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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  Second Time Not As Good - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Second time Around - April 17 - 2:33 am

  This is my second PT. The first was an 02. Both were five speed and got surprisingly good mileage-22/28. While I like the keyless entry on the 07 but the reliability has not been as good as the 02: I have replaced the AC fan (28000), THE CLUTCH (29000), and the control arms (31000). When I traded the 02 in on the 07 it had 73000 miles and the only thing I replaced were wheel bearings. The 5 speed is fun to drive addition to providing better acceleration-a common complaint-and better mpg.

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  new pacifica - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By mark - April 16 - 3:46 pm

  car is comfortable to drive but is very hard to see your surroundings when backing out of parking spaces and such. The fuel economy is terrible, only getting about 12 around town and 18 to 19 on the highway.The car should be great in the winter with AWD. It has plenty of room for all passengers and like the heated seats for all.

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  It holds a full size string bass and cello - 2016 Chrysler 200
  By Jeannette Pessaro - April 14 - 12:55 am

  The acceleration is a bit slow and jerky but once its above 25mph it does great. The trunk is a grest v size and I am able to transport a full size string bass and full size cello at the same time (along with smaller instruments like violins, clarinets, trumpets and saxes! That was my biggest requirement. You have to duck a lot to get into the backnowledge seats and that is as an average height woman. Its fiber for kids, but tall teens might knock their heads! Overall, I love the carea, the features and its response to braking and steering

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  Beautiful Car - 1996 Chrysler Sebring
  By Chases - April 13 - 2:00 am

  First car I ever owned! I loved this car. Very sporty, but better on gas and cheaper insurance. The V6 gave it ALOT of power. The only bad thing is it doesnt make very tight turns

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  Good ride - 1995 Chrysler Cirrus
  By Nils - April 13 - 2:00 am

  1995 was the first year and the car got Motor Trend car of the year . It has a great suspension and rides well. The engine is a 165 HP V6 Mitsubishi the transmission was Chrysler. Except for the radio light which went out on me twice. The car was good for 100,000 miles, with no problems other than normal maintenance, then bad stuff began to happen. Had a rattle in the door as well. At about 140,000 miles the transmission blew, had to replace the catalytic converter, voltage regulator, etc. Glad I did not get the 4 cylinder. The leather was poor quality. Otherwise, I liked the car. Now I have a 2003 Honda Accord Coupe EX with leather. Great car.

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  Unexpected Value - 2004 Chrysler Concorde
  By PMat - April 11 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car off lease for less than blue book with only 17,000 miles on it. Since I buy a used car every 2nd or 3rd year just to pile the miles on it, Im pleasantly surprised with the value of this car. Gas mileage is running 28 to 30 miles per gallon consistently. So far, from July to April 04 Ive put on 24,000 miles with no trouble at all! No unexpected surprises - just regular oil changes and the usual 30,000 mile, etc check ups. Very satisfied.

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  climate control fail - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Oculos - April 7 - 2:25 am

  I have had the car for one day. The panel vent mode on the climate control worked on the first drive, but is now inoperative. Foot well and defrost work fine but the panel vent mode is dead. Update to follow after I go to the dealer Monday, tomorrow. And the "kick to open" side doors and lift gate are only working about one out of ten tries. Im doing exactly as the manual instructs so I dont think its user error. In less than 24 hours Im having more issues with this car than I have had in the last 11 years with my Lexus LX... I hope its just a couple minor glitches.

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  For want of a nail... - 1994 Chrysler Concorde
  By MaxDrivesLikeANut - April 7 - 2:00 am

  Bought this as my first used car after college. I knew there had been recalls, but I wanted to believe that American manufacturers built a good product. 5,000 miles after buying it (with 58,000 on it) the distributor left me on the side of the road during rush hour. Torque converter locks up in reverse on cold mornings, until the car warms up. Told to get a new transmission by dealership for $3,600, but AAMCO guy suggested I run it until it failed. I just back into every parking space been getting by for 40,000 miles. The turn signals fail when its cold or wet. A/C went, front tie rods and the climate control just went.

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  Drive = Love! - 2000 Chrysler Sebring
  By Steve Phillips - April 7 - 2:00 am

  Hawaii was the perfect place for me to buy this car and I loved every minute of it! Although I live in Washington now and it isnt as fun, I look forward for days to put that top down. I have received compliments on how good it looks since the day I bought it. I will get rid of my SUV way before I get rid of my Sebring! The only problems I have had are changing the battery (behind the front tire) and replacing the alarm.

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  power windows - 2001 Chrysler Concorde
  By molly putz - April 5 - 2:00 am

  Problems with the power windows. Required all four power motors to be replaced. I only replaced drivers side. Didnt favor side blockage of windsheild. Easy to miss oncoming traffic! Loud wind noise interior. Alarm could not be fixed so unable to lock all doors without having alarm go of unexpectedly at times.