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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  a really nice car - 2007 Chrysler 300
  By Mark - April 30 - 11:01 pm

  My 300 is a great car for me and I am very happy I decided on this over some others. I looked at foreign and domestic cars in this class but ultimately chose the 300, with the price the final decider. I am very satisfied with the 3.5 V6, and the mpg savings over the hemi makes it a worthwhile choice for me. It is very roomy and comfortable. Pleasure to drive, not a sports car but fun. Extremely quiet inside even at 85 mph. At first I was afraid the "chopped" look meant poor visibility but not the case. My former car was an Aurora and I miss its oomph but I dont miss the low mpg, high maintenance cost and amenities that were an annoyance at times.

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  awesome but lacks power - 2007 Chrysler Crossfire
  By jacob - April 30 - 10:33 pm

  I bought the base model to get the 6 speed manual because I was told it wasnt available on the srt model so I bought this and priced adding a stock supercharger and its around $11,000 they definitely could have pushed more horsepower out of that six just look at Hondas S2000 4 cylinders no turbo or supercharger and pushes more power, less weight, cheaper price, and a quicker 0-60, and last it also handles better. Crossfire does have much nicer interior and convertible top is all automatic.

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  WoooHooooo! - 2007 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Hockeymom1368 - April 30 - 9:35 pm

  What happens when you have to haul two 6tall teenagers plus two friends and all their assorted hockey bags in a Pacifica?? You get to ride in a quiet, reliable, easy to handle with lots of room car! I love my Pacifica and after hauling those kids around...three more hockey families purchased them. Definitely a fan.

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  I Love my 2001 Sebring - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By barbara - April 30 - 2:32 pm

  I Have owned my car for 7 years havent had any real problems with it currently have 104,000 miles, but I keep it well maintained with oil changes,and general maintenance, the one thing I dislike is the cup placement it is right in front of cd changer and I havent been able to use the Cd player due to a cd Jam, that happened when i put my cup in the holder.

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  best crossover ever - 2008 Chrysler Pacifica
  By mark times - April 30 - 8:10 am

  Well when I first went to the car lot I was looking for a Dodge or a Jeep because I thought a car like that wold be very hard to get to so when he told me that hey young men it is possible to get a crossover like that I was so happy he said that he so the light lite upon my face then I still said to myself that there no way in gods holy world that I could get a car with sleek body style and hard cover face and a banging grill with wood all over the place and with also comes with a tv and also comes with a navigation system and so much of room also to top it off it also comes with a sun roof I also like the way that the dashboard is made how goes around

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  I used to love my car - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Liz - April 29 - 6:10 am

  This was the first car my husband and I bought new. I loved it right away. It was comfortable, fun to drive and it was so cute! But it started having problems at about 30,000 miles. It wouldnt start. The dealer replaced the battery. The day after we brought it back it wouldnt start again. Back to the dealer for something else to be replaced. We were told after taking it back to the same dealer for the 5th time to not come back! All in all its been in the shop 14 times in a little over two years! It always seems to be something electrical. Dont buy a 2003 PT Cruiser if you need a reliable car.

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  Sweet - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By A.C. Lazzaro - April 29 - 4:26 am

  This car puts the fun into driving again... Its design sets it apart from anything on the road or parking lot.. Numerous compliments from Cadillac and BMW friends..Good package at a REASONABLE price in the signature series....

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  Sweet ride - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Real Nice - April 28 - 3:10 pm

  I purchased this car as my primary vehicle but I cant get my wife out of it, now her ML320 sits in the garage while we haggle over the 300 keys.

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  The Good the bad and the ugly!!!!!! - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By dmrtx - April 28 - 12:08 am

  I really love driving this car, it has lots of room and has the feel of a luxury car. (the good) I have had issues with the passenger airbag light coming. It has been 4 times for this and they say they have reprogrammed the system. The last time it was in the sales manager stated that you shouldnt lay anything on the seat if no one was sitting in it. That makes no sense! (the bad) Have 25K miles, have been having issues when starting to drive the wheels lock up and the only thing that seems to fix it is to back up about 10 ft and then drive forward. Now its making a popping noise when you start to drive forward. The dealer checked the parking brake and found nothing. (the ugly)

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  2000 Chrysler Concorde 4 dr LXI - 2000 Chrysler Concorde
  By Chrylserman - April 27 - 3:40 pm

  180k miles plus, doesnt burn a drop of oil, no leaks or drips. A starter at 175k, $6 thermostat @ 165k and brakes. You cant ask for any more than that. 30 MPG on average, set of platinum plugs at 100k and that is it. The original battery just went out!! AMAZING, big car has a powerful 3.2 engine. Chrysler would own the auto world if they built all of them like this!!