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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  Not much to change on this one - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By h2jwatson - October 1 - 2:00 am

  My family and I love this thing. All the room you could possibly ever need for passengers and enough cargo space when you need it. We got the V8 model, didnt feel like the I6 had enough tesicles for such a large vehicle. Awesome road machine.

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  Good Suv - 2004 Chevrolet Tracker
  By KellyLewd - October 1 - 2:00 am

  Does good. Runs well and no problems yet. A little bumpy ride but not too bad. vey small and compact suv yet more room than a car!!

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  My 2004 Cavalier - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By AMHugs - October 1 - 2:00 am

  This is the fourth Cavalier I have owned. It has nice outside lines and roomy trunk. The fold down back seat will be useful. I wish the car was wider and mor comfortable for back seat passengers.

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  great for single girl too not just fami - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By migster - October 1 - 2:00 am

  i love it! i feel comfortable in it when i am driving. wheather it be rain, snow, sleat. being a single girl who does do alot of driving by herself. a dn even someoday if i have a family i would feel just as safe having them in the suv.

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  235 cubic inche six....wow - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By rdrackley - October 1 - 2:00 am

  ENGINE N OISY. GIVE YOU THE 4 CYLINDER SOUND WITH STRAIGHT SIX GRUNT.DISAPOINTED WITH FUEL MILAGE

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  luv my truck - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By artillaryseargent - September 30 - 2:00 am

  I have a lot of fun w/ my Colorado. I take offroading pretty much every weekend. I have had a couple of problems w/ it, like some electrical issues with the ignition and starter, but that is to be expected with a new style vehicle. I am confident that Chevy will work the bugs out of it, and it will be one of the best Mid-sized trucks on the market. The biggest issue that I have is the lack of accessories available for it. I want a lift-kit, so the thing can have a little more ground clearance. So if you chevy manufacturers are listening, get one on the market, quick. Again, overall, I love my truck.

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  Versatility - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Sudskis - September 29 - 2:00 am

  Love the versatility of being able to use the bed for several differnt types of uses. I like to be able to lock the tailgate. Is very convenient for loading ski gear, golf clubs or whatever & know that it is secure in the bed.

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  best of the big ones - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By taxi mommy - September 29 - 2:00 am

  after riding in a few i went with the suburban and love it, will buy another within 2 years! gas mileage is 19 on trips, what more could you ask for

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  SUV Chevelote - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Wende Adkins - September 28 - 2:00 am

  Having been a Ford person for the Last 30 yrs. I am well pleased with my Chevelot SUV, my husband purchase for my birthday in 03.

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  Great Gas Mileage/Reliable Car - 1999 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Mike Steidemann - September 27 - 2:00 am

  I have owned two Chevy Prizms. One was a 1998 automatic and the one I own now is the 1999 5 speed LSI. I liked both cars, but I found that the automatic only averaged about 30 MPG while the stickshift averaged about 32.5 miles per gallon. Both cars were very reliable for me. I would suggest either version for a budget tight driver. The Prizm was also built on the same line as the Toyota Corolla and they are basically the same car.