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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  Fun to Drive - 2007 Chrysler Pacifica
  By G Man - August 1 - 4:36 pm

  My new Pacifica and Im loving it, handles great and have nothing bad to say about it. Lot of room and very comfortable. Still discovering all the new gadgets that are now standard with this model.

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  Love this Car - 2003 Chrysler 300M
  By Tommart - August 1 - 2:00 am

  Love the appearance and handling of this car. This car is both practical and fun to drive. Im also impressed by how so many others have fallen in love with this car. This may be the best car that Chysler built in 2003. The new 300/300C carries the name, but is a very different car. The M compares to a 5-series BMW, the C compares with a Cadillac DeVille.

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  2004 Chysler Sebring - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By jude - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Nice car i am going to buy another one when my wife turns the age of 45.

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  Neat car (SUV, Van, Station Wagon, etc) - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Freedomsailor - July 31 - 2:00 am

  During the past 29 days, have put a little over 4200 miles on this fine automobile. It has been everything I expected and, the MPG has exceeded what I expected. The front seat fits me to a "T" and so far none of my customers who have had a ride in it have said they disliked the second row seating. Tune in a year from now for the first year report.

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  One Sexy Smooth Classy Sports Car - 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Nathaniel Hughes - July 30 - 2:00 am

  I was originally in the market to buy a Nissan 350Z because I hadnt seen the new 2004 Crossfire. I visted Cowles Nissan Chrysler an started looking at the 350s in the Nissan showroom. I sat down to talk with the sales person and looked out the window and saw the car of my dreams in the other lot. I told the Nissan sales person I would be right back. Do you think I returned? I dont think so, I test drove the X- fire and that was all she wrote. I really love my car. Its sexy, classy, very stylish and definately turns a lot of heads. At first I was skeptical to purchase it because it had the chrysler name, but when they said German engineering,I signed

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  300M SPECIAL - 2004 Chrysler 300M
  By BEH - July 27 - 2:00 am

  ONE CAR THAT WILL GO DOWN IN THE RECORD BOOKS AS BEING A SOLID PERFORMER AND A FUN CAR TO DRIVE.WILL BE DEF MISSED FROM THE CHRYSLER LINEUP.

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  Love At First Drive - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By jolie1 - July 26 - 10:00 am

  this is best.Navigation placement is perfectand I love the clock.Ride is unreal and the looks are beyond compare. I can fit a family in there and with navigation I can`t get lost.Seating is superlative,ride is mercedesesque comfort and looks are without equal.I checked them all including volvo and lexus before I bought and I believe this sporty wagon/suv crossover is possibly the most complete vehicle I`ve ever experienced. A grandslam homerun as far as I am concerned with the Pacifica. Crazy thing is we went back to look at another Pacifica for my husband and we picked up a new Crossfire. I guess I`ll be carpooling ,not my husband!

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  A Classy Topless - 1997 Chrysler Sebring
  By PLJSB - July 26 - 2:00 am

  Father purchased my 97 Sebring Jxi for me when I was 15, at a year old it was an awesome car everything I wanted. To this day I still get complimants on it everywhere I go I have a LexusRX, and A Mercedes SLK230 and will still take my Red Jxi convertible out before them. Very reliable car my only problem has been brake pads wearing to fast probably my fault, and the electric antenna up until this year. The past year I spent $600 on her, It needed a tune up and it needed a new radiator, a few minor oil leaks which can be expected for a car with 120,000 miles on her. But everything was fixed and she runs like a car with only 20,000 on her again.

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  Best Car - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By CG - July 23 - 9:20 pm

  What a wonderful car. I have every option except for navigation. I have owned the 300 for 5 months now, and I havent had any problems. Ive made a cross country trip with it and do lots of city driving. It is the first car Ive had that does both very well. Also, it handles well in the mountains for being a large car, and the AWD has been great in the snow.

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  Must Have! - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By ste7of1 - July 23 - 5:00 pm

  Everybody loves it. Great performance for average driving and road conditions. Straightens out all the roads around here. Awesome curb appeal. Gets many comments.