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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  Monte Carlo Rating - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By JHTruman - December 3 - 2:00 am

  The car is an excellent collecting car and car to drive. Its very fast and powerful. It is great for comfort and it gets great milage. Its also a great looking car and very dependable.

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  8 - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By John 56 - December 3 - 2:00 am

  For the price its a nice hanlding good performance family car

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  Nice Truck - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Don Darnell - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I find the 5 cylinder to be a wonderfull engine, but they could have spent some engineering money on the exhaust note. The seats are great, the interior it very good. No real complaints so far, and my other cars are Porsches and an Audi. My 5 year old thinks its cool, and thats what really matters.

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  Great truck - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By NWPD122 - December 3 - 2:00 am

  A well thought out truck. Plenty of interior room and the hybrid between SUV and pickup truck was a phenomenal idea. Gas mileage is a liitle rough but still acceptable for a truck this big. The 5.3 V8 has plenty of power, it tows my 27 foot Baja performance boat with plenty to spare. I love this truck.

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  A beautiful truck/suv - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Guyarizona - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I could not be happier. It is a handsome truck with interior and outward appearance that departs from the ordinary pickup. I love it.

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  Sporty Family Car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By bkgg - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I went from a mini van to the "hot" sporty family car! I had a Dodge minivan and had nothing but problems! The heater never worked! It squeaked like a dogs toy anytime you turned the wheel and/or hit any type/size of a bump in the road. Im back to GM products and staying! Built to last!

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  excellent vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By mooch - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I love my new impala ls. The only thing that is not quite up to what is should be is the fuel economy.

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  THE 2004 LT BLAZER - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By yankee clipper - December 3 - 2:00 am

  This is the second Blazer ive owned.This Blazer rides better than my 97 lumina. On the highway it has plenty of power and its like you are floating on air.It is a little heavy on gas but its worth it.

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  Love my Z71 - but poor gas mileage - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Bobchev55 - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I have long since been a Chevy man. I love my new 04 Silverado Z71 with the 5300 V8 in all respects except for fuel economy. After several years of driving a Ford truck with poor gas mileage, I expected better fuel economy than 13mpg from my brand new Silverado! I get better mileage in my custom 55 Chevrolet with a 4 barrel carb and 3 speed trans - no overdrive!!

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  Best truck since sliced bread - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Pete - December 2 - 3:30 pm

  I bought mine used, couldnt afford a new one. This is the best truck/car/ SUV or whatever on the market. Its loaded, everything you could want from Detroit. 15mpg town, 20-22 mpg highway. Plenty of power to tow and lots of room. Plus it has a built in ice chest.