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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  malibu review - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By cwgunn - June 11 - 10:00 am

  great car, lots of room, great rear sun roof, fun to drive

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  New Malibu - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By BothellBeaver - June 11 - 10:00 am

  This year our company vehicle swithced from the Impala to the Malibu and everyone began to complain. I got one of the first ones and pleasantly surprised. Ony negative is the smaller interior size. Trunk is ample and the car is more responsive and much tighter than the Impala. New design is sharp. I like it.

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  nice car - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By travinator - June 11 - 10:00 am

  i think that every person on the planet should own one of the best cars in the world and that car is a chevy monte carlo

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  not too shabby chevy - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By r graham - June 11 - 10:00 am

  great looking ,z71 crew cab package is the one to go with,the box could have been a little bit longer,but my hauling big loads days are over.very good on power and exceleration,gas mileage is alot better than i thought,transmission is smooth and effortless ,unlike that of a ford ranger and the stiffer frame gives it a smooth feel over rough roadways, very roomy interior all around tanx chevy!

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  like a rock - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By melven mikell - June 11 - 10:00 am

  overall i love my vehicle. sometimes it clicks and makes a few extra sounds that my car that i drove before did not make. the truck i test drove did the same thing so without any problem i have to assume thats normal. i love my chevy pickup and so does my kids.

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  What A Car! - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By John P. - June 11 - 10:00 am

  What an OUTSTANDING Car! The Commemorative Edition Convertible is a great color combination! Car receives nothing but looks wherever you drive it. I have waited a long time to be able to afford a Vette, but the C5 made it all worth it!

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  So Far So Good - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Likeit - June 11 - 10:00 am

  This SUV doesnt have the same impulse as my Jeep Sport but it could be that Im still getting used to it. It didnt come with the windows tinted so I did that right away. It is easy and so far very good. It is not, however, inexpensive when it comes to gas mileage.

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  LOVE IT - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By megnate - June 11 - 10:00 am

  Absolutely love my new Equinox - as to the comparison to the Saturn VUE, I owned a Saturn and would never own another. I had a horrible experience with the car and the customer service was equally as bad.

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  MAC REVIEW - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By macattack57 - June 11 - 10:00 am

  One of the best riding trucks I have ever had when I can get it away from my wife who loves to drive it more than her SUV.

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  Chevy vs Ford & Dodge - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Ghostrider - June 11 - 10:00 am

  After owning 4 ford F-150s and a Dodge, I opted to check the competition, it took alittle arm twisting to break my Ford tradion however it was the smartest move ive made, this truck has relatively no rear bounce yet is tight with its towing package, extremely smooth ride and ample interior room, I am very suprised as to the great mileage on this big V8, lots of leg room and plenty in the extended cab also, Ford still has a cramped cab even in the 04 models, have no problems as to date and all is what was advertised, This new Silverado LS is a smart choice.