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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  The Worst Car I Have Ever Driven - 2003 Chrysler Sebring
  By Very Unsatisfied - April 16 - 2:00 am

  Ever since I drove this car off the lot it nothing but a problem. The cars rear end sets too high over 17" inch wheels and it will simply not hold an alignment. I have had the car in seevral different dealers for service on 5 different occasions. It was given a four wheel alignement on 2 occasions, and the other three "couldnt duplicate" my concerns. The Chrysler dealers have been the worse. DONT BUY THIS CAR!!! MINES A LEMON!!!

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  Bad Car - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By e starling - March 28 - 10:00 am

  My Husband purchase a PT Curiser for me while on 2 weeks R&R. Want to asure his family would be in a safe car while he was deployed to Iraq. The car has been in the shop for repairs 4 times in less then 3 months. Due to " a glitch in the system". but this glitch cost me $56.00 and nothing was found or problem not fixed/ word of advise "never buy a Chrysler product"

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  Well, you get what you pay for. - 2016 Chrysler 200
  By Weaver - March 22 - 3:51 pm

  I like the look of the new 200 which is what got me there. I wasnt looking for an expensive car, need met. The car drives "OK", handles, brakes, and features the same. The big problems with this thing is the computer/transmission relationship. IT SUCKS!!!!! This car doesnt know which gear it wants to be in and at its worse will just stop for a few seconds (when you need acceleration most) to think about it. Three times Ive nearly been in an accident as a result of pulling out hoping for a quick acceleration only to find out that this car would rather think about it. To that I have found a solution should you find yourself in a similar situation (until you can buy yourself out of this dysfunctional relationship). Ive been driving in "L" or low gear and while my gas milage has suffered a little, the power and acceleration are there when I need it, particularly in stop and go traffic or around town. (On the open highway, "D" works fine.) In low, the computer takes over far before "red line" so no need to worry about blowing ANYTHING and it shifts a if it had a "sport mode", which it doesnt. SOOOO, now I just hate the car rather than loathing it. Beyond that, given that its rated the worst car two years running the depreciation is horrific. I hope this helps.

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  Ill Never Buy Another Chrysler - 2000 Chrysler Sebring
  By diba - February 15 - 2:00 am

  I have had over a dozen flat tires over the past 2 years. All four tires take turns just randomly loosing air. The front end scrapes on the slightest incline. The brakes have been squeaking since day 1. I could never get the dealer to do anything for me. Id love to trade my car in at the dealer I purchased it from and stick him with it but I cant bring myself to buy another Chrysler product.

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  Stay away - 1998 Chrysler Sebring
  By D Reynolds - February 11 - 2:00 am

  DO NOT BUY THIS VEHICLE... is all I can say. I only bought it a few months ago and have nothing but transmission problems and brakes problems and now it is making all kinds of rattle noises. I wish I could take it back.....

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  Worst Car Ever - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Christina - February 7 - 12:36 pm

  I had a 2001 Hyundai Elantra before this car and never had as many issues as Ive had with the PT Cruiser. Granted I purchased it used, but within two days of purchasing it the mechanical issues began. Ive had to replace the torque converter, battery, PVC hose, a torn CV joint and front left axle. It makes a grinding noise between 45-60mph, vibrates during idle and starting first thing in the morning, and this morning it almost stalled on me while driving 75mph. Its also very uncomfortable. I feel like I am sitting on a bag of rocks. This is the only car Ive driven where you have to push up for the wipers, not down and the window controls are in the center of the vehicle.A true lemon

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  Can you like anything of this car? - 2000 Chrysler Voyager
  By WolfgangKastenmeier - February 4 - 2:00 am

  We bought the car as an emergency purchase - we simply wanted the cheapest minivan out there and traded in our beloved 1999 Audi A6 station wagon. I wish we never would have done that. Sure, it was cheap, and perfectly served the needs we had at that time. Get us from A to B. This is what this car does, nothing more. Lousy 4- cylinder, shoddy build quality, outrageous gas-mileage, terrible back seats, horrible steering and the list goes on. I am not sure what we thought when we bought this car almost 4 years ago. Loses value quicker than anything else.

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  Disappointed - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Soccer Mom - February 1 - 8:13 pm

  I have had this vehicle for a little less than 2 years and I am seriously worried that it will not last another 3 years. I downsized from an SUV to save on gas only to find out that I average 23.5 mpg in this 4 cyl car. My SUV got 20-21 avg. I am very disappointed with the overall structure and mechanical performance. My 6 year old broke the glove box latch by trying to open it. Wont buy another Chrysler.

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  Utter junk - 1998 Chrysler Sebring
  By Sebring is worthless - January 30 - 2:00 am

  I have never had a car I hated so much. Low profile tires cause the rims to bend at every pothole - 5 flat tires and one blow out. Ground clearance is horrid, it doesnt clear cement parking guides. The brakes continually squeal, even when new. Shakes constantly, and starting to make noises. Front seats are too small for most men [fine for me, as I am a smaller woman]. Speakers buzz and shake with louder volume. Horn is difficult to blow. Just yuk, yuk, yuk!!!! Also, turning radius sucks.

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  Not that impressive! - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By JJP - December 25 - 10:00 am

  Nice look and features. Visibility is very poor in this vehicle because of lots of metal but little glass. As a result, some people mentioned it feels like a hearse. Blind spots are HUGE. Also, very poor access to the 3rd row of seats, which we use often since the second row only has 2 captain chairs. Overall, I regret the purchase. Its not as convenient as a van, not as smooth as a wagon, and has virtually no 4x4 abilities.