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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  A Work in Progress - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Gary Roberti - October 16 - 10:00 am

  UNDERPOWERED, HORRIBLE MILEAGE (14.2mpg @2500 miles so far)we live in FLAT southern NJ...17-22mpg on the sticker!!!! The quality of the interior items...carpet (very thin), switches, console doors...very cheap. Been back three times in 1 1/2 months for problems that dealers are aware of. Looks very nice and the kids love it though. Parents..think twice!!!!

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  Poor on Gas Economy - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By SalemGuy - October 16 - 10:00 am

  I do like the PT cruiser very much the fit and finish is very good. I do like the ability to remove the back seats with ease. I am a kayaker so I do like that extra room to carry extre gear. However, for a 4 banger I only receive 24 miles per gallon (that is an average local and highway mileage). I do think that they should put some more effort into engine design to improve fuel economy.

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  Reliable car over the long haul - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By mikeru669 - October 15 - 7:04 pm

  We purchased our 2006 Cruiser with 13K miles on it 66 months ago, we now have 115K miles, we traveled all over the country on all kinds of roads. The Cruiser has been one of the most reliable cars we have owned. Only recurring problem, camshaft positioning sensor replaced twice since car went over 80K. Takes about 15 minutes to replace. Had a Neon prior which the Cruiser is based on. The Neon was one of the 2 or 3 worse cars we ever owned.

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  Hemi Engine Problem - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By L.K. Johansen - October 15 - 5:13 pm

  At 26,500 miles my hemi broke down with a broken valve spring. I was towed and was without my 300C for a week. Out-of- town dealer replaced all 16 valve springs and plugs. Runs fine now, but I could not believe the stares I got with my hood up and flasher lights blinking last Friday night on a major thoroughfare. I was shocked and disappointed that this could happen. I have never abused my 300C by driving it too hard. My car shook violently and I lost power rapidly. The check engine light flashed unmercifully. I will give my hemi one more chance. The next time I am trading for either a Japanese or German car. I guess American built reliability is still highly suspect.

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  Very nice reliable family car - 2006 Chrysler Sebring
  By C,Faith - October 12 - 12:41 am

  Had my sebring for 2 and a half years now put many many miles on it and it still runs and sounds new! The head room is a issue for tall people,well actually im only 57 and i bang my head alot on the roof,so that maybe a good thing to consider. Odomotor lights are green if maybe they made it abit more sporty it would be perfect. The seats in the back are not the greatest but hey thier seats,right? Over all love the car,safe and reliable

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  Looks good but made with cheap parts! - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Julia Davis - October 11 - 9:58 pm

  It is made with cheap parts that will keep you at a dealer. ALL the pins in my motor broke in half and they were hollow. The mechanic said that most pins are solid all the way through so if they broke once they will do it again. Every time I took it in, I was told they get alot of 300s in with all types of problems and most of them have to do with the motor. I love the look but hate the way it kept me at a dealer. Im glad I got rid of it.

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  Misfiring, took them 5 weeks - 2003 Chrysler Sebring
  By MattyPython - October 10 - 6:01 pm

  Bought the car in april, no problems til august took it to the shop, they replaced over 3 thousand dollars worth of parts and it was still misfiring but only when hot. Finally after close to six weeks of it being in the shop they have the nerve to charge us four hundred bucks for some wires. These are poorly built cars.

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  Great car except for the rust - 2000 Chrysler Grand Voyager
  By family_guy1 - October 10 - 4:38 am

  I got it at 80k now has 105k replaced front brakes, water pump and several pulleys as well as the belt. The big stuff was corrosion issues. The rear brake lines were rusted out at the ABS Pump which is under the van. I also had to have the power steering lines replaced from corrosion. Also one of the gas tank straps rusted through and snapped in half. The body has rust issues at the bottom of the liftgate, above the rear wheel wells and the rocker panels by the rear wheel and under the front drivers door. The front hood is also prone to rust as well. The weird thing is many of these issues are caused by factory installed plastic stickers covering the drain holes.

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  Good and Bad - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Mary Ann - October 10 - 2:00 am

  This is a nicely built car. It is comfortable and delivers a fine ride -- BUT--the gas mileage in local driving is TERRIBLE!!! __Avg --9.5-10.5 mpg!!! and the worst part is that Chrysler says that everything is O.K.--Ha-Ha.

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  be careful!!!! - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By mary dhedouville - October 10 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Pacifica for 5 months now and it has been in the shop with 3 MAJOR problems. The first time an airbag sensor went out and the part was on back order for 6 weeks!!! Thats right...no airbags for 6 weeks. Next an antilock brake sensor went bad...no anti lock brakes for over a week. And then a wheel hub assembly went bad..no wonder chrysler gives u a free loaner for this car!!!!!