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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  trailblazin 2003 - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mikeliny - September 26 - 10:00 am

  so far my 2003 trailblazer ls has been great. only has a minor a/c problem but was fixed at dealer in 15 minutes.

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  excellent truck - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By intmdtrdal - September 26 - 10:00 am

  awsome truck when you do performance upgrades. installed k@n filter high flow exhaust, a jet performance chip and a transmission shift kit to fix the wimpy automatic. love the 4.2 six

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  Best Vehicle Ever - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Mary Jo - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This is my first SUV, I have owned 4WD cars before and luxury cars. Now I have the best of both worlds. Its awesome to drive, rides as smooth as a Caddy and had amazing off road capabilties. The access to the third seat is awesome, even easy then the Tahoe and with plenty of cargo space.

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  Only beat by the Chevy Tahoe - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By lovemyCTB - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This is one of the best SUVs I have owned. I have had 1999 Ford Explorer which I hated and 1997 Ford Expedition, wich other than the cheap seating and terrible gas mileage was a nice vehicle. I had a 96, 97, 99, and 2000 Chevey Tahoe. They were all great vehicles except for the 2000 with the full time 4 wheel drive that sucked gas like a pig. They were the most comfortable vehicles I have owned, but this new 2003 Chevy Trail Blazer is right up there with comfort and it is great to drive. I have the 3:42 differentials and get 23MPG or better on the highway at about 69MPH with 87 octane gas. I get a bit less mileage when I use the 89 octane ethanol gas.

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  Chevrolet TrailBlazer LTZ - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By QGI1DWS - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is very comfortable and quiet on long trips, as well as off road. Off road capabilities are much better than the many reviews that I have read, e.g., AutoByTel, Edmunds, KBB, etc., would lead one to believe. The DVD entertainment is very nice, and the Bose audio is great. Fuel mileage is about the same as our 1996 Chevrolet Blazer LS 4WD, with much better ride, handling, and appointments.

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  My Trailblazer - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By E K - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Best vehicle I have ever owned. No problems whatsoever in the 25000 miles I have put on it. More than ample room for my family on long trips. Smooth and very quiet drive. I definately recomend people to test drive one if they are in the market for a midsize SUV.

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  Trailblazer LS is a great vehicle - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Jon Midbo - September 26 - 10:00 am

  The car is far superior to other competitive models in this class which we tried. Its 6 cyl engine is superior to most others 8 cyl. in power, performance & economy. The car is comfortable, great suspension, nice appearance, easy entry, road worthy, etc. My son drives a new Explorer and prefers our Trailblazer.

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  Awesome Trailblazer - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By LoriAnn - September 26 - 10:00 am

  This is the best Chevy SUV yet. What else can I say?

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  Love This Truck - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By angela - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Even though I have only had my truck for 4 months, I can honestly say that it could possibly be the best vehicle I have ever owned. I went from a 98 GMC Jimmy to a 2003 Trailblazer LT and cant even tell you how much my new truck drives like a luxury car. I can even say that I think the bodystyle looks better on the Chevy than its sister vehicle the GMC Envoy. Simply said, "I love this Truck"!

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  Raves - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By macthree - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I like thios vechicle very much. Will buy another if I need to