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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  Great Car - 2004 Chrysler 300M
  By nizi - December 1 - 2:00 am

  This car has excellent power and handles like a dream. Many compliments at how the car looks. One of the beststylingcar around.

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  Had I of known... - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By IN2SIRFIN - December 1 - 2:00 am

  The gas mileage is no where near what the window sticker says. And this was what I was looking for. As I drive to San Diego on weekends, I needed good mpg. I didnt get it. Fun car to drive. Might have been happieer with the Turbo model, but not for what they were asking for it. The salesman said the turbo model got less MPG, later the service tech, said the Turbo got better.

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  Baby Boomer Fun Car - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By wts - December 1 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive. We get alot of looks. We own the GT TURBO with 220 HP. Im afraid my wife will get a speeding ticket. Very quick, handles great. More room than it appears to have.

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  Treat Yourself (no one else will ;-) - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By P. Goldman - November 30 - 2:50 pm

  Pure joy. 60s USA muscle meets 21st century Mercedes hi-tech & refinement. Quiet, smooth, luxury comfort w/ enough get-up-and-go to scare my wife! Havent been in snow yet, but expect AWD offers the the same foul weather reliability as my old SUV. The "Bentley Lite" exterior styling is solid & bold, not stuffy. Per Car&Driver a Bentley has marginaly upscaled cup holders ... and can be yours for only about a 1/4 million more than a loaded 300C @~$40K. My advice: forget the "entry" models, spend $40K on a Hemi loaded up with options & feel like youre KING of the road! Without question the best luxury sedan value on the market by far - deserves its Car of the Year status.

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  depreciation of car value - 2003 Chrysler 300M
  By ggracer67 - November 30 - 2:00 am

  I love my 300M, but thought that I could go from an SUV to a car. Now almot 1 year later, I am trying to trade in my car and have been laughed at. My value went down almost $13,000 in 9 months. I have never heard of anything so crazy. I have had a few other minor things go wrong, but otherwise like my car. I love the look and the shape of the car.

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  Loved it for years but now disappointed - 1999 Chrysler 300M
  By ListenupChrysler - November 29 - 2:00 am

  I used to love my 300M. What a great car at a good price. After 4 years and more than $8,000 in repairs Im done with Chrysler forever. My dealership and Chrysler corporate have been nothing short of terrible. I was set to put down a deposit on the new 300C Hemi, now Chrysler will never get another dime from me. After replacing the window motors, AC evaporator, transmission computer, starter motor, seat motors and numerous other parts Im broke and broken-hearted. I did not abuse this car, in fact I followed every maintenance interval and had the dealer service it every time.

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  Troubles after 100,000 miles - 1998 Chrysler Concorde
  By Huskerpedia - November 28 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car. We purchased it new and never had any problems outside of normal wear and tear. At 100,000 miles, the car seemed to fall apart. The water pump failed (it needs a redesign), several sensors have failed, including the oil pressure sensor twice, the cam sensor (even the replacement failed after 1000 miles), and now we have a rod bearing problem. We have 121,000 miles on it now and cant give the car away. It was a fantastic car up to 100K.

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  MY VOYAGER - 2003 Chrysler Voyager
  By PAPA - November 25 - 2:00 am

  I HAD NO PROBLEMS IN ALMOST 8000 MLS. WIFE LOVES IT SO DO I AND GRANDKIDS.I AVERAGE 24 MPG ITS THE BEST NEW VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. BETTER THAN THE TOYOTAS I OWNED BEFORE

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  love the car - 1999 Chrysler Cirrus
  By lynne - November 22 - 2:00 am

  Ive got 90,000 miles on it and it still runs great- only problem I dont like is the back end creaks in really cold weather.

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  05 PT Cruiser convertable - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By PJNodianos - November 21 - 10:00 am

  ordered as soon as I heard was avail. three month wait, however worth it. the cool vanilla color looks a lot better with the light brown top.(another re reason to order it to your own specs.) rides like a champ, keeps up with highway traffic verrry well...goes from cruising at 70 to 120 mph no trouble....however when you do "punch it" hold on! Make sure that ya get the light color interior with the vanilla color, also.