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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  Best Chrysler Ever - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By adj - January 18 - 10:00 am

  This car is a great family vehicle. Beautiful lines. Excellent comfort on the inside. Plenty of power (250HP) on a relatively fuel efficient V6. I have owned BMWs in the past. This chrysler have a european built quality and ride. Compares very good. We have the surround sound with DVD & TV. The kids absolutely love it. We can not find anything wrong with this vehicle.

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  Pacifica - Magnifica - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By dkmiller26 - January 18 - 10:00 am

  Pacifica is a great vehicle. Six passengers can ride although the two in the 3rd row are going to be less comfortable. The design is fantastic and the features are great.

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  No TurboLag as Stated in RoadTest Review - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Ernst - January 18 - 10:00 am

  I just love my PT Cruiser.This is my second PT Cruiser. The first is a 2002 Patriot Blue Limited Edition.It looks great ,handles like a sports car, but the car was just too slow. Now comes along my 2003 Electric Blue 5 speed Turbo. Handling is even better then before. I now have the power to back up the PT Cruisers fast looking exterior. Anybody want to buy a 2002 Patriot Blue Limited Edition PT Cruiser?

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  great car - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By kc - January 16 - 12:25 pm

  excellent car-- great ride -- fast enough for plenty of tickets! Ha! I commute in heavy traffic-- the car is very comfortable. Good stereo. Also a great cruiser. My only complaint is that the cup holders in the front are too low-- down under the dash and in the way of the CD player and lighter. This car needs very little maintainence and gets good mileage- 28 mpg in the city

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  Great little car - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Japanyama - January 16 - 10:23 am

  I am an educator so am on a budget. I bought this car almost a year ago and love it. It is a smooth ride and very spacious. The gas mileage is not too bad. $2.14 a gallone=$25 a week when I fill up.

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  ARTUROS REVIEW - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By ARTURO - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I HAVE OWNED THIS CONVERTIBLE FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS. IT IS FUN TO DRIVE AND VERY EASY TO CHANGE FROM SOFT TOP TO NO TOP. THE DESIGN IS GREAT AND EASILY HANDLES 4 ADULTS. THE TRUNK IS LARGE ENOUGH FOR 2 SETS OGF GOLF CLUBS

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  A constant Rush - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By stall - January 13 - 7:50 am

  I got my 05 Chrysler 300C in August of 2004. Nothing but happiness since then except for the Continental tires. No tranny issues, no wind leak, no complaints at all. I’ve got 19.5K on it now and my experience mirrors the long term test at “Automobile” Magazine. Their 7 or 8 months into a full years test and using 12 drivers report no issues. My 300C goes like hell and gives me a rush whenever I take it out. My Wife usually takes it so I end up with here Camry. It’s a pretty good car except for loosing head gaskets (2) and requiring no-doz because its as boring as driving a toaster. Regards to all

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  chrysler 300 limited - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By pete - January 12 - 8:23 pm

  Independent rear suspensionis great and coupled with esp makes this car stick to the road. Fuel consumption is better then expected.

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  I Aint never had Too Much Fun ! - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By dobro - January 9 - 11:16 pm

  Roadsters are for FUN, period. Ive owned MGs, a Miata, and have driven a dozen other ragtops,and the Crossfire is the most FUN of them all. As Crossfire demand slackened, I got a screaming deal on a barely used 6 speed Limited Roadster, and I still have to pinch myself to see if Im dreaming. Its as if a Cadillac had a drunken fling with a Boxter, and the result is this precision German machine wearing a rodeo belt buckle. Great handling, great top mechanism, great stereo, great aesthetics. A keeper.

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  GT Turbo - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Michael - January 8 - 8:00 am

  This PT is fun to drive and has more than enough power. Gas mileage is not great but respectable. Handles good on the highway. Manufacturer paid a lot of attention to detail and it shows. Turning radius needs to be corrected, cannot make a u turn and expect not to hit curbs. Needs light in glovebox and under the hood. Owners manual should be for each model instead of multi-models.