used for trips to florida and for towing of our 24 ft boat. very comfortable and a joy to drive, even while towing. although it seems to use more fuel then i would like, its worth it. very quite ride. the storage comportments are very handy and being able to lock up our dive gear in the bed is handy also.

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  Nice ride - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By bw193 - November 19 - 2:00 am

  This is best ride of any four wheel drive truck that I have owned.

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  AVALANCHE IS THE WAY TO GO! - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By FRITO754@AOL.COM - November 19 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE TRADED TRUCKS EVERY EWO YEARS FO THE PAST 16 YEARS. ONLY CHEVYS DURING THIS TIME. THIS IS THE 2ND Z66 I HAVE OWNED. THE BOSE SYSTEM ALONG WITH ALL THE COMFORT IS OUTSTANDING!

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  Happy owner - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By JoeyDee - November 19 - 2:00 am

  We have owned our Impala for a year,and so far it has proven to be one of the best cars either my wife or myself has owned.I have driven sports cars all my life and was reluctant to buy a "Family" car. Our Impala has enough "get up and go" to keep me happy and enough room and comfort to keep our family happy.

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  Great Ride - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By sjpioneer - November 19 - 2:00 am

  This care is fantastic. Its smooth/ sleek ride makes it a blast to ride for hours. Controls are easy to get used to. plenty of room to enjoy company. ONly problem is that the tourque of the engine makes it little hard to get going in the snow in Drive, even with TRAC control

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  best yet - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By no1mrrythem - November 19 - 2:00 am

  one of the best chevys i owned yet. you will enjoy for sure and feel confident while on the road. I have very good vibes with this car from day one. Good lu ck with your new set of wheels . you are sure to enjoy.

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  My Z71 Tahoe kicks ass, I love it !!!!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Big Mike2 - November 19 - 2:00 am

  In a perfect world I wish I could configure the rear area for sleeping. You know, unexpected rain on a camping trip or when ya have a few too many at the tavern.