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 Vehicle Overall - 2007 Chrysler Aspen
  By Dave - May 23 - 8:33 am

  We bought a used 07, All options, Hemi, Nav, Remote Start, everything. I bought it in Atlanta, GA I live in Roanoke, VA. Trip home was good. 455 miles and got 21.2 mpg on the Hemi MDS engine. No complaints on gas. A vehicle this size! That’s good. It could have been better I suppose but I was on and off the gas, since I had a new toy! It has a smooth ride, very quiet. The Hemi climbs the mountains effortlessly. I was going 80 mph up the mountains at only 2000 rpm. It gets a lot of looks. The 20” chromes really set it off. The third row seat access is by far the easiest out there. The lever on the second row seat is so simple. Get the Hemi with MDS. No use for the Flex fuel, No 85oc here.

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  plastic junk - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By vinny - May 23 - 2:50 am

  i have a 2006 pt cruiser touring wagon i think the car is plastic junk fuel economy is poor for a 4 only get 19 miles city interior is noisy and cheap and very uncomfortable seats are too hard the car needs more horsepower it also has a bad ride you feel all the bumps i cant wait to trade it in i hate it

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  What a wagon! - 2007 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Mr Mapes - May 22 - 10:08 pm

  Test drove 2005 & 2006 models before falling for the 2007 model with 4.0 and six speed automatic. Bought a fleet car with 24,000. Just finished a 2500 mile trip. Average city MPG is 18.5 and 26 MPG on the highway doing 75. Would get 32 if I kept it at 60-65. 10% ethanol cuts mileage by 10-20%. Tons of room in front and 2nd row. Acceleration is great. Havent driven in the snow, but dont have any worries based on experience to date. It has the capacity of full size SUV, with gas mileage of mid-sized sedan.

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  Maximum Bang for the Buck - 2007 Chrysler 300
  By ML - May 22 - 8:43 pm

  Absolutely love the car. You cant beat the value here. Where else, besides the other SRT8s, can you get a 425hp motor, race tuned suspension and Brembos for around $40k? Nowhere! Exterior styling isnt my favorite, but it gets tons of compliments. Interior is well laid out, other then the cruise control stalk, but material quality could be better. As far as performance goes, this car easily keeps up with the German performance sedans and annihilates the American and Japanese ones. That goes for acceleration, which goes without saying, but also handling, where the SRT8 puts up handling numbers, comparable to the M5, and that shame cars such as the E55 and STS-V. Very impressive.

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  WON OVER !!! - 2008 Chrysler 300
  By Terry - May 22 - 7:29 am

  I love my Hemi. I went from an 01 Avalon to this hemi. My Avalon was a little more luxurious than my hemi, but the car handles so much better! It really turns heads!! The Avalon looks so much like the other Toyotas that people didnt know that I had a top of the line car. This one, looks, feels, and is a much better buy. Easy on the eyes and I get as much or better gas mileage as my Avalon. I was a die hard Toyota fan, but this car has changed my mind. I love it.

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  Very Junky Car - 2008 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Johnny - May 21 - 6:38 pm

  The car may look nice but it is a piece of junk. I bought this thinking I got a steal but this has been the worst car I have ever driven. The brakes are very very bad, the acceleration is decent, the steering is not up to crossover standards. Its an overall piece of junk.

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  Hard to go wrong - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Ozzallos - May 20 - 6:06 pm

  Purchased this vehicle as high mileage fleet, and have very few complaints. The interior is comfy, the storage capacity positively huge. Ive had one burnt out turn signal and a wiper replacement in the year Ive owned it so far and its handled, all the weather Indiana could throw at it.

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  Aspen Signature Series - 2008 Chrysler Aspen
  By pg - May 20 - 3:35 pm

  Got the 2008, love it, love it, love it. I traded in an explorer (which I thought I loved). Wow, what a wonderful suv. I bought the signature series (w/all the bells/whistles). Gorgeous two tone leather. I live out in the country and drive about 100 miles a day...what a comfortable ride. The radio, mp3 player, back up camera--all nice. the room for the kids in the back (big and roomy-no one touches anyone). The gas is what I expected (avg 16.3 mpg) Of course I would love better gas (but for what I am getting, I can live w/the gas price). Would recommend to anyone. This SUV rocks.

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  2003 Sebring LXI - 2003 Chrysler Sebring
  By Royal - May 20 - 2:31 pm

  This has been the worst car I have ever owned in my 30+ years. I have just under 50k miles and have had the following replaced or repaired- radio / truck air shocks / visor clip / water pump / transmission seal / oil gasket / 2 sets of tires / brakes / front door handle / power windows / all four doors have had the entire plastic housing come loose and break off - oh and by the way this is a company car that is primarily driven by me with NO passengers to mess with stuff! A person expects repairs, but not to the extent that this car has had. Looks great, ride not too bad for a smaller lower priced car -quality of build is worst ever-Chrysler should be ashamed to have their name on product

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  Pacifica 2005 - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Carl Scarborough - May 18 - 4:33 am

  This is the second year I have utilized a Pacifica as my primary car, having had the 2004 initial model also. Aside from required maintenance, only minor repairs have been required. The 2004 model needed a warranty covered computer chip replacement, and the 2005 had a recall to replace headlight wireing.