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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  Why this? - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By wtk - September 30 - 10:00 am

  The car has only one cup holder that is too little and not deep enough. The windshield control is on a lever on the wrong side of steering wheel. The mufflers both rattle, like a model T ,and there is no fix for it. The right door rattles. Right window leaks in car wash. Most of time takes 2 trys to start it.

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  SS Impala - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By A3 - September 30 - 10:00 am

  I love my SS Impala

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  Simply Unbeatable! - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By P. Lease - September 30 - 10:00 am

  This is a fabulous car...I am 52 years old and have driven many different vehicles in my young life including Audis in your five star list. Gas mileage is great, smooth riding, comfortable on long road trips and the compliments I get are incredible. Since the purchase of this beautiful Impala, (mine is black w/tinted windows, leather seats & wood grain interior), I have nearly concluded that I may never change vehicles again...actually Im considering keeping this one "til death do us part".

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  Tahoe 04 - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By mikesteph - September 30 - 10:00 am

  My 04 Tahoe has been an exellent vehicle. The 5.3L V8 has great performance and is very reliable. It is my 2nd Tahoe and I plan to buy another one in the future. I feel that Chevrolet has doon an amazing job of constructing this suv and think that it is only going to get better.

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  2004 Trail Blazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By JWMc - September 30 - 10:00 am

  Very comfortable vehicle and fun to drive. First SUV we have owned. But always buy American Made Vehicles and everyone loves to ride in the new SUV.

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  Aesthetically pleasing; Great for talls - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Freedm - September 30 - 10:00 am

  I was smitten by the exterior look of my white with black trim, Trailblazer LT. The interior dark gray coloring complements the black leather seats very well. As a 62 tall person their is enough room for my legs, even as a front seat passenger unlike my 2002 Blazer LS that is very cramped for a tall front seat passenger. The ride is smooth, and quiet. during the first long trip, 354.4 miles, the truck averaged 18.3 miles a gallon. Not bad for a combination of open road, and back country maneuvering.

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  it a chevy - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By polish - September 30 - 10:00 am

  i been around chevy trucks and suv for a long time. They all have the same feel to them. The Equinox has a total different feel to it. Look and feel of the truck is great. It has very minor fault from what i see.

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  WOW! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By aimsbrown - September 30 - 10:00 am

  Amazing ride and comfort! The cargo space design is ingenious. I cant wait to tailgate with its functional table.

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  Its a Hard Nox Life! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Hard_Nox_Life - September 30 - 10:00 am

  We saw the Equinox at the NY Auto Show and fell in love. We just couldnt believe that an American made car had such great design and styling. Then the spokeswoman gave us the price and we were floored. Great looks and afordable! We were at the dealer the next and just picked up our NOX on Monday. Its better than we anticipated and its a head turner too!

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  Vehicle with Space - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jackr108 - September 30 - 10:00 am

  As my kids grow I needed a new car to grow with them. After much research and many pain staking test drives I have found a vehicle with both Style and comfort. Just a great drive for the buck!