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:

• 

  IT GOS AND GOS - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By PTPapa - March 20 - 2:00 am

  Had the car 3 months now. It is a blast to drive....very quick with the turbo, makes you feel like your 16 again! Good handling, on the street and at frwy speeds...settles in nicely at 80mph. The car looks great, and gets its share of attention from young and old alike. Seats are comfortable and give you good support. Great ride for its size! Get one for scootin around, you wont regret it....the turbo is a must have tho!!

• 

  New owner sothern california - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By CINDY - March 19 - 5:43 pm

  I just purchased the pt turbbo conv cruiser .....Fun to drive good looking sports car feel . Has a nice punch with the turbo ..Only two complaints i have are the lack of ability to get into the trunk without bending down really low ...And the seats are a tad bit shallow in the front could be about 3 inches more in length other than that its a cool car and we love it !

• 

  Go In the Snow? - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Chuck - March 19 - 3:56 pm

  I have had my 300 for about 2 years and just found out the go in the snow - does not. Whenever this vehicle senses ice or snow, the vehicle stalls to neutral, then when you try to go again, it does the same thing all over. So, the only thing you can do is chain up with as little as 1" of snow on the ground. Not to good in the Pacific Northwest in the winter. I thought this was a defect, but talking with other owners, they have had the same experience.

• 

  Concorde 2000 - 2000 Chrysler Concorde
  By adjuster - March 19 - 11:21 am

  Certainly have gotten my moneys worth. Have had no problems with the car. Rides great, only real problem was it is large and difficult to park. very large trunk. poor visibility looking back when in reverse.

• 

  Good Car, Nice ride - 2007 Chrysler Sebring
  By DAT in Oklahoma - March 19 - 10:54 am

  We bought ours a few weeks ago and really enjoy the ride. This is a very quiet vehicle with plenty of space and leg room. Good handling. Still getting used to the width since Ive driven a jeep for the last 6 years.

• 

  tires - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By gus - March 17 - 10:03 pm

  nice car, but has the cheapers tires on the market, no good in snow and bad in the rain, send chrysler e-mail about tires but never got an answer, the tires are $55.oo each

• 

  Love at first site, now I have one! - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By richsolar - March 15 - 2:00 am

  We are thrilled with the PT. We got the base model in a beautiful dark blue. This car is so far from stripped for a base, it feels like a luxury car! The 5 speed is smooth and very peppy, I have no power complaints at all. Interior space is as great as the outside is very cool and that is saying a lot. One other very fun feature which is free is the camaraderie of PT owners who always wave at each other!

• 

  Exotic European GT, Hyundai price... - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Crossbow - March 14 - 4:45 pm

  My Sapphire Blue coupe had just come off its 1-year lease when I purchased it. It had 9,500 miles and cost $20,650. I drove it home to Texas from Miami, averaging about 27 MPG and 80 MPH. On the deserted Everglades Tollway I ran it up to 148 before shutting down. If I had another mile of road it would have broken 150. Stable as an arrow, and the delightfully furious muted exhaust tone was music in my ears. I have enjoyed every moment Ive spent in the car. It is the closest I will ever come to a 62 Ferrari 250 SWB Berlinetta in this life. Maybe this is close enough...

• 

  Little Big Criuser - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Thrifty Old Fart - March 14 - 11:10 am

  I bought this car because it was my wife2Bs symbol of good luck. Good luck I wont comment on, but it has lived up to and fulfilled all my expectations. I had owned three turbo engined cars before the PT (Volvo 850, Mazda 626, Saab 700) and swear by the turbo technology and engine boost. The surprising thing about the PT is the versatility and expansiveness of the interior (can haul 8 2x4s inside!) and grown people can fit comfortably in the rear seat. I have had no trouble with the turbo, indeed when the oil price went sky high I stopped using the recommended premium and switched to regular with hardly any power loss. I am at 70K mi. now and about to get my 2nd set of brakes & tires.

• 

  My Favorite Car - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Bill - March 14 - 10:23 am

  Bought it used last year, has been a joy to drive. Even with 3 kids and cargo in the car, it is still solid on the road.