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:

• 

  AFTER 9 MONTHS - 2011 Chrysler 200
  By 200sowner - September 14 - 7:57 pm

  After 9 months and 22,500 miles several problems engine shuts down at red lights happen so far 2 times in a month. looked it up on-line seems like alot of 2011 owners with the v-6 has the same problems and of course Chrysler cant figure it out why this is happening, front end noise ? overheating (FIXED) overflow tank had crack in it After spending $24,000 on this car in (Nov2011) think it shouldnt have any problems Thats it will keep you up dated. center arm rest keeps moving when arm rested on it. Transmission does not shift smoothly.

• 

  The Ltd. Is a different beast - 2010 Chrysler Sebring
  By blaize - September 8 - 9:17 am

  Ive driven the 2010 Ltd. Hard top conv for 5000 miles. It is signifigantly better in every way, over its lesser breathern. The 3.5l V6, mated to the 6 speed, is smooth and powerful. The hard top is the best of the 3 that Ive owned. Quite, snug, and a huge trunk, even with the top down. This car is NOT a sports car, it is a classic American Cruiser!

• 

  I once said I would never buy American again. - 2012 Chrysler 300
  By peegeejr - September 7 - 12:09 am

  OMG...... Now this is the weirdest thing about this vehicle its a base model but has a couple of features that doesnt come on the base but is in mines so lets say for the argument its a base model 2012 Chrysler 300. It states on the sticker "Up to 19 cty/31 hwy mpg" and it does, I owned a Toyota Corolla as my last car previously had a 2001 Cadillac DTS Honda Accord and a Pontiac since 1997 the mileage is slightly less then the Corolla yeah thats right but I do drive mostly hwy back and forth to work. This car beats the Caddy hands down in ride and performance I accidentally stepped on the gas accessing the highway and for the life of me the car raised up and went .... wow beautiful insi

• 

  Kind of soon to tell, but love it so far! - 2012 Chrysler 200
  By mkih - September 6 - 4:30 pm

  This car has many things I wouldnt have thought of but now cant live without! Notable features include the comfort of driving it as a shorty. Im about 53" and the seat raises up/down, the wheel goes in/out (as well as up/down) and the seat belt lowers to a comfy shoulder height. Great visibility when up high on the adj. seat. All of which can be changed for my taller husband (if I ever let him drive) Its fun to drive, sharp interior, 130 miles on it and used just over a 1/4 tank, great handling. Only issue is pulling to the right which Im calling about today. Hope theyre great about fixing it like they were about selling it! LOTS of car for the money. Great buying experience.

• 

  Eat your heart out, Escalade owners - 2007 Chrysler Aspen
  By majoroz - September 5 - 2:41 pm

  The box didnt offer me what I have: Limited Hemi with all the bells and whistles except the kiddy TV. Bought it to tow a travel trailer. Had no idea how luxurious it was. Have been in Escalades, Tahoes, Burbs, etc.....this one has them all beat and costs WAAAAY less. I get 20-23 on the highway, empty, and got an honest, pen and paper, 12 at 9000 ft, towing a 7400 lb. travel trailer. Quiet, smooth, with all-weather confidence, and did I mention towing ability ? When my mechanic checked it out before purchase, he was amazed at the structural integrity: "You will win any collision".

• 

  Great looks, great drive - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By sahr - August 28 - 1:33 pm

  Bought used this year. Car is 2006. Drives really nice, suspension is a tad stiff for my liking but I live down a dirt road, performs great on the highway. The 3.5L engine has enough power to push the car without feeling sluggish, but the SRT-8 would be much more fun for a speed junkie such as myself. Love the way the engine sounds when put to the floor. Gets between 16-19MPG city and 25-27 MPG hwy.

• 

  Will it be a classic? - 1999 Chrysler 300M
  By jefe4x4 - August 27 - 6:08 pm

  We bought in 1998 and had problems with the sound system right off. Finally replaced the whole sys. on warranty and worked fine after that. At 140K mi. its as good as ever. Replaced frnt. tie rods @102K the radiator @ 135K mi. I like the car, and I dont like most of the cars Ive owned. It is our summer car now as we live in snow country and with 4" of clearance its not going to push snow like our Jeep, although the limited slip frnt diff works well on snow. Its not worth anything and just keeps going and going so well keep it till it stops moving. We try to keep it up as Im thinking more and more like this will be a Mopar classic. We wont live long enough to know, however.

• 

  great car for cheap - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By sean6896 - August 26 - 2:24 am

  Just bought this car a aweek ago. Its handled great so far and is fun to drive. Only thing i dont like is ac module is messed up and will sometimes randomly blow on feet just flip knob over and back and its fixed. bought it for 2.5k with 135000 on it. car drives and looks like a new car. very bad fuel economy tho. i switched from a nissan sentra 1.6l so i dropped almost 20 miles per gallon :(

• 

  Not good for all, great for enthusiats - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By kiaitools - August 19 - 12:31 pm

  I bought it at 2005 with 30000 miles on it, now it has 110000 and this car woks great, I just needed to change brake pads, motor and transmisión mounts, that is normal maintenance for a car: This car is great, is made with high quality standards but take care becasuse is not is a car for all, this car requieres delicate maintenance to work well or will turn in to a piece of crap in few months. I use only syntethic oil and each service is made according manual, before to buy check very well if the original owner had made all it´s services, all turbo motors needs special attention to keep well

• 

  Many issues - 2011 Chrysler 200
  By 19joe66 - August 14 - 5:22 pm

  Vehicle purchased as new and have had many issues. Honestly, do your homework before purchasing this car. 1)Brakes squeaking horribly within the first 3000 miles. 2)Transmission slams into gear intermittently from park to reverse or from park to drive. 3)Transmission has intermittently hung in fourth gear on highway at any speed. 4)Extremely noisy in cabin. Sound from behind driver almost like the rear windows are slightly open. 5)Has surges badly when cold from day one. 6)As of two weeks ago stalled twice when coming to a stop. 7)Driving at night very difficult. Headlights do not display enough light on the road surface. Road lamps do help.