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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  Yet again - 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Chelsea - October 29 - 3:33 am

  Welll I worte the previous comment and I am having to write one again! I bought this car brand new on January 1, 2008 and it is December 31,2008! I drove it all day long, then when I went to drive home I turned my car on and the check engine light came on! Are you serious right now? I am trying to drive and my car isnt accelerating! Then it started to, then it jumped then it was just reving at 4rpm!! It isnt switching gears! So over this! This car must be a lemon! Its going back to the dealer on Friday! I dont even want a replacement I just want a different make & model! No more Chryslers for me! For real this time!

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  So very disappointed - 2000 Chrysler Grand Voyager
  By bob&ginger - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Never have I been more disappointed with a vehicle. The gas mileage is poor, the vehicle has been terribly unreliable and we have had over the past year 3 significant issues with our transmission. The power of the engine leaves much to be desired, the tires wear inconsistently which our dealership tells us has been an issue with the Voyager. In total it has been to the garage about 15 different times in the short time we have had it. I will NEVER buy another Voyager/Caravan again.

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  No. No, no, no. - 2016 Chrysler 200
  By Lewis - September 29 - 12:10 pm

  I rented this machine for a week while visiting wine country (Napa/Sonoma) and was so glad to be rid of it. (Note: be careful when renting a car that says something like "Toyota Camry or similar" - the "or similar" may be a Chrysler 200) The drivers seat took two days to put into a quasi-comfortable position. The grip to enable the driver to close the door was virtually unreachable, requiring you to nearly get out of the car to reach it. Worse, there seemed to be no way to turn off the radio, only mute it. This became problematic when Id paired my phone to the entertainment system - the radio had to be on for me to hear my phones GPS directions, but they were drowned out by whatever station the radio was on. And the radio (as well as the AC) came on as soon as I started the car, no matter how I tried to defeat it. The most incredible thing about this rolling disaster film was the transmission. It was beyond automatic; it was undecided. The car seemed to vacillate as to which gear it most preferred when going up a hill, shifting from low to another gear to another and back to low in a sort of random, capricious style similar to when our then-teenage daughters chose which lipstick to wear. Worst of all, the transmission is controlled by a knob on the center console. A knob! And right next to the transmission knob is another knob that controls the fan speed. It was quite easy to turn the fan up or down and instead turn the transmission knob. Im confident the designer of the car is named "Sparky."

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  pt loser - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By wintkel - September 14 - 6:08 pm

  dealer commited fraud, forged papers, car only got 18 mpg. poor service from chrysler and dealer, could not get warranty work done as parts not available, in the 2 years owned car windows never worked. chrysler advertised a 3 day test drive, wrong, false advertising, dont tell you if you have a trade in that does not apply. dealer called pt cruiser american, wrong, made in Mexico. dealer sold us extended warranty, why do you need this on a 39 month lease when the warranty from chrysler is 36 month, more dealer fraud.

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  Disappointed with Dodge - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By linda of georgia - September 5 - 11:26 am

  I bought the pt cruiser because I liked the cute body style. I also trusted Dodge that it would last and hold its value. I was wrong. It did not last, the brakes were bad in just a few weeks, the plugs and wires wore out quickly, and now the timing chain has slipped, which is a great cost to me. The worst part of the deal is that Its value has decreased so badly that I cannot get a decent trade in value on any car. I feel I was ripped off and sold a car at an exorbatant price, that the dealer knew would not be worth its owed value when I wanted to trade. I am disappointed and feel the car industry has lived up to its reputation of over charging and over-representing used cars.

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  dont even - 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Stinks - August 5 - 8:36 am

  Poor turning radius, under powered, stiff handling, inadequate braking, over all a loser.

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  Wheel Bearings @ 60k - 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Bob - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Have to replace both front wheel bearings & rotors @60k! $700+. Never had to do this on any car Ive owned. Cant find the horn to repair it, weird. Otherwise car is alright for basic transportation. Hopefully no more expensive repairs.

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  Too Many problems - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By A Mechanics review - June 1 - 8:30 am

  Great looking but very poor, quality and reliability. This car has been in the shop more times in two years than all my other cars combined. Recirc vent door will not stay closed, head gasket leak at 300 miles, transmission rebuilt at 31,000 miles. Now the CV joint is slinging axle grease. I bought this car new because of the reviews Ive read hear, big mistake. People are too enamored with the styling and ignoring Chryslers poor quality control. Do yourself a favor and spend a little more for a car with a better track record.

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  This car stinks - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Billysandiego - May 30 - 6:13 am

  I downsized from my F-150 hoping to save on gas mileage, so far, not that great. But the upside is that as currently it stands the radio turns on and off when it feels like it. Only my right front blinker works. My battery dies if you leave the radio on(when it decides to work) for more that 5 minutes. The 12 volt plug in the center console doesnt work. The airbag light comes on just for fun. The automatic door opener in the back works when it feels like it. Im just waiting to see what else on this car falls apart. But I like the interior design. Oh and yeah water does stain the seats. Thank God I live in San Diego where it doesnt rain that much.

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  Dream Cruiser? - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Linda McNeil - April 8 - 10:00 am

  I have only had my Dream Cruiser Series 4 for 4 days. But so far, it is a great car and learning more about it each day. All good.