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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  Chevys Done It Again! - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Aveofan - May 26 - 10:00 am

  So far I have had no problems at all with my Aveo.For a compact car there is plenty of space.I love the design out side and inside.And for gas milage it is great.It dosent have all the extra features like power lock so that makes it affordable.

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  TOO SOON TO TELL - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By NFREITAS - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Safety, style and fuel economy important as I was giving up my Suburban. This car rides smoother than my bosses 70m Mercedes and outside of having a GPS has close to the same anmenities. Took on trip to hills 2nd day, handled with ease, husband rode in the back and watched a DVD and said that he was never more comfortable. I can assure you the warning information works. Power Steering warning came on 2nd day-its in the shop being replaced. Service said they have had a lot of recent 2004 GMCs in for this. Also, CD player got stuck for 2 days-old cds

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  So Far So Good - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By gmloyal - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Traded my 2001 s 10 in on this truck. No problems with the pricing, just a 5 hour ordeal on the trade in value. The truck is much improved over the s 10 but still aint a silveraldo, but its more afforadable. I notice a lot of heads turning as im driving it. it is a real looker. The seat material is a downgrade from the s10 but adaquate.

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  only time will tell - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By ta4sman - May 26 - 10:00 am

  I have driven about 2000 miles since my purchase. Great looks, handles well. Mileage is about 20 MPG, 80%hwy/20%city combined. Added the GM foldable tonneau cover, along w/ the chrome tubes, bug deflector. Front seats could be more comfortable and plush for 28k price tag, use the Silverado Z71 seats. Cup holder should be moved forward, with the console it is not easy to access. Rear visibily is limited due to the high back rear seats. The bed is adequate despite being about 6 inches short.

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  excellent truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By bolts - May 26 - 10:00 am

  one great chevy truck, i been a chevy owner for over 30 years, im telling you this truck is on the mark!!!!

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  Last GM - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Waterboy - May 26 - 10:00 am

  My truck also idles really rough. The sevice dept. keeps telling me the noise is unpreventalbe. Its designed that way.

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  this truck blows - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Kennedy - May 26 - 10:00 am

  I Bought a 2004 and before i could even get 600 miles on it the transmission went out on me in the middle of a run hauling some freight so i called the GMC dealership and they sent me a F-150 that out hauled and rode alot better than the GMC 2500

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  My Review - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By soup1005 - May 26 - 10:00 am

  The 4.2 V6 has great power. My only problems so far are with the parking lights staying on for no reason and a plastic piece in my door broke. Other than that it has been a great vehicle.

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  Great design - decent performance - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By itzed - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Only three weeks so far, but mostly loving it. Outstanding exterior styling (looks great in Salsa!), smart interior styling which is mostly functional, and adequate performance. Accelleration is decent and the very smooth 5-speed tranny makes good use of the torque. I traded in my BMW 325i for this vehicle because I needed 4WD, and storage space and I wanted a reliable vehicle that was inexpensive to own. This SUV looks smart and expensive on the outside and its highly maneuverable exterior size belies its spacious interior. If it remains as trouble free as my other two Chevrolets have been Ill be more than satisfied for many years to come.

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  Equinox LS AWD - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Blackdog - May 26 - 10:00 am

  The Equinox LS AWD has proven to be an exceptional value. It has alot of nice features such as cruise control and tinted windows and it handles well for the vehicles size. It is a nice addition for someone like myself wanting an larger SUV but not wanting the higher price ranges. The only problem I experienced was backing the vehicle up. I discovered it has a blind spot on the corners of the rear window so it is neccessary to always use the side mirrors when manuvering the Equinox out of a tight spot such as a parking garage spot to avoid any colision with something lower than the vehicle such as a small child.