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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  PT Cruiser 4 dr wagon std - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Mike A - December 30 - 5:36 am

  Chrysler could have done better. The seats are hard as a rock and uncomfortable over long drives. No cruise control means a lot of physical driving. Reliability sucks. The brakes had to be replaced twice and tires wore out quick. I didnt hot rod this car, I babied the heck out of it and still the little things broke down. I had sensors go bad after I bought the car. BIG repair bills. Gas mileage is the same as my Dodge Caravan SXT! 22 mpg on the highway for a PT Cruiser? Thats just dumb. I love the color and the interior are nice to look at. I dont like the vents though. Cant use my cell phone clip to hold my phone. Forget about self repairs. Cant get to the oil dipstick w/out moving hoses

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  Chrysler Quality - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By Joe - December 27 - 9:48 pm

  Like the cars look. Fun to drive, just wish it wasnt always to get service. How can they make such good mini-vans (I am on my 3rd), yet make such a poor quality convertible. There has never been a time when there wasnt something seriously wrong with it. It leaks trans fluid, oil and coolant. I just got it inspected again at the dealership, currently, the trans solenoid pack needs replacing, the oil pan and oil pressure sending switch is leaking, the rack and pinion is shot, the door "clips" are broken, the leather seats are tearing and I just replaced the right front hub bearing. The windshield washer works good though.

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  pacificia rating 8.5 - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Trammell - December 23 - 10:00 pm

  The look really got my attention. The only draw back to me is there is not a lot of front row room for the driver and passenger. I feel chrysler should take out the third row seat,that way the could make more room up front. Other than that I love my pacificia.

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  You get what you pay for - 2010 Chrysler Sebring
  By Ash Kidman - December 22 - 10:48 am

  Firstly, I didnt purchase this car, it was provided as a company vehicle. After just three weeks of driving the vehicle and with 1300 miles on the odometer, I have already had to replace a tail lamp bulb (not that big a deal) and now the engine light is on. The seats on this vehicle take some getting used to, the interior looks nice but the materials are cheap. Engine in my vehicle is actually the 2.7 V6, and as V6s go it is unrefined and sluggish. Gas mileage is average for a vehicle this size. My company had a choice between this car and the new Taurus. The Taurus is bigger, more powerful, better built and more expensive...the Sebring proves the old adage, you get what you pay for.

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  Road Dog - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Pete - December 18 - 6:26 pm

  So far so good knock on wood based on other reviews own over 14 months no problems to speak of, excellent vehicle for long road trips especially if you dvd pkg.

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  The Money Pit - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By piperfarm - December 15 - 8:33 pm

  I had this car for 4 months and had to replace all the rocker arms in the motor and a pulley that was cracked. Cost me $1600. Not a happy camper. All of this at 38,000 miles. Road noise is not good. I hear clicking and clacking up in the front of the car. I just turn the radio up to drown it out. I like the way the car looks inside and out. I like the way it drives. The motor is a piece of crap - obviously. Especially after reading other review of people sinking lots of money to repair the rocker arms too. What is the deal Chrysler? I have gotten used to the blind spots in the back...it took a while, but I rely on my side mirrors a lot.

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  Speechless - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Piggy - December 8 - 2:10 am

  I just bought the car a few weeks ago with 40,000 miles. Thank god I bought an extended warranty because it is already going to the shop. My wife noticed a hesitation in the acceleration while driving down the highway, the new brakes make a lot of noise, and the engine makes a squealing noise at cold start-up until engine is warm. I hope that this isnt the beginning of endless problems.

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  Iacokas Iatola idea to save Chrysler?? - 1999 Chrysler Concorde
  By ragtoprita - November 25 - 12:03 am

  I would give $4000 to have seen these reviews before I spent it on this junk- of-an-idea-car-design-to-save-Chrysler I signed the last paper & problems started. 4 wks later (bought the car oct. 24)it has been towed twice, broke down 30% of the time Ive owned it, and has cost $1500 additional and counting. Whos the "Lame-Brain" that designed a motor with the water pump "inside" so it would practically destroy the motor when (not if) the water pump goes down. Mine did after 3 weeks. Many other problems arose before I could get it towed to the mechanic and hes got a fulltime job as long as even one Concorde is left on the road. Way to save a lost automobile corporation IaIdiot. What a curse.!

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  Cant Find Parts - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By sarasotagene - November 9 - 12:03 pm

  Great car but when it breaks you may have problems getting parts. I had to work hard to find after market lifters for the top because Chrysler was not making them. Cant have a convertible with the top not going up

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  mmm...Ill pass. But thank you!! - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Wallace Greemiel - November 5 - 12:05 pm

  An OK vehicle. I just cannot see myself using it as a daily driver, particularly with the dismal black seating. It may have been tweaked, but it screams "suburb soccer mom".