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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  Good Family Car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Malcom - February 4 - 10:00 am

  No problems so far, good solid car. Larger then the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, plus it comes with a V6 compared to their V4. Big truck, big interior. Fits four adults plus a baby seat with ease. You can put a stroller in the truck and still have room for the groceries. Only gripe, no lights in glove box, under the hood or in the truck.

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  Impala - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ralph Gilnack - February 4 - 10:00 am

  I am extremly happy with this car . I think it is one of the best produced. Plenty of power ,quite a bit style on the interior as well as the exterior. The heated seats are a big plus and the large trunk is most welcome. The power seat on the passenger side is very helpfull for my wife. The auto dimming rear view mirror is much appreciated as well as the heated outside mirrors. One feature I neglected to get was On Star, the next car will definately have that system. The gas mileage has been in the 29 to 30 mpg on the highway and about 24 in town which is not the best but not too bad. Over all this is a real winner. Very good Dealership!

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  Tahoe is Tops for Quality and Value - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By aussiestx - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Delivers on the promise of great quality and value. Easy to drive for a large car (my wife loves it). Outstanding build quality. Very reliable. A good workhorse for our daily and weekend needs. Plenty of room for passengers and seats fold for extra room when touring or loading with materials. Intuitive controls for driver.

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  could do better - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By candyman - February 4 - 10:00 am

  drives well on dry pavement.Cant believe how poorly it handles in snow.Wont let my wife drive it in snow since it has zero traction.5 recalls is dissapointing and having my brake lights burn out 3 times is inexcusable. Excellent on highway and lots of room inside.

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  re:Trailblazer LT - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By janine - February 4 - 10:00 am

  My husband bought me A trailblazer LT 4WD, i thought it was too big for me, that i wont be able to handle it, but i was proven wrong, the LT is so light and though it was too big for me, it runs very smoothly and perfectly with me, I LOVE IT!

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  family car plus cargo - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By markl - February 4 - 10:00 am

  the way i see it its a family car plus great cargo room. i use it to carry cargo in the back with the second seat down. and i use it to drive the family of 5 around town. the milage sucks. i get about 10miles/gallon in the city. i love the ride, its better that alot of suvs i tried. the design is cool enough for me.

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  First one in town - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Erica - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Love it. Bought it a couple days after it arrived on the lot. Stylish and fun to drive. Plenty of room.

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  not "equinoxious" - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By crobar - February 4 - 10:00 am

  good new suv from chevy but needs the VUE engine to make it great.

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  wow - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By lomaz - February 4 - 10:00 am

  fun and great to drive

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  Like the Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By HClem - February 4 - 7:10 am

  Ok everyone will think I am crazy as I traded in a 1999 Corvette for this truck. However, I had a 1995 Chevy Blazer with over 150k that was my daily driver and I just fell in love with this truck when I saw it. It is loaded out with all the bells and whistles except moonroof. It gets great gas mileage for a full size truck 16 city and 19 highway. I enjoy driving it and especially like the ability to see what is ahead of you. Could use a slightly less harsh ride but overall great truck. I have had absolutely no trouble with the truck except the battery which died with less than 1000 miles