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:

• 

  nice ride - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Michelle - September 9 - 2:00 am

  Over all very happy making a change from having bigger SUV

• 

  LOVE IT - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By mrtyrez - September 9 - 2:00 am

  I love to drive this car.

• 

  Best Car I ever had - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By No - September 8 - 8:13 pm

  This is a great car. I was in a very serious accident and needed a car that would feel and be safe for me and my daughter. It is. The only issue is gas mileage and some poor rear visibility. Best Car I ever owned. love It

• 

  Kudos to Chrysler - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By Janet - September 8 - 12:56 pm

  We recently purchased a 2008 Sebring Coupe Touring and absolutely love it. We have been on a few road trips and love the comfort, smooth ride and great gas mileage (averaging 33 mpg). We love the looks and all of the standard upgrades. I am not sure why some would put Honda/Hyundai ahead of this (we test drove both) and hands down it is the winner!

• 

  Beautiful SUV, but options DO NOT WORK! - 2008 Chrysler Aspen
  By Amy - September 7 - 11:22 pm

  This vehicle is very fun to drive, however I have had mine in and out of the shop 30 days in the past 6 months due to electrical problems with the electronic options. The DVD player which has been replaced 3 different times is still not fixed, so I need take it back to the shop once again. I definitely think mine is a LEMON!

• 

  1 of Americas good values - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By aaron lance - September 7 - 6:53 am

  Great car for around town and short drives. Easy exiting the car from all doors, better than sedans. Ride is smooth and uneventful and handles well. If you want reliability, fun and good economics, this is your car.

• 

  2006 300-C - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Jeff Medved - September 6 - 6:23 am

  Exceptionally unique styling. Overall quality is suberb. Having driven Lincolns for the past couple decades, I never imagined myself in a Chrysler. But nearly everything about this car (in the C model) is exceptional, and in a class with its parent Dailmer products. There are more electronic/power options on this car than you can shake a stick at, so I recommend a long term bumper-2-bumper 5007+ warranty if you buy the car, for peace of mind. Probably the nicest new car I have purchased ever.

• 

  Not a bad car - 2006 Chrysler Sebring
  By Scott Roosa - September 5 - 1:22 pm

  I love to drive here in Colorado with the top down, and am able to do it often. The car handles with a great suspension and has no problems in the mountains. The issue I had was the transmission going out on me with only 35,000 miles. Fortunately it was still under the warranty, but a bit too close for my liking. It is a fun care to have and drive.

• 

  Whats with the bumper? - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By Abby - September 5 - 9:26 am

  I have had this car for about 3 months and in general I love it. Like the review below mine sometimes it doesnt turn over when starting like it should. This happens randomly and for no apparent reason. My only major complaint is the rear bumper. I think it is made poorly and within the first month I noticed a rock had hit the underside of the tire casing and made a notch in the paint. After closer inspection I noticed that there is another part where the paint is pulling away where the metal body and plastic bumper of the car meet. You can hardly see it now but I fear in time it will grow. My biggest suggestion would be to examine your bumper before purchasing this car!

• 

  Love, Love, Love my Pacifica!!! - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By vs11972 - September 4 - 10:00 am

  Did I say I love it??? I used to drive a Town and Country, and liked it a lot, but hated the "mommy" image. Ditched it for an Envoy. Nice, but felt truck-like, and then I started to feel like I was driving a cookie- cutter truck!!! When I saw the Pacifica, I fell in love. It has all of the features I want: 3rd row seat, fold-down configuragions galore, Great styling, lots of gadgets and gizmos (love the navigation system!!!) and best of all it is NOT a van or a Truck! My gas mileage has averaged 18 mpg overall...mostly city driving, at that. Not too bad, in my opinion.