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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  Happy Pacifica owner - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By happypacificadriver - October 27 - 10:00 am

  Love everything about the Pacifica except the gas milage. Cant complain too much it is better then my Durango was! Styling is fantastic. Cant understand why a lover of the Japanese car makers would by it but to each his own. I love everything about this car!

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  Chry. Pacifica - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Ron Heege - October 27 - 10:00 am

  Hot looking with performance

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  PT Touring Convertible - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By alyne - October 27 - 10:00 am

  Purchased April 6 2004. This car has a blind spot the size of an elephant, use of the side mirrors may help to correct this. I love the intuitive and ergonomically well-placed control buttons on the dash. Lots of head and leg room – front and rear. The colour matched sport bar looks great. The cute little trunk is a tad awkward to access. The 2.4L Standard Turbo, using regular gas, provides plenty of power for city and highway driving. Assembled in Toluca, Mexico. . I love it!

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  INFO ON PT CONVERTIBLE - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Roberto - October 27 - 10:00 am

  If a person buys a PT Cruiser Convertible that is a turble. They are going to pay a lot of money for car because it uses up more gas, but the good thing is. It takes off fast because it has a fast pick up!

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  I LOVE MY NEW 300C - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By williams41 - October 27 - 10:00 am

  JOB WELL DONE THIS CAR IS BREATH TAKING

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  MY SRT-6 - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By William - October 24 - 8:53 pm

  This is an awesome automobile. Great looks and quicker than lightning. I give the interior design a 9 due to having only a single cup holder. A manual transmission and a little more chrome would be nice. On the whole, an impressive piece of work. I have not been disappointed.

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  perfect!!! - 1998 Chrysler Sebring
  By biggie - October 24 - 5:37 pm

  This car is simply perfect!!! I have had it for a year now. I have the 2.0l 4cyl. engine with a 5sp. This car is comfortable, looks great, completely reliable, great gas mileage, and fun to drive!!!

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  Awesome! - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Stephen - October 24 - 3:46 pm

  If you grew up in the 60s as I did then this is the ultimate driving machine. The SRT8 is truly a new age muscle car. Recent trip from Columbia, SC to Lewisville, IN 1404 mile round trip. The SRT8 was great, handling through the turns couldnt be better, and the power is fantastic. Averaged 20 mpg. Not bad for this much horse power. Purchased a 2005 Chrysler 300C last June the 340 hp was okay, but the SRT8 425 is awesome!

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  Used 2002 PT Cruiser - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By rebekah021 - October 21 - 10:00 am

  I was always against getting a cruiser. When looking for a new car, I was not gonna get a cruiser. I needed a car that I can carry 2 large dog crates or 3 child seats when I pick up my boyfriends cousins from the daycare. I thought this car was too small and looks like a hearse. There is incredible space in the cruiser. The best part is that it doesnt take but maybe a min. to cool down a hot car. My boyfriend drove it and now wants to trade in his car for one as well. Its an awesome car and Id recommend it to everyone.

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  Sebring Convertible Ottawa Ont - 2005 Chrysler Sebring
  By Jim Carman - October 20 - 4:55 pm

  I have owned a 2005 Sebring Limited Convertible for almost 3 years now and the vehicle has around 41,000 kms on it. I do not have anything negative to say about this car. I have driven it in all types of weather including some very heavy rural snow conditions and it perfomed very well. I found that servcing at the dealer was somewhat expensive and that they were not necessarily doing all the reqd maintenance, so I am no longer taking it there.