Overview & Reviews

Chrysler is generally considered part of the Big Three, a title that refers to the traditional triumvirate of domestic automakers. The current accuracy of this classification is open for debate, but there's no debating the fact that Chrysler has experienced a revival of sorts over the past few years.

Chrysler Corporation was founded in 1925 by Walter P. Chrysler, a noted machinist; he'd purchased the Maxwell Motor Corporation of Detroit and used it as the foundation for his new company. The automaker quickly earned a reputation for advanced engineering. In 1928, Chrysler Corporation expanded with the purchase of Dodge and the creation of the DeSoto and Plymouth divisions.

The 1930s saw Chrysler boldly looking toward the future with the introduction of its revolutionary Airflow. Powered by a front-mounted inline-8, the car was one of the first to be designed with aerodynamics in mind, and featured swooping lines and a prominent grille. Perhaps a bit too ahead of its time, the Airflow was a flop with the public. Chrysler was able to survive the lean years of the Depression thanks to strong sales of its entry-level Dodge and Plymouth brands, whose vehicles boasted more traditional designs and much lower price tags.

Chrysler shined postwar. For a period in the late 1940s, it even surpassed Ford as the No. 2 U.S. automaker. The company's storied "Hemi" V8 engine debuted in 1951. Offering 180 horsepower, it was a significant improvement over Chrysler's previous 135-hp V8. The Hemi engine was meant to trounce the V8 offered by Cadillac, Chrysler's rival, and it kick-started Detroit's horsepower race of the 1950s and '60s. The '50s also saw the debut of treasured Chrysler classics like the handsome Town and Country and the sleek 300C.

By 1961, Chrysler had trimmed its line of brands by dropping the DeSoto nameplate. New technologies were also afoot, such as unibody construction (Chrysler was the first of the Big Three to introduce it) and the replacement of generators with alternators for a car's charging system. In the latter half of the '60s, Chrysler was heavily involved with NASCAR and producing performance-oriented cars.

At the same time, however, dark clouds were gathering. As with other domestic automakers, the 1970s proved to be a difficult decade due to the oil crisis, new government regulations and changing consumer tastes. A costly and ineffective overseas expansion further hurt the company's bottom line. By the late '70s, the company was in such financial disarray that it petitioned the government for $1.5 billion in loan guarantees to save it from bankruptcy.

Thanks to impressive public campaigning by then-chairman Lee Iacocca, the debut of the well-received K-car platform and the creation of the modern minivan, sales had improved dramatically by the mid-'80s. The government's loan was paid off seven years early. The picture further brightened in the late 1980s with Chrysler's purchase of American Motors Corporation (which netted the company the Jeep brand) and a joint venture with Mitsubishi known as Diamond Star Motors.

Success continued through the early 1990s. In 1998, German-based Daimler-Benz merged with Chrysler to form DaimlerChrysler. At the time, this deal was presented as a merger of equals. But it quickly became apparent that it was more of a purchase, with Daimler being the dominant partner.

Less than a decade later, that merger was no longer, as Daimler sold Chrysler (and Dodge) to a private equity firm in 2007. However, that merger had borne some worthwhile fruit, most notably in the form of the Chrysler 300 full-size sedan. The latter shared some chassis components with an older Mercedes-Benz E-Class platform.

As such, the 300 was a highlight for Chrysler that had a pleasingly solid feel to its driving dynamics that was further sweetened via an available powerful V8 engine. But soon after the split, America's economy slid into recession. Due to poor sales and debt, Chrysler had to declare bankruptcy and the federal government intervened with bailout loans. Eventually Chrysler came under control of Italy's Fiat.

Today, the lineup has been pared down to a pair of sedans, a convertible and a minivan. However, after years of having lackluster entries in the very important midsize car category, Chrysler made major improvements in the performance, design and quality of its midsize sedan entry, the 200. The latest 300 also stands as a prime choice for a premium full-size sedan. Still, it remains to be seen as to whether this and future product releases will be enough to restore the company to its former glory.

User Reviews:

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  Could be so much better - 2018 Chrysler 300
  By Kirk Vivian - November 11 - 5:28 pm

  I really love the look of the newest model Chrysler 300. After owning one for 3 years now, I'm noticing a couple things that are happening without my intervention. Such as, the inside door panel molding where it meets the window is starting to lift on the drivers front and rear. The interior "creeks". The seat, the center console, the dash all creeks of cheaply built lets-just-pump-as-many-of-these-cars-out-as-possible-and-not-worry-about-quality standards. There are several more things that bother me that I feel could've easily been fixed. I know this review won't go anywhere or help my issue, I just wanted to vent a little in hopes that someone that maybe works at Chrysler sees this and maybe considers making quality vehicles instead of settling for quantity.

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  Good car, but....... - 2015 Chrysler 300
  By Tim C. - January 4 - 9:57 pm

  Bought my 2015 Platinum AWD new and have mixed feelings. Ride, handling, and features are very good. Love the styling, both inside and out controls are very logical and easily understood. Handling and performance are good for what this car is. My biggest disappointments with this vehicle are as follows. 1) Backup camera guidelines are off about a foot to the left side when backing straight up. Took it back to the dealer twice, once after getting Chrysler Customer Service involved. I was told that this is normal, and due to the lens being mounted off centered on the real center mounted light. Ive owned cars costing half as much and never had an issue like this with the rear guidelines. My previous 300 had the same setup with the rear camera (although I was told it was mounted directly in the center of the vehicle!) and I did not have this issue. 2) The navigation system seems to be rather mundane, especially the display in the center drivers information area that shows the turn coming up-it is always the same graphic, regardless of the actual intersection you are approaching. For the price of the nav system, it really should be much better. 3) There is an annoying rattle somewhere in the backseat area that no one seems to be able to eliminate.

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  My First Car - 1998 Chrysler Sebring
  By Hannah - January 4 - 1:02 pm

  I had a 1998 Chrysler Sebring JXI Convertible as my first car and it was so beautiful. This car gave me some trouble when parts of the engine went bad and slowly each part went bad. This car handles poorly in the snow but that could have been due to my tires. The break sometimes wouldnt be able to be pressed, which is a problem among Chrysler, but was fixed. I bought this car for 3500 and put more than that into it with repairs. This car handled damage well. I had hail damage which was almost unnoticeable due to the metallic paint job. I was in one minor fender bender when I slid on ice and hit another car. My car only had scratches on the bumper where the other car was dented in. I had my second accident in it which totaled it when I slid on ice and collided with 2 other cars. This car is very sturdy and kept me safe inside the car while taking the impact of 2 cars, one of which was while I was stationary and was a head on collision. This car is built strong! This car has poor gas mileage and one of my speakers blew out when I dont listen to my music that loud.

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  missed the mark - 2015 Chrysler 200
  By james - December 16 - 7:24 am

  I never was a Chrysler guy.. nore imagined me considering one.. after all my research I kept going back to this Chrysler 200 limited just something about its look but price point.. now first my intial test drive was a good experience.. The car has the means to fit anyones needs..Now I do wish this car had more room to breath with power the 4cyl 2.4 def has the get up an go but the 9 speed tranny really holds it back and keeps it clunky more than 40 per of the time.. taking corners can be alittle sketchy but overall not to bad.. road noise was good and it glides over imperfections in the road..I really wasnt a thrilled owner after 3 weeks of having the car and at barely 600 miles I had to send car in for a new tranny and headliner due to it buckled and creased front to back on driver side.. I was startingto think this was a bad purchase.. but I took a breath and figured all new cars have there hickups from time to time.. but now with the new tranny in I started to notice even more roughness with the tranny esp when coming to a stop it seems to want to buck u around like a bull at a rodeo now Chrysler says this is normal for this style and not to worry.. kinda makes you wonder with that response..now entering the car can be tricky esp if your a tall person.. Im only 57 and have hit my head couple times already.. the a beams are very oversized and can block your view.. fuel economy isnt bad currently getting 33.6 highway so not far off from there projected 36.. rear seats and legroom.. this Is where your eyes can play tricks til you actually get in.. and tend to notice foot room is bare minimal and comfort lacks just alittle...My overall rating on this would be 6 out of 10.. style is great but Im very unsure if Chrysler should stick with there 9 speed tranny.. For the money not bad but sometimes i wonder am i really getting what i truly thought i was.. guess only time will tell..

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  Knockoff of a Mercedes-Benz ML Class - 2008 Chrysler Aspen
  By Chrysler is the Wal-Mart of Mercedes Benz - October 26 - 5:11 pm

  My dad drives this car. Hes had it since I was in the second grade. This car has had its ups and downs. It has a great radio. The wood is beautiful to look at. The suspension is buoyant. With interior quality, DiamlerChrysler cut corners. It feels like a cheapened Mercedes-Benz ML Class. If you want a family SUV, there are better choices out there for much less. Examples: Honda Pilot Toyota Highlander Ford Flex Mazda CX9

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  Love Hate Relationship - 2012 Chrysler 300
  By Judy Matthews - October 25 - 9:43 pm

  I love my 300s comfort level and look, however, I am extremely disappointed with the electrical features. My BlueTooth is inoperable, USB ports stopped working, reverse camera blinks, and cruise control works just sometimes. Other than that, which is a great inconvenience, I love the vehicle.

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  Great... Sometimes - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By sbernal - October 9 - 8:54 pm

  I bought this car in July 2014 with exactly 100K miles, maybe a few over. It is now October 2015 and the car has about 118K. Id say its appearance is good and holds up decently in terms of newer vehicles. People ask the year of the vehicle and are surprised it is a 2006. The quality of the ride is excellent due to the attention Chrysler put on the suspension and the spaciousness of the cabin is enviable in the 6 cylinder class. That said, I think the engine is too small for the vehicle. The acceleration is terribly sluggish and I always think Im driving faster than I actually am. I think Im doing about 50 and look down to see Im barely breaking 40. I feel like a V6 engine should be adequate, but the way they did it in this car is NOT adequate. The transmission is fully functional, but I kind of fear for it. It can be slow to shift and occasionally give an ugly clunk upon both acceleration and deceleration. I think 118K is far too early to be fearful of a transmission replacement. The AWD feature on most models is a huge positive. After the torrential New England winter last year, this vehicle performed exceptionally well. I drove the car for the first 10 months of our ownership. However, my wife works in a location where the driveway in is nearly a vertical slope -- and the Pacifica made it up regardless of the quality of the weather. She asked me to borrow it so many times, I eventually told her it belonged to her. In terms of instrumentation, I am disappointed. Chrysler had always billed this vehicle as one with luxury styling. The dash display is nearly identical to a Town & Country years older. We had a friend who drove a 1998 T&C and the instrumentation was nearly identical. Very basic, as far as I am concerned. Speedometer, gas gauge, tachometer. Where is the engine thermostat? Ive never owned a car that didnt have one. How about a display showing the temperature outside? Miles to empty display? I realize there are different "grades" of this car, however this was is not the total base model. I replaced a 2001 Volvo with this one also labeled "luxury", so I figured 5 years was enough for Chrysler to catch up. Not so much. Its sorely lacking and seems like the primary place Chrysler cheaped out on. Speaking of "cheaped out on", Chrysler installed a DVD player in my vehicle beneath the radio, but did not install a monitor. So... you have exactly half a unit. I have looked into installing a monitor multiple times. The cost is astronomical. If you have a third party do it, the cost can be in the thousands (on a now-9 year old American car... Ill pass). If you attempt it yourself, youd be better no less than "Level: Expert". The number of items you have to disassemble inside and the number and cost of the parts you have to buy is enough to destroy your will to live. You need to be both mechanically and electrically inclined with precision -- this requires replacing the headliner with a brand new one and re-cutting the fabric to match all the things sticking out like it did from the factory.

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  Very Impressed & Pleased with my 2013 Chrysler 200 - 2013 Chrysler 200
  By Patricia - October 8 - 5:35 am

  Purchased this car Sept 19th.2015,,,,,first of all, I never knew what it really had til after the first week. when I saw the car it was love at first site. sunroof leather all pwr everything. baby blue, new tires, 35,000plus miles. 3.6 v6l engine, etc...interior leather is awesome with heated seats both driver and passenger. the stereo system is boom box fantastic. the tires are new, but they keep reading differently. Im guessing it could be the weather or condition of the roads. the gas is about 19 mpg city, and 22 hwy. its not bad, the a/c works great. the sunroof is fun. the trunk space is pretty big. If you have sorta big feet it can hit the hood release easy,,, but okay here it is. it rained on Monday,and I barely went threw a puddle going about 40. it scared the life out of me. my steering wheel went back and forth like crazy sideways with the puddle. gotta stay away from that for safety!!! but im In Vegas hardly ever rains! in 5yrs,ill be giving this car to my daughter for school if she keeps good grades!!! You wont be sorry for this purchase thats for sure,,,enjoy!!!!

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  2012 200 V6 - 2012 Chrysler 200
  By Alexandria - September 25 - 2:39 pm

  I bought this car almost exactly one year ago. Its been in for repair way more than a car as new as it is with as low miles as it has. Cylinder head back in February. Then they rebuilt the transmission in May, brought it back in July because it was doing the same thing but they supposedly didnt find anything, then because it obviously didnt change brought it back in August they replaced a valve in the transmission, September the torque converter(which is something I told them to look at the second time they didnt find anything) AND the Cylinder head AGAIN. Its all under the extended warranty that THANK GOD I purchased. I bought it with 53K miles, it now has 70K miles. A car in my opinion should not need all those major repairs with those miles. Plus I kept asking them to look at the torque converter The buying exp. was terrible too, I was pressured into buying the car and he didnt give me a chance to look at many other vehicles. Outside of the major repair issues I love the car. I think its sharp looking, rides smoothly when its working, has great features and amazing power. Around 290HP is pretty awesome plus gets GREAT gas mileage for a V6. I love the LED lights around the headlights and the taillights too.

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  great car overall - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By Roland - September 13 - 7:33 pm

  bought my 2001 used for 1,000 put a transmission in it. the coolant parts are made of plastic. ran hot had to replace everything that was plastic even radiator. everything under the hood is cramped. why not have a radiator that is simple instead of a water reservoir. makes no since. what was the engineer who designed the Sebring convertible thinking. mix hot water with plastic and in cramped space. but my car is still nice. im having to replace freeze plugs and hope to have it back on the road again.