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:

• 

  Second Childhood/ Age 65 - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Max - February 13 - 8:26 am

  I have 4,000 miles on the car, mostly in the neighborhood.. I feel like a "traveling" sales person for chrysler! Everyone wants to chat about the car!! The crossfire luggage was an unexpected bonus, although the roll- about wont fit the trunk!

• 

  Aspen 4WD with Hemi - 2007 Chrysler Aspen
  By tjkenny - February 10 - 7:40 pm

  Couldnt care less about the Durango and was apprehensive to consider the ASPEN because I thought it was a Durango derivative. Well I was wrong! The ASPEN is a new design that is very well executed. Good fit & finish with nice responsive but comfortable handling. Bought the Limited with Hemi and all options. This car rocks!

• 

  THE BEST CAR! - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By QJT57 - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE THIS CAR!

• 

  Driving the 3.5 six vs the 5.7 v8 - 2007 Chrysler 300
  By J R Martin - February 5 - 3:05 pm

  The bis 6 was great. Fine handling,very good power, but my wife wasnt impressed with the leather seats, and I wanted the walnut WOOD trim with sunroof. There was what we both wanted in C model (v8) in the lot. Superb power and only 1 mpg less than the 3.5 six, so we bought the C< with an excellent price. Huge A pillars detract from drivers vision, but plenty of leg and headroom, front AND REAR. Steering wheel controls are confusing and will take a lot of patience to memorize. Extra stalks around steering column are ridiculous as is power control for tilt/telescope feature.

• 

  300 C - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Jim - February 3 - 11:36 am

  Wonderful car. Definitely a pleasure to drive. Plenty of power and an excellent ride. Well worth the money.

• 

  the blue bullet - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By robert#44 - January 31 - 2:00 am

  easy to customize,great standard features,needs more power

• 

  A Great Car - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By willy63 - January 30 - 6:26 am

  Of all of the cars I have owned in my life and it has been many, this is without a doubt, the most reliable, trouble free car I have ever owned. The super looks of the car and its quality is frosting on the cake.

• 

  My second convertible - 2003 Chrysler Sebring
  By Ray - January 29 - 9:27 pm

  I have now had my Sebring for almost 3 years. The car is a blast to drive and looks great. The only problem I have had (last week) that upset me was a broken drivers door strap that cost $260 to replace. Two other minor problems that were covered under warranty. I now have 63,000 miles on the car and have never been stuck. I would definitely consider another one, especially now that you can get one with the 3.5 engine.(My wife has that motor in her Pacifica). I get an honest 23-25 mpg around town. My first convertible was a 1963 T-Bird that I had in 1966. This one just reinforced my belief that everyone should have at least one convertible during their life.My daughter gets it next year.

• 

  Chrysler LHS - Wish they still made them - 2001 Chrysler LHS
  By softcoal - January 29 - 2:39 pm

  Bought this car new 6 years ago - have taken numerous trips in it, including a 6 week vacation with enough clothes for the whole trip - never a major problem - great comfort - lots of room in car and trunk. Chrysler luxury cars have all the features of the more expensive luxury cars at a lot smaller price. This is our fifth one, but now we are in a quandary because the 300 series is so ugly - If you find a used LHS to buy, get it!

• 

  Nice Car - 1997 Chrysler LHS
  By Pj1165 - January 29 - 1:00 pm

  I bought my LHS 3 months ago and am very happy with it. The trunk could easily hold at least 4 bodies :) its huge! The back seat has more than enough leg room for any size passenger. This auto looks classy from inside and out, you would never know it was 10 yrs old from the design. Rides great, and definitely comfort was in mind when they designed the interior. The only thing I am finding wrong with this auto is the gas mileage, I average about 13 in town and 21 on the highway. This must be just my auto though because the other posts here say they get around 20 in town? This is one great looking auto and the ride is smooth and soft.