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:

• 

  Problems - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By hyde - October 21 - 10:00 am

  Really like the car .We have several unresolved issues.The A/C leaks on the passenger side while driving.This causes the floorboard to get soaking wet.The lock on the trunk fell apart. I am waiting on my third appointment. If this doe not fix I will start my lemon law protection. The car handles nicely at high speeds. I just returned from a 1,700 mile trip and the car was adequate other than th water on the floor which I placed a roll of paper towels to soak up every few hours.

• 

  Good but The M was a better car - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By SteveQ - October 21 - 10:00 am

  Why is everybody so in love with the rear wheel drive on this car?? The FWD 2004 300M handles better and has more punch with the 3.5L (guessing there is power loss thru the longer drive line and transmission). The 5.7 hemi scares me given that it had to be made into a multi-displacement (cylinders cut in/out per computer) engine to achieve EPA MPG requirements in a passenger car. To equip equivalent to the 300M, you have to go all the way to the C model for $36K and you end up with the hemi automatically. Looks cool but think the M is/was much more car for the money! Buy a used M while you still can for 19K, wait them to prove the hemis performance

• 

  Chrysler 300 Touring Delivers - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By 05 Chryslr 300 Owner - October 19 - 3:03 pm

  I just drove my new 300 Touring from FL to NC and back. It was a great test of a very comfortable road car. I was doing "above" the speed limit and got 23 mpg. Everywhere (I mean EVERYWHERE) I stopped, somebody would comment on what a beautiful car it is. Some wanted to know all about it in detail! I bought the Satin Jade, and it really is gorgeous. I traded in my 99 300 M for this car, and theres no comparison. That was a very nicely built, sporty little car. This is a big floating long distance car. Absolutley no fatigue after 725 miles and 11 straight hours on I-95!

• 

  Platnium PT - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Jimmy T. - October 7 - 11:40 pm

  I bought this car because of high gas prices and my Explorer was a gas hog. This car is a blast to drive with the turbo. Nice interior with chrome accents and leather and suede seats. Platinum silver exterior paint looks real nice with chrome wheels. Was surprised with fuel mileage, only gets 21 city. Should do better. Brakes squeak when you first start out but stop after a few stops. Checked brakes and they have no wear, a mystery. But overall a great car for price. Only $9000 with 32,000 miles and loaded.

• 

  Good car - 2004 Chrysler Concorde
  By PRU - October 7 - 12:54 am

  Price of gas today not a good car to drive. Otherwise great car. Huge trunk for long trips.

• 

  Wifes first new car - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By John King - October 6 - 3:56 am

  The PT replaced my wifes 72 VW. It is the base model with Auto trans air cond and power windows. It is extremely roomy front and back. Im 63" and have more than adequate leg room in the back seat. My wife is a school teacher and has to haul a lot of supplies which fit easily in back with the seats folded or removed. Only drawbacks are so so fuel mileage (19 city 24 highway) and it takes two hands to open the tail gate.

• 

  very fun car - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By memyself&i - September 26 - 10:00 am

  very fun car. 2.7 6cyl. has enough oompf to get you where you need to go.

• 

  It "IS" a great vehicle! - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By rphillips47 - September 26 - 10:00 am

  When I saw the pictures of the Pacifica I thought yeah, well maybe. Then it came out and I said yeah, well maybe. Then it came time to buy and my wife and I went to the dealership to drive a new Jeep Grand Cherokee. We were not impressed, then we drove the Pacifica and ended up buying one. This is a great vehicle. It could use a little more horsepower but, overall, it serves us - especially my wife as she is the main driver - very well.

• 

  spongebob on the video - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By footdoc66 - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive so far. Has 3000 mi. on it with no drive problems. Could use a V8 instead of the 6 cylinder. The slapstick is fun to play with. Navigation system is helpful and the DVD player keeps the kids amused for hours. The headphones are wonderful as I would probably go postal if I had to listen to Spongebob for hours on end. Automatic liftgate is not working correctly and I will have to take it to the dealer for repair.

• 

  Stationwagon, I dont think so! - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Malimis - September 26 - 10:00 am

  So far I am very pleased with my Pacifica. One problem that I am experiencing that the dealer will work on next week is the sunroof. It seems like the interior around the sunroof is going to cave in if I have the sunroof open at all. So, it is a pretty annoying thumping sound that hurts my ears and somone will have to do something about it...