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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  Worst mistake I ever made, dont buy one! - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By 4x4thewin - July 5 - 10:24 am

  I babied my PT Cruiser, but once it hit 90k miles it all went down hill. Routine service like starter, alternator, brakes is all to be expected but it didnt seem to matter how much I put into it mechanically, every few months a new problem would arise. At 120k it started pouring oil out, had a blown head gasket. Kelley Blue Book value was less than an engine rebuild, so I cut my losses and donated it as is. If your thinking of getting one, dont. I wouldnt take one for free!

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  Dont buy this car! - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Michael Pearse - June 28 - 1:22 pm

  I bought this car 3 years ago in may with 82,000 miles. A week later my fuel pump went out. then a couple months later my water pump and head gasket went out. then shortly after that my transmission went out. I have spent a lot more than it is worth in repairs in a relatively short amount of time. i swear it spends more time in the shop than on the road. Dont buy this car! Please!

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  Biggest Mistake - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By convertibe - May 20 - 11:49 am

  The PT Cruiser has been the biggest mistake I have ever driven. Forced to drive it as a result of financial difficulties and automobile difficulties, I have been given the reigns(courtesy of a loving family member) to a car which I despise. Let me give you a list of complaints. The styling is horrible. I wouldnt let a blind person drive this car. It is the ugliest car I have ever seen. Its handling is so porous so I believe I can outmaneuver the car with a large Uhaul truck. The acceleration is pathetic. I had a child zoom by me on their skateboard (and I had the gas pedal completely floored...kidding but...) The car has been in the shop almost as much as it has been on the road.

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  Pay or Pay - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Buckskincolt - May 13 - 6:33 pm

  Dont buy a high maintenance PT, you need to change plugs every 30k, they get pathetic mileage 20city/24hwy. Brakes grind like they are shot but they are ok, Ive had a head oil leak that Chrysler had a service bulletin on but made me pay because it was 1k out of warranty? And check your used trade value!! This car is only worth $5500 trade in if it were a Honda civic it would have a trade of $9300. This has got to be the worst car I have ever owned, sure its cute but beyond than it is a poor excuse of an automobile. American automakers at work. Where is Lee Iacocca when you need him. This car is a fall back to the 70s when all Chrysler products werent fit for the road. Think, dont buy!

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  Poor beneath the surface - 2015 Chrysler 300
  By throw73 - February 11 - 11:54 am

  I purchased a 2015 300c 5.7l v8 hemi brand new. First, the cars seat comfort is excellent. The cars driver side seat ventilator motor gave out on its first use. If you want a smooth quiet ride I would avoid the 20" wheels, they are very noisy. The 5.7 hemi is fast but by todays standards not really... Plus the tradeoff of horrible gas mileage. What people who dont own one dont really know is that you have to get the rpms pretty high in order to take advantage of the torque on the 5.7. I waited for the 2015 model so that I could get the 8-speed transmission. The shifts are jerky and inconsistent which was a concern but livable. Also when moving to drive from reverse and vise versa there is a loud pop when engaging into the gear. The big problem occurred when I was trying to merge on the freeway and under semi hard acceleration the transmission popped into neutral, then downshifted to a gear too low causing a major jerk reaction. I almost got rear ended because of this. This was all before the first oil change at around 8000 miles( the minor issues were present from the beginning). When I took the car in to the dealer they performed a bunch of computer updates. This did not fix the issue and the car did the same thing upon merging on the freeway again. Second trip to the dealer they had to replace the valve body. This car was just bought back from Chrylser through the lemon law. This car is garbage. Which is reflected in the resale value. May car was worth ~$25,000 in less than 1 year with low miles, I purchased it for $40,000! I did research and the Chrysler 300 is #1 in depreciation! This is why you see so many wankstas in used 300s. Save yourself and your wallet from this car and learn from my experience.

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  The Worst Car Made - 2009 Chrysler Sebring
  By lewisox - January 31 - 10:37 am

  I have driven both this model and the one it replaces and it seems the quality does down while the usability goes up. This is one of the worst cars I have ever driven and am ashamed to call it an American car. Chrysler should really think about doing the honorable thing and just putting itself (and our taxes) out of it misery. Drive quality = F, Confort = F Build = F. The plastic on the inside likes like it was spray painted with cheap rattle can paint and it chips off with a light fingernail. you need a phd to get the top down, the heater is too hot or too cold. the seats are terrible and there is no back seat. Dont buy this car

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  Piece of Junk - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By cro - July 15 - 11:14 am

  This is the worst car I have ever owned. To say that I hate it is an understatement. There is ZERO visibility in the rear. It makes lots of mystery noises that several mechanics cannot place. The gas consumption is horrible. Im looking to trade it in but the money offered is not good. I cant even give away this piece of junk. Dont think about getting one!

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  plastic junk - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By vinny - May 23 - 2:50 am

  i have a 2006 pt cruiser touring wagon i think the car is plastic junk fuel economy is poor for a 4 only get 19 miles city interior is noisy and cheap and very uncomfortable seats are too hard the car needs more horsepower it also has a bad ride you feel all the bumps i cant wait to trade it in i hate it

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  Very Junky Car - 2008 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Johnny - May 21 - 6:38 pm

  The car may look nice but it is a piece of junk. I bought this thinking I got a steal but this has been the worst car I have ever driven. The brakes are very very bad, the acceleration is decent, the steering is not up to crossover standards. Its an overall piece of junk.

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  Bad Car - 2007 Chrysler Sebring
  By worstcar - April 4 - 10:27 am

  This is the worst car ever. I have had nothing but problems since I got it. The dealership where I got it is horrible. Not friendly at all. Way too many problems. There is a long list. I believe that I have had 3 alternators within 3 months of having the car. I would not recommend it. I dont care what other people are saying about it. The worst car ever.