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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  car is a flop - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By mad man - January 1 - 10:03 am

  I bought this car last year. i got one of the first ones. Well it has been nothing but touble. The car is stalling at all speeds and engine light comes on and off. There is a problem with these cars and Chrysler is trying to keep it under wraps because it was named car of the year and is selling well. If anyone else is having engine problems and stalling post it on this site.

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  hate it - 2007 Chrysler 300
  By user - December 31 - 8:19 pm

  compared to my LHS this is a farce. the seats are hard. the a/c is weak. the trunk will carry mini bags. 2 golf bags and it is full. the fuel rating is not true it is horrible. have owned LHS 2 models and other chrysler models since 70s this is really a sad car. looks good from the outside but that is where is where I say it ends.

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  Poor quality - poor warranty - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By Dont_Buy_Chry - December 20 - 10:43 am

  My wifes dream car. Definitely not mine. Car looks nice, but thats it. 2.7L V6 is okay but stalls & sputters in summer (when youd like to be driving the most). Very finicky w/fuel brands here in NE. After 2mos going back & forth w/regional mgr. they replaced fabric top ("weave direction"/wasnt sewn correctly?) Cabin fan relay (AC) died on our anniversary trip-! Dealer couldnt fix terminals on rear defrost after 4 trips & then wouldnt warranty their own repairs. (fixed myself w/flexible conductive epoxy) Drivers door still isnt adjusted correctly. Daimler Benz has surely picked up a ailing pony in Chrysler. I will NEVER EVER buy a mopar again.

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  Bought this car and HATE IT!!!! - 2007 Chrysler Sebring
  By Newmzedo - November 28 - 5:46 pm

  I bought this car 3 weeks ago and absolutely hate it. Its the worse piece of crap I have ever rode/drove.The seats are cheap and very uncomfortable, and there is little if no leg room or hip room. If you are over 5 5 forget you have no head room. I feel very confined sitting in this car.The dash is made of this nasty cheap plastic with a silver tin accent and looks like hell.The moon roof is not very big compared to my other car and even thou I have the 2.7 v6 engine it is still sluggish. The head rest in the front seats are at an awkward angle so that you feel like your head is constantly being pushed forward. Its gas mileage is very good. Chrysler should dump this and bring back the 300 M

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  Dont Buy This Car "TROUBLE" - 1999 Chrysler Sebring
  By Sherrie - November 9 - 8:01 am

  this car does not have good pick up, the brakes are horrible and have to be changed frequently,my car is loosing coolant from the radiator but there are no leaks, cannot figure out why. i got a raw deal on the paint job, the clear coat came off within the first 2.5 yrs of owning this car,my transmission went out on me at under 100,000 miles, the tires are very expensive and wear out too soon for the price you have to pay. my outside door handle came off for no reason. this car was made with very cheap,unreliable parts. dealerships are not nice. i would not recommend this car to anyone. in fact i will go out of my way to let people know the very poor quality of vehicles Chrysler makes.

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  Chrysler Quality Lacks - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By Larry - October 27 - 1:13 pm

  Chrysler vehicles just do not meet the quality and resale value of Chevrolet and Ford. I bought this car new and paid 28K, 4 years later and 25K miles, its only worth 10K. At 24K miles, the driver door hinge broke, and a hose above the fuel tank is defective, cost, $400.00 to repair.

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  mistaken identity - 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By pat karrick - October 18 - 7:53 pm

  I misread the information on pt cruiser being a midsized car for 2010 and misjudged the vehicles it was compared to. I bought a 2010 which has a 2000.00 discount. I accepted black. The only color said available. I am in a compact car not a midsized car. I have filled the gas tank twice and only put on 300. Miles. Its a 15 gallon tank. I was told and read a 26 mpg. My 1996 Buick regal v6 3800 motor with 200,300. Miles on it got 26 miles to a gallon if not more. I want my old car back.

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  First and Last Chrysler - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Sampson - October 18 - 5:13 pm

  At one point while driving my brand new Pacifica home from the dealership, I thought that I felt the car move to the right. Within the next day, I discovered that the car did pull to the right when I accelerated. I took the vehicle back to the dealer and that began a long battle between myself and Chrysler. The only answer I have gotten from them is that the pulling to the right is a characteristic of the car! I was told to "deal with it!" I persued this problem throught Chrysler and was told that there was nothing that could be done. I hate driving this car and I am in the process of trading it now.

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  recall and other annoyances - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By pattycifica - October 9 - 10:00 am

  My new Pacifica had a "ghost" beep for two months before they found the problem. They changed the air bag module and the beep stopped. Then it shut off on me...the dealership did not yet know of the recall...when they did I was without my car for 4 days before it was fixed.

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  Want Junk--Buy 2005 Pacifica - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By bob15 - September 28 - 10:00 am

  Bad transmission from factory. As soon as we got home it leaked in the garage. Total miles on car 285.