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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  Outstanding Convertible - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By zomo - July 12 - 4:06 pm

  Purchased my first convertible 1 month ago and have covered over 1,000 miles. The 2.4 engine is quite and economical averaging 30 mpg (55% highway/45%city). Its got plenty of power for all around cruising. The interior is fantastic with easy to read gauges and very comfortable seats. The Sebring has been 100% reliable with every feature/option. Sirius radio and UConnect are wonderful and the 17" rims make the car standout. As mentioned in other reviews, this isnt a hot rod or a sports car - rather it is a solid frame with a comfortable ride & good handling competitive with any other mid sized car available today. I truly feel good about owning a Sebring convertible!

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  Best car Ive owned - 1994 Chrysler LHS
  By Craig - July 12 - 1:16 pm

  Bought this car for a song. Has over 230,000 miles and still going pretty well, but getting a little long in the tooth. Had the transmission rebuilt, then again under warranty. Had front tie rods & ball joints replaced, misc. other problems. A/C was great until last year, now has a leak. Overall, Ive learned to live with the cars quirks & its been very reliable. For the person who has clim. ctrl problems. Reset the climate control by putting it in test mode and it will no longer be "hot all the time" I periodically have to do this to mine. Google for info--not enough space here. Original alternator lasted till 210K miles, still on original starter. Exhaust system is orig. too.

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  Incredible Vehicle - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By NCPACIFICA - July 12 - 10:00 am

  Though we have not had this car very long, I can tell this is the best all around car we have had. We came off an Expedition Eddie B. to this car, and the space of the Pacifica its incredible. You must get in one to believe it. Interior and ride are just like a Mercedes Benz! The car is simply beautiful in and out, as well as comfortable and practical.

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  GREAT RIDE, Cant Hide! - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Bronson123 - July 12 - 10:00 am

  This car has it all! Great ride and look. I took it to a car show just a week after getting it and felt sorry for the vehicles that were parked next to me and overlooked as EVERYONE wanted to look at my new ride! After 4 months I still have folks checking it out as I enter a parking lot or even stopped at a light. (Ive had some folks turning the corner looking at my car and nearly miss the turn). The ride is great! on the highway little effort on passing and when it drops into the 4 cylinder mode you feel no diference in the ride or power. Give it the gas and no problem getting as much speed as you want. The interior is very plush with the real CA. wood.

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  MY 2006 CHRYSLER 300SRT8 - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By JASMINE - July 12 - 9:33 am

  This is an absolutely superb automobile: built with the highest quality and like a tank. Its power and torque are also fantastic, the design is magnificent. It has every luxury feature imaginable and more so: too long to list. Having carefully researched it is the best four door sedan on the American Market. It eats BMWS 3 and 5 series for breakfast. Even the vaunted M5 doesnt have its 420 lbft of torque. Yes there if often a hefty premium but its worth it!

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  Try it, youll like it - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Abe - July 12 - 3:36 am

  Had my C since July. Handles great, fun to drive, excellent HVAC. It always feels great to drive this car. Look forward to it every time.

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  Thank you - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By KMeade - July 11 - 12:17 pm

  I had a Ford Explorer XLT and I wanted something smaller but still big and this did it for me. I like the gas and the controls on the steering wheel. I love the space and the truck lots of leg room and very comfortable. Could have done better about the backup view. But I can work it.

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  Love it at 1st - - Then the repairs came - 2002 Chrysler Concorde
  By EB - July 10 - 10:27 am

  I love the car when I 1st bought it (used). It only had 59K miles on it. I thought it was a steal. Perhaps 6 months after the purchase I know why. I started hearing rumbling/throttling noise that sounded internal. Smaller garages wouldnt touch the problem. No engine lights were on. I thought Chrysler would know what it was better then anyone. Theyre more expensive but they would know their car better than anyone. I had to replace the crank shaft at a cost of $3,100. I contacted Chrysler to see if they could help cover some of the cost since it only had 66K miles on it but they were no help. The dealer kept my car for 8 days with no loaner. Now the A/C is shot & the engine light is on!

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  My sexy experience - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By Lolita Greene - July 9 - 11:06 am

  I think the car is sleek and sexy and made for a woman. However, it is a heavy car. The doors and trunk door are heavy. I have had minor problems when the car is riding at a slow speed it jerks. I think an improvement would be to add a place to put your sunglasses when your top is up and they are not on your face( sexy shades is a must). Something to protect the glare off the touch screen when watching a movie. I really love my car is was a gift for my 40th birthday and I am constantly turning heads on the road. The hardtop convertible is like having two cars in one.

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  PT Cruiser is Reliable - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By PT Cruiser Reliable - July 8 - 5:16 am

  The PT Cruiser is a very reliable car with routine maintenance. I have owned a different model car with each of the 5 new car purchases I have made in my lifetime. I would rate the Cruiser as one of the top. It is very reliable and has not had any major repairs. I stay very close to the maintenance schedules and have driven this car all over the US in every sort of weather without issues. I plan to give this car to my soon to be licensed teen. The leg room and posture makes you feel like your driving a mini-van (I had an knee injury and a stretched out leg wasnt feasible). The ability to remove the back seats make it as convenient as a van if you need to carry lots of cargo.