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:

• 

  Good car - 2000 Chrysler Voyager
  By John - June 4 - 10:43 am

  The van has done exactly what we needed it to do. Performed well, great acceleration for a van, carts kids well, had few non wear and tear mechanical problems. At 114K it still looks and drives well. We have had to replace all the expected parts, such as tires, shocks, platinum plugs. I think that we can drive the van for another 10 years.

• 

  My second 300C - 2007 Chrysler 300
  By me - June 3 - 7:27 pm

  This is my second 300C, after trading in a 2005 RWD. The first one was an early build, first model year and it had several small annoyances, some of which were fixed under warranty. The 2007 has been problem-free. AWD is great in a car like this, you can take off in any weather with no wheel hop not that RWD was unusable in snow, but the OEM Continental tires that wore out in 10K miles were the real culprit. Your mileage may vary, but it can honestly get 25mpg with the car loaded and the A/C on in hilly terrain.

• 

  This Car is Maintenance Free - 2005 Chrysler Sebring
  By ChrisBrig - June 3 - 7:27 pm

  I purchased my Sebring in May of 2006, and I have changed the oil religously, added new tires, and had the brakes serviced. That is it. I have not had any service issues, and this car has never left me stranded on the side of the road. This car is reliable.

• 

  Hardtop convertible - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By Michell - June 2 - 4:25 pm

  I have the hardtop convertible, and its so easy to use - whether you drop the top with the button on the dash, or remotely on the keyfob. I love the navigation, and the jukebox style radio - its great to be able to burn all my CDs to the cars hard drive and not have to load CDs all the time. Great USB plug-in. Love the trunk room. It has enough space to hold 2 golf bags with the top down - awesome! Seats are comforable, and front ones are heated - they heat up within 2 minutes! A/C works well. Car handles well, though not as well as some German cars.

• 

  06 300 Limited 3.5 - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By carhopper - June 2 - 1:24 pm

  In my opinion Chrysler does not deserve the "poor vehicle quality" reputation everyone seems to know them by. I purchased my 300 as a one year old used car with 23k existing miles on it. I have owned the car for nearly two years now and the odometer currently reads 63000. I have never had to bring this car into the shop for any repair work of any type. Nothing has ever broken. It alway starts and gets me where I need to go. The brakes are original and still have life left.

• 

  Fantastic car great price - 2009 Chrysler 300
  By Stuckond - June 2 - 8:10 am

  Low road noise, GREAT power from the 5.7, and a delicious ride from this sexy looking car. Has all of the power of my 1970 Firebird 400 (With a rebuilt motor), and turns just as many heads. Although I have not quite hit 1,000 miles on the 300C yet, This is without question my favorite car Ive ever owned. Very good turning radius for a big car. At 24 HWY MPG on a brand new car, its not awful. In town at 16.5 could be worse.

• 

  the hare beat my turtle - 1994 Chrysler Concorde
  By stuart - May 31 - 4:52 pm

  its ok when its on a full tank,you have to constanly check the tranny fluid to make sure its ok otherwise shell only ride in first gear i used lucas tranny fix ive had no problems with it my other complain is the car has no giddy up and go. i used to think chrysler built damn good cars.i need to change my way of thinking. i bought the car used.joke is on me.

• 

  Work of Art,in progress - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By Mike - May 31 - 7:10 am

  Have had car about 14 months now.Extremely reliable and very fuel efficient.Hard top makes for very quiet convertible.Styling seems to attract scores of people who watch the top go up and down in awe.Ive had a couple of Mercedes guys just fall in love with this car.Trunk opens up to massive area representitive of the late 60s early 70s cars when convertible top is up for space.The 18 inch wheels I have on the vehicle really grips the road and the ride is excellant.The paint,fit and finish is also excellant.This car gives me great pride when I take it anywhere as someone is bound to spark a conversation about the car and or lead into the hard top covertible they had in the fifties.

• 

  215000 and still going strong - 2001 Chrysler LHS
  By Deb - May 29 - 7:41 am

  This is the best car Ive ever owned.

• 

  Sad to say good-bye - 2000 Chrysler LHS
  By H Mac - May 28 - 10:34 am

  Ive driven my LHS for 8 years. At a 131,000 miles it doesnt owe me a thing. I have loved this car and enjoyed the driving experience every time Ive gotten behind the wheel. The car handles like a dream in all kinds of weather and is a comfortable ride. We had some door lock issues and repairs you would expect after 131k miles but otherwise no repair issues. I could probably drive it another 50k miles but the deals on the 09 300C are just too good to pass up. Ill be saying good-bye to my LHS tomorrow when I turn it in for my new 300 hemi. The 300 is a great looking car but I must say the interior on my LHS offers more. Im hoping I will enjoy this new car as much as I have the LHS.