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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  malibu - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By tbonestone - July 18 - 2:00 am

  everything my wife and i exspected

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  Nice Truck - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Former Z Owner - July 18 - 2:00 am

  This truck is marketed toward people who wont do a lot of towing and value ride/comfort, which is me. The crew cab has lots of interior room, even for 6 footers in the back seat. The 5 cylinder engine has plenty of power, better than the V6 it replaces in the S-10. Plus its better on gas.

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  A Good Vehicle at a GREAT PRICE! - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By JJ JOIHNNY J - July 18 - 2:00 am

  FUN TO DRIVE. GREATY TO LOOK AT. VERY VERSATILE AND EASY TO HANDLE FOR A BIIIIG VEHICLE!

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  I love my truck - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Unicorn - July 18 - 2:00 am

  This is the best vehicle I have ever owned, it is great for comuting 100 miles a day to work & the kids love it too

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  zeeyaa - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By jar4368 - July 18 - 2:00 am

  great car,power handling looks every thing you could want and 30mpg@80mph,love this beast

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  So Far, Not So Good - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By lpta2000 - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Purchased car end of Jan., car in shop within 24 hrs b/c car wont start. Told nothing wrong, 2 days later same occurred, twice. In the garage since. A high volt code is causing electrical spike with anti- theft system, not allowing car to start. Data recoding sensor on car, & console went out/device shorted out. 2 weeks since purchase, GM/dealership unable to fix or replace vehicle. In rental 1+ wk. & have 1st pymt. due <2 wks. on car driven <3 days! Very diappointed! Hope just a lemon for me! In period of time in car, it performed well, driver friendly & good gas mileage. Plenty of leg room, trunk space & style.

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  Impala LS - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Richard Stromberg - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Great Handle, Lots of room , quiet,Great stereo.

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  like it - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By RipB - July 18 - 2:00 am

  overall a fun car to look at and drive, big and roomy but sporty. an exec or family car with some style and fun

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  northeast driver - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By vikki l - July 18 - 2:00 am

  The Tahoe was intimidating to me at first, after a few drives I find it to be a pleasure to ride in and drive. It handles like a dream, my car requires more hands on driving than the Tahoe. I was in a terrible snowstorm with it and I was stuck to the road the entie trip home, everyone around me was not! I feel very safe when I am in this SUV, and and very happy to own it.

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  FUEL - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By PAW - July 18 - 2:00 am

  THE TRUCK HAS POWRE BUT THE FUEL MILAGE IS NOT AS GOOD AS MY OLD ONE. I TRAVEL A 140 MILES A DAY. 7 DAYS A WEEK, AND I SPEND 30.00$ A DAY IN FUEL