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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  Extended Cab for the single parent - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Adge - July 15 - 2:00 am

  In my search for this very vehicle, I was determined to get what I wanted. I had no problem finding it!

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  get the 5.3 v8 - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By tracker - July 15 - 2:00 am

  I got the 04 2dr regular cab silverado 1500 with a plow/tow package 5.3 v8. It was my first truck. I used it for plowing this year and it performed awsome. I suggest getting the 5.3 v8 it has alot of balls. The 4.8 v8 is a dog, so spend the extra cash and you wont be sorry. The miles per gallons suck but its worth the power. If youre gonna plow, get the hevy duty 2500 beacuse the suspension is better. The truck feels like a car when youre driving it. But since im a chevy fan dont take my advice.

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  work truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By sgclute - July 15 - 2:00 am

  Nice ride/drive and comfortable FOR a big truck. Easy to get around and work with. Parking not bad for a truck. Gas mileage to power ratio very disapionting. I would have gone with the V8 if I had known the gas miles would be so bad anyway. Overall though I feel like it is a lot of truck for the money.

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  An American Rovlution - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Rock - July 14 - 1:34 pm

  The TrailBlazer has an excellent ride going long distances. The exterior is excellent from a quality standpoint. You can see where they cut corners on the interior. The plastic that protects the odometer cracked from wear and tear and you have to press a button 4 times to turn the lights off during day riding. But, the car for the most part is dependable and is terrific in the snow. It has excellent pickup and smooth acceleration. I like the aggressive front as well. I would recommend it and by another one

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  Its a trade-off - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Allie - July 14 - 1:06 am

  I am the 2nd owner of this car. I got it for 32,000 in 2003 with 6,000 miles on it. First, there was a factory recall. Defect in the steering column. Possibility of steering wheel locking up at any given moment. Thank God I wasnt driving when it locked up. The tow & repair was free, the headache was too! Then the ignition got stuck and the key wouldnt turn. Replaced the ignition as well as the flashers which were also not working properly.

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  Impressed thus far..First Chevy purchase - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By MLJ - July 13 - 10:00 am

  Great truck! First SUV, first Chevy product (Previous Nissan). It is everything that Chevy built it up to be. Got nearly 20 miles/p/gallon on a highway trip at 55mph max. Only concerns: 1. Drivers seat feels unusually off center from controls. (brakes especially) 2. Received sporadic seatbelt and airbag warning. (went away after shut engine off and re-started) 3. Few workmanship flaws on exterior body. (ie weather seals with excess glue)

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  LT - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By jerry melillo - July 13 - 1:20 am

  The vehicles interior is less to be desired. Cheap looking plastic. Handling around corners leaves much to be desired. On the positive side it is very dependable and quality built as well as a great exterior design.

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  top notch reliability - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By sam144 - July 10 - 10:00 am

  This truck has been as reliabile as they come. Had this truck for over a year know, not a lick of trouble. Electronic 4wd drive has work well. Been at dealer for normal service only. Hey Im tring to beat it up but I cant. Cabin feels to confining. need help here. Has to be the low point of this truck.

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  Nice ride - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By mike - July 9 - 11:35 pm

  Smooth ride. Interior is a very big upgrade from the 2006 models. Gas mileage is terrible. Nav and sound system are great. I would recommend.

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  Nice Truck - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Mark - July 9 - 9:49 am

  This truck was compared to a Tacoma, Frontier and Dakota. While there are some features that are inferior to the aforementioned trucks (ie interior quality) the massive rebates and deals make the purchase of this truck the best bang for the buck. For city livers this truck provides more than enough utility and the interior is far rommier than ever expected (actually similar to our GX470!). I highly rec the Z71 package as it adds alot to the appearance and clearance.