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 customer - 2007 Chrysler Pacifica
  By p-51driver - July 30 - 7:02 pm

  Agree with excellent ride, great handling and DVD and video, ipod hookup etc are all great. Our in town mileage is 14-15. Our highway mileage is 26-27 at 75mph on the cruise control. Very comfortable and quiet for driver and passenger.

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  The New Bently - 2007 Chrysler 300
  By 300 - July 30 - 2:53 pm

  Great looking car. We looked at Lexus IS and Cadillac CTS, and this was the biggest car of the three. This car looks and feels very luxious. Although its not a Bentley is looks like one from the front!

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  the perfect balance - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By hopner - July 30 - 10:00 am

  The car has all the comfort of higher priced luxury cars and enough get up and go to keep you interested for a long time. I love it!

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  Crossfire on target! - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By crosshair - July 30 - 12:11 am

  The car is all premium, feels and drives like a luxury car. If you want a fun car to drive and only drive you wont be wrong with this one. Very unique gets a lot of attention too. If you are looking to buy one, dont buy it, dont wanna a see too many on the road.

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  A Mercedes in Chrysler Clothing - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By CoolRunning - July 29 - 8:20 am

  After driving a 500/600/700 series Mercedes, I had to try out the new Chrysler 300C. It is the best kept secret in the industry! Why spend 80K on a Mercedes when you spend about 35K on a fully loaded Chrysler that has a Mercedes transmission, chassis and suspension and one of the best engines in the world, the 5.7 Hemi MDS V-8?

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  2006 C - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Ed - July 27 - 12:34 pm

  Great styling and performance brought me to this car. It is very comfortable, rides great, looks great. We have enjoyed it for family vacations and short commutes to work and everything in between.

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  Love 300C - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Randy Brown - July 26 - 2:49 pm

  The car has been absolutely flawless. Awesome power and very fun to drive. I have installed Chrysler cold air kit on Hemi and I am putting a cat-back exhaust system on it. On trips car always gets 24.5 mpg even at 75 to 80 mph. Chrysler did good, no, great

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  Fun Car to Drive - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By donna - July 25 - 5:03 pm

  My husband and I purchased a new 2005 Crossfire roadster in Oct 2005. I love the car but its had a vibration that the dealer has been unable to resolve. At 20,000 miles we again took it in and were told that the front two tires (continental brand) had to be replaced due to one cupping on the inside of each tire. The service manager told my husband that it looked like someone driving had been "drifting" and driving it hard. Well, my husband is 70 years old and Im 50 so we dont exactly race the car unless someone is sneaking out at night. We also live on a street which is highly patrolled by the police depart. Speed limit is 35 mph.

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  A wonderful American car surprise! - 2000 Chrysler LHS
  By Ted Price - July 25 - 1:56 pm

  I have had this car for 5 years. It has never let me down. I didnt need new brakes until 73,000 mi. I put a new battery in it (6 year old battery) mostly out of guilt, because there was no problem with the "original" six year old battery. The gas mileage is about 20 mpg in town (sometimes more). I bought it as a "winter car" to replace my Lexus but wound up keeping it. It had 18,000 miles on it when I bought it. Now has 85,000 and runs like a top.

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  Saved My Life - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Michael - July 25 - 11:57 am

  I bought mine used with 19k miles. Loved it for the 2 months I had it, then was hit from in right rear corner of car by guy doing 90 mph. Totally caved in right side of car but inside was intact with no caving. This car probably saved our lives and while my next car was a Ford, I still miss the Pacifica and you cant overrate its safety, especially when you need it.