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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  Swiss Army Knife - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By wayne - January 7 - 7:03 pm

  After test driving a number of vehicles, I ended up purchasing the GT Turbo. The GT turbo has all the attributes that you find in a more expensive car, but most of all it provides for great flexibility. You can configure the interior to haul five adults and or items. It is extremely roomy in side, allowing entery into the vehicle ,with out whacking your head into the roof line, which is unlike other Chysler products. Contrary to other writers, I have obtained 20 miles to the gallon in the city, which I think is acceptable, for a 215 horsepowered vehicle.

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  Love this car - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Karen - January 7 - 1:13 pm

  I would buy this car again! The ride is smooth as can be and the power is wonderful. Its fun to drive and the looks - well, every knows what they look like and it still turns heads. The room inside is unbelievable. My Great Dane even fits comfortably! My husband at 62" is comfortable in the drivers seat, passengers seat, and he even has plenty of leg room in the back. The ONLY down side is the windshield seems a little narrow and it took a little getting used to when pulling up to stop lights. It is necessary to stop back a little further than normal in order to be able to see the light, otherwise you do have to duck down to see through the windshield. I love this car.

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  2003 Chrysler 300M - 2003 Chrysler 300M
  By annette - January 7 - 1:03 pm

  I bought it used in 2006 but it was in excellent shape only 33K looked like brand new. Besides one poor sensor, which caused my car to turn off while I was driving, I have had no problems. I bought a full warranty on it so I guess it will cover the sensor change. It combines luxury and sports style with a lot of space inside. Rides smoothly and has a lot of extras. Great handling. I love this car! I hope they continue with the production.

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  1 year update: More problems with technology - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Jim - January 6 - 9:11 pm

  Bought the car on June 25. 2016 It was In the CJ dealership for 6 days trying to get the "free" Unconnect Access to work. ( U Couldnt connect to register) Chrysler Corp HQ finally helped by getting Uconnect service people in contact with me. Why the dealer couldnt fix it was baffling. Update: 7/25/2017. Two long trips, good mileage on the highway (over 28-29 mpg) smooth ride although transmission has started slipping or clunking on a quick start. Seems to have trouble finding the right gear. Front fascia keeps slipping out of position on right front and the back up camera features are off. Camera shows a picture, but Yellow lines showing where you are going are gone as well as the warning beeper when you approach something in your way. Went through the instruction in the owners manual and selected the proper boxes to check. Took it to an out of town dealer while travelling and they couldnt fix the missing features. Cell phones just stopped system pairing. Oil changes cost a lot! Synthetic spec and an extra filter. Dealer says change every 6K. Why synthetic oil then?

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  Great Car changed my life! - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By pt dude - January 5 - 10:00 am

  I love this car! Retro out of the box look plus very easy to customise to make the PT you OWN! You can design your car the way you want it by adding many aftermarket parts to the car. Plus there are many PT Cruiser car clubs all over the country. I joined one and it changed my life. New friends with common interests!

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  J Js - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By jujuh69 - January 5 - 10:00 am

  Just love it

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  Lemon Car - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By petew1007 - January 5 - 10:00 am

  This Car was in the Dealers Repair Shop for 16 days straight trying to find out why the battery went dead and would not start the car... They finally replaced the Dashboard Cluster Guages... Along with all the Safty Recalls and all the other Problems with this Car I`m Filing Under the State of Iowa`s Lemon-Laws to get rid of this thing..... I`m 62 years young and have had 6 NEW cars and 2 Program cars... Of those 8 cars I have never had So Much TROUBLE with a car as I`ve had with this CHRYSLER PACIFICA it`s been a PAIN...

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  American Style and Quality Return - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Hermes1 - January 5 - 10:00 am

  As a loyal Mercedes owner, I had been fighting the urge to be interested in the Chrysler 300 ever since I first saw the concept car. Seeing the 300 on the road this year, I found myself to be continually intrigued by it. However, once I sat behind the wheel and drove the car this summer, I was absolutely smitten!! This car has lit a passion for American cars unlike ever before. The sense of quality, style and value the 300 carries is incomparable to any recent car since the early 60s! In fact, if you look closely, youll see styling cues reminiscent of the infamous 1961 Lincoln Continental, whose "slab sides" revolutionized the car industry.

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  luxury and power - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Alexandra Wolf - January 5 - 10:00 am

  everyones comment feels like im driving a $250,000 car. value, power, style its all in the 300c. so comfortable it feels as though the car is chaufering me. and when i am on the freeway and those darn trucks drive in convoy i only have to hit the gas and she serenely overtakes them all without even a whisper. the car and i have found each other, two sophisticated ladies who like to be admired. nothing on the road today comes near this car its a keeper.

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  Love My SUV/CAR - 2007 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Jill - January 4 - 10:50 am

  The pacifica is NOT a car and is NOT an suv.....and definitely is NOT A MINI VAN....if anything at all it leans more towards a luxury suv. I LOVE IT!!!