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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  Shouldnt have sold it. - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By bloggie - March 19 - 2:00 am

  purchanced a hummer, but would rather have keept the avalanche

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  Prepared To Be Stared At - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By CarDion - March 19 - 2:00 am

  We have only had our Avalanche a few days, but absolutely love it. Handles beautifully and gets lots of attention from passers-by. Highly recommend to everyone.

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  Sweet Bad Looking and Fun - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By HawksRN - March 19 - 2:00 am

  I love this truck. It is so much more than I expected. I spent the extra money to get all the extras, but it was worth it because ITS A KEEPER!

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  ZO6FUN - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By reebox109 - March 19 - 2:00 am

  GREAT CAR NONE LIKE IT ON THE ROAD FOR THE MONEY ...NOTHING EVEN COMES CLOSER TO THE PREFORMANCE OF THIS INCREDIBLE CAR ..DRIVE ONE AND YOU WILL KNOW WHAT I MEAN

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  2004 "VETTE" - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By BLONDEE50 - March 19 - 2:00 am

  I love the ability to get on the expressway with no problem, as I travel it daily. It has a lot more room in the passenger area and the trunk space surprised me. I thought I would have a problem exiting and entering as I have back problems but it is very easy to enter and exit. Very much a fun car to drive and own.....LOVE IT!!

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  Best deal going on a new Car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By tl_rich1 - March 19 - 2:00 am

  Great deal on a Mid/Large Sedan. Couldnt go wrong on a 2004 Impala (1SB package) with on five miles on it and an out the door price of $18,700 (included tax, tags, and title)

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  My SS - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By MarinesVixen - March 19 - 2:00 am

  I finally did it! I traded my 01 Impala LS in for a 04 Impala SS. All I can say is...WOW! I love it! I love it! I love it! It has that extra get up and go when you need it, and it loooks gooood! =) Like I said about my LS (and I do miss him), there is nothing more to life than a good man, good children and a fun car to drive. Semper Fi Chevy! MV

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  my chevy tahoes I have owneed - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By JLPaul1422061 - March 19 - 2:00 am

  I have had a new Chevy Tahoe since 2000. All 4wds. To me it is fantastic when I go to my home in NM 12,000 feet up an icy mountian to my home or in Utah mountains to my other homes. We even went through Moab Ut 4wding spur of moment. We love them all, every yr is better. Jerri

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  I love my Tahoe - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Hendrix - March 19 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. I will not own any other SUV besides this one!

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  Poor Handling - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Bjack - March 19 - 2:00 am

  This vechicle did not perform well in a strong cross wind. Because of the over-all poor handling of this vechile, I traded the Tahoe for a better riding and driving Suburban.