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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  Great Looking just dont drive - 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
  By hey19 - March 14 - 5:49 pm

  They claim there is traction control...if there is a flurry on the ground it wont drive. The tires need to be filled every other day. All the novelty wore off after driving for a couple months.

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  Not the quietest - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Tej - February 26 - 8:37 pm

  I have turned in my 2012 Sienna and got the l plus. The claim that Chrysler makes "quietest in its class" is absurd. My old sienna was much quieter. The road and wind noise levels even with active noise cancellation is high compared to sienna that does not have active noise cancellation. The adv safety tech is okay, but is more like beta and needs lot of improvement. The stop and go is decent but active steering is awful, dont even try it. Interior is good, comparable or better in its class.

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  DO NOT BUY THIS VAN - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Pokey - February 21 - 11:17 pm

  DO NOT BUY, IT IS DANGEROUS! My sliding door opens on its own...came out from eating at a steak house and my van door was open, pulled in my garage the sliding door opened on its own....the radio and USB is crap, it works when it wants to....this van will cause your nerves to be shot...because you dont know when you come out of the grocery store if everything you left in the van will be stolen because the door is wide open...to many problems....or at least mine is a big yellow lemon and Chrysler wont do a thing for me!

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  Mistake - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Fred Tuttle - February 7 - 2:02 am

  Purchased new. Underpowered, yet relatively poor mileage (16 city, 24 highway), has always consumed an excessive amount of oil (about 0.1 qt per 100 miles), and a turn radius that once got caused a traffic stop for suspicion of DUI. Besides ordinary and expected service: A/C fan controller failed at 35 K, again at 70 K and again at 100 K; A/C evaporator core at 80 K; cam shaft sensor at 66 K, followed by a cylinder head at 80 K; passenger seat airbag sensor failed at 70 K; transmission failed at 90 K; and weirdly, three of four in the initial set of tire went flat within first 25 K, with no further problems after they were replaced. Approximate excess repair cost to date: $15 K. Total cost to purchase and operate to 100K: $0.47 per mile plus insurance/interest. Bottom line: nice styling, reasonably roomy and comfortable, but better, cheaper options were available.

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  What a lemon! - 2004 Chrysler 300M
  By wishfull thinking - February 5 - 2:14 am

  I have had this vehicle into the shop more than my 6 year old vehicle. There is always something wrong. The windows stick, some leak. LOUD road noise. Interior electical went out. AC unit had to be replaced. Front bumper is too low, have had to have replaced 2 times. Suspension has had to be tighten/ adjusted. Children complain of rear seatbelts. This car was the worst mistakeI ever made!!!

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  arg - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By rushics - January 12 - 1:03 am

  this car and the dealer i bought it from are absolutely awful. within less than 3000 miles the transmission blew up. . . .twice. the dealer refused to replace the car so now i have a brand new car with a twice rebuilt transmission. its a nice looking car, and fun to drive- but that doesnt mean anything when its in for serivce 30% of the time ive owned it.

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  No way - 2016 Chrysler 200
  By John - December 24 - 4:40 am

  Glad I rented this car first. I was thinking about getting one, but now there is no way. If you get one better get use to "Key Fob not Detected" The push button start is fine when and if it detects the key fob. The ride noisy and uncomfortable, acceleration is terrible it hesitates. I would never rent one again.

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  Very poor qaulity. Very displeased. - 2000 Chrysler 300M
  By antho59263 - November 14 - 3:37 am

  This car has been a major pain & costly to own. In the three years we have owned the car each of the power door lock motors went out one at a time costing about $200 each to replace. I have taken it into the Chrysler dealer every three months since April 2004 for transmission repairs. Each time the dealer gouged us any where from $200-$500. Its also needed emmision repairs, speaker replacement, computer repairs.

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  Pt cruiser a lemon in disguise - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By It may be pretty but - November 10 - 9:26 am

  From the start this car has had serious problems Chrysler does not know how to repair, computer changed 3 times, transmission,shaking stawling, engine lights turning and on and on and on. the car has been at the dealership now on and off since I have had the car at least once to twice a month for a week or two at a time. I have used up my towing allowance with AAA. Chrysler keeps saying theres nothing wrong or they dont know how to fix it, it is a great looking lawn ornament dont be fooled like I was by the great style it is not worth the aggravation and expense. We have all the receipts from the repairs to prove these claims.

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  Dont Buy One - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Ron Sliter - October 10 - 1:23 am

  We purchased a brand new PT Conv and we have had nothing but trouble with it. The original dealer was no help in repairing it and we took it to another dealer Integrity Chrysler Dodge with the same results. To add insult to injury Chrysler Corp has been no help at all. The car stops running for no reason and wont start back up again until its ready. I have had this happen at 70 mph on the freeway and at just about any other speed. The radiator also cracked and had to be replaced and the car doesnt even have 10,000 miles on it. Buy a Mustang at least they run and you can get them repaired. I will never buy another Chrysler product and neither should you.