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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  Best car Ive ever had - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By ed b - January 27 - 7:40 am

  great performance, terrific curbside appeal, fast and quiet - and BEST value for the dollar for a luxury sedan.

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  13 yrs and going Great car - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Bill - January 26 - 12:14 am

  I bought the GT turbo in 2003 in California. Its electric blue and has great pick up, speed and I love all the interior space. Strange though it is an automatic and has the auto stick. It must be a more rare version. I drove it home to NYC 3 yrs later and have driven it since then to October 2016. We do love it but Im taking over babysitting for grandchildren and wish to purchase a new car to replace it. Its a shame as I only have 29k miles on it. It has done its job and would recommend the car to anyone. Wish they still made them.

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  Great Car - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By jammingjoe_2000 - January 23 - 1:13 am

  Amazing Car....fun to drive. As good on gas as a mini van but so much more fun. putting a lot of chrome on..nice pimp ride.

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  Joy to own, suprise! - 2006 Chrysler Sebring
  By dale james - January 22 - 10:03 pm

  I bought this car for driving to and from work. I thought a convertible might be fun. I had no idea of what great fuel economy, and what a pleasure as an everyday driver. Fun, faster than a speeding ticket and great stereo also! I also enjoy 800+ mile journeys in comfort with 30+ mpgs.

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  Great car - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By regal - January 21 - 8:14 pm

  I purchase the automatic so my wife could drive it. I test drove a stick, and after i told the dealer if he could get it in yellow i would take it. I purchase it with 7 year 60,000 mile warranty 0 deductible. I am 72 years old and am enjoying this to no end. Even my wife enjoys riding and driving it. A little noisy on the highway but its a convertible, i just received a rear glass between the two seats but its to cold to run it with the top down to test it. I also had a electronic dimming mirror installed with a compass.

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  pt cruiser great retro look - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By art prieto - January 21 - 8:26 am

  a lot of fun to drive, style is great and very comfortable. i will continue to buy this style when im ready to trade

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  Red Wagon - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By BudO - January 20 - 12:13 am

  Im 62", 240 lbs. and find the PT to be comfortable to drive except for the wings on the front seats, they dig into my thighs. The power/torque in this engine is more (automatic transmission) than adequate. I have read that others are experiencing poor mpg. I drove our new PT to Denver from our home in the mountains last week that included cross town driving for a total of 200 miles. I held it to 55/65 mph because it had 145 miles on the engine. I was very surprised to achieve 33.6 mpg.

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  Sassy - 2007 Chrysler 300
  By Michael - January 19 - 4:56 pm

  390 ft lbs of torque make this car fun to drive. Touch the gas pedal at any speed, and the hemi responds instantly, Love the low roofline and the grille... This car is a great value for the money and has features of much higher priced luxury cars... The car has style,class,room, a nice quiet ride,performance and is fun to drive. People in parking lots stop to admire the car. I know that it is not PC to own a vehicle that has performance, but, for me, this is a trip back in time,, I remember the first Hemis... Deiter (Chrysler CEO) hit a home run with this car.

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  Love the Hemi! - 2007 Chrysler Aspen
  By dscott05 - January 19 - 8:44 am

  Wow! Nice to see an American Made SUV of such high quality. Quality is evident everywhere - from the wood steering wheel, to the super comfortable leather. WE LOVE IT! The stability control feature works like a wonder driving in a Snow storm. The HEMI engine is much more powerful than the Sequoia we drive, and the vehicle feels more substantial. We loved the Five Star treatment at the dealership. So friendly and helpful! This is our First Chrysler - but Im thinking it wont be the last! Good Job Chrysler!

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  simply the best - 2002 Chrysler Concorde
  By don - January 18 - 2:20 pm

  we have put 90k miles on this car in 4years. much more room on the inside compared to the Bonneville. the 3.5 h.o. engine has lots of pep. This has been the best car we have ever owned. the only repair was for an electric fan for the cooling system, that it in 90k and 4 years.