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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  Love It - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Shawn Naus - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Love the sport feeling of the Cavalier. Love the gas milage, and all of the components that come with the LS. Feels and drives like a Cadilac.

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  My Honest Opinion - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Sanmae - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I actually have a 2002 purchased in August. This is my 2nd Monte, first was a 2000. I have to say I had never had a Chevy and once I drove the Monte Carlo, I was hooked for life! I was a Firebird formula 400 or Grand Prix person since 1969. Every 2-3 years but not, always a Monte.

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  a contemporary legend - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By terry schulz - October 16 - 10:00 am

  this is the most fun ive ever had on four wheels. and very user friendly to boot, a great all around performance leader.

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  Great Value SUV - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Steelhead - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I traded in my EB Explorer because it was literally falling apart after 85,000 miles. I looked at SUVs for several weeks to make sure I was getting the best price for what I wanted. I looked at Jeeps, Honda, Toyota, etc(sorry, no Fords). When I saw the Trailblazer EXT LT with all the upgrades and price, I new I had found the right SUV. It rides like a dream, great power equipment and ALL the bells and wistles found in a 40K+ SUV. The stereo is amazing and the ride is superb. I am averaging almost 18 MPG on the HWY, hope to get better, but it is a bigger SUV.

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  Chevy rules - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Robyne - October 16 - 10:00 am

  The trailblazer is a step up from the blazer, The only thing I needed to get use to is the size, parking wise it took me a little longer then usual to figure out how to pull into a left parking spot. without being too close to the vehicle next to me. Other then that, Its a great suv and I get alot of compliments on its looks. Great vehicle for kids with the extention.

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  Great truck - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Keith Lesslie - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Since buying my new Trailblazer in August of 2003, I have nothing but pride in my new truck. It has been such a wonderful truck to drive in. Just wish they came out with these truck 5 years ago.

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  Blue Trailblazer - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Bette Green - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I have taken three trip with it this summer and can hardly wait for next summer so I can go again. Its absolutly the best on the Interstate a real joy to drive and ride in.

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  Better Than Expected - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Anonymous80 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  The Trailblazer gets ripped by the "experts" more than it should. I asked several people who own Trailblazers how its gone for them and nobody had a bad thing to say about it. I bought a 2003 LS w/4wd and put about a 1,000 miles on it in a couple weeks. The ride is great, the engine is powerful, and even my wife who previously hated driving SUVs loves it. It handles well and early indications are positive.

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  My Experience - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By blazer1247 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS MY SECOND TRAIL BLAZER. I FIRST BOUGHT THE SHORTER VERSION AND KEPT IT FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. IT WAS A VERY GOOD VEHICAL, BUT I NEEDED SOMETHING A LITTLE BIGGER FOR FAMILY NEEDS. THE "EXT" WAS PERFECT. BETTER RIDE THAN THE STANDARD VERSION. NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE IN GAS MILAGE. ONLY CONSISTANT PROBLEM WAS WITH WIPER MOTOR. NOW FIXED. NO OTHER PROBLEMS.

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  Impala = SOLID FAMILY CAR - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Heathr1213 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I am a 33 yr old woman with a husband and 2 children ages 7yrs and 3yrs old. The Impala by far has been the best family car I have ever owned. The child safty features are top of the line. The space inside the car is very large. Boys will be boys and mine tend to disagree often and this car provides the space they need to be in there own space and not invade the others personal zone. :) Did I mention the trunk is huge! My last car was a Mazda 626 and I felt I never had enough interior room or trunk space, well I have been spoiled by my Impala..plain and simple!