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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  So Far So Good - 2007 Chrysler Pacifica
  By William - September 20 - 9:09 pm

  Just purchased a Base Pacifica, I am a traveling sales representative. It is nice to have room for samples and golf clubs. I put over 1,000 miles my first week and so far I like it. I hope it proves to be a reliable vehicle. The only complaint thus far is the large blind spots but the big mirrors help a little. William

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  Worst gas mileage ever! - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Naomi - September 20 - 10:03 am

  I am getting between 11 and 14 mpg! I love the car and receive many compliments. Then, I tell them about the gas mileage. Chrysler has lost several sales because of the mileage. Much as I do not want to, I am seriously thinking of trading in the car because I cannot afford to drive it.

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  Best car I have owned!! - 1997 Chrysler Concorde
  By geogator - September 17 - 12:59 pm

  I have owned dozens of cars (BMW, Cadillac, Honda, Toyota, Valiant, New Yorker, etc.). This 160K miles car has been clearly the best riding, best performing, and most comfortable of the lot. It still gets 25-26 mpg on the interstate and more than 20 around town. Yes, I have had to maintain it, but it has paid me back with great service. My wife howls when I say new car. I guess we will drive it until it stops.

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  Personal Bang for the Buck - 2008 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Bob out West - September 16 - 12:50 pm

  Mercedes chasis (albeit older) and handbuilt coachwork with more art in its tail than 99% of the entirety of other cars on the road. This is entirely impossible for less than $50k, let alone the price at under $25k. My history includes a Jag, Tiger, Jensen, X 1/9, 2 Mustangs, CRT (manual) and more, and the fun/comfort quotient on this ride dwarfs them all. Some say that this is more of a boulivardier than a sports car, but it is rock solid, planted like an oak on the road, and goes like scat. Blind spot and rear view sounds bad, but after 1k driving it becomes second nature and unannoying. Cup holder is less than useless, Nav and radio both hopelessly outdated.

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  HEMI Power to go! - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Eric - September 16 - 12:10 pm

  If you were turned off by Chrysler products back in the K-car days, its time to take another look. The new 300 series is the first significant product of the Dailmer-Chrysler merger that combines German engineering with Detroit muscle. Basically, you get a solid-feeling, quiet, roomy sports sedan with more zoom-zoom than those other guys.

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  Fantastic Ride - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By pita - September 11 - 12:46 am

  I purchased a 2007 PT Cruiser vehicle because consumer repots show it to be economy friendly. The driving performance is amazing. It really holds the road well. I live in the country so most of the roads are 55mph and higher. The vehicle takes a curve with total smoothness and comfort. I have found nothing that I do not like about the vehicle. I purchased it for price, consumer rateings and gas usage. It is extrmely good on gas. My father has a 2007 expedition and the PT Cruiser feels just as smooth of a ride as his 35,000$ vehicle.

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  Pacifica - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Pacifica Pat - September 9 - 10:00 am

  We recently leased the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica and it has been a hit with the family so far. We all enjoy taking it out on the road. The "kids" big and small, love climbing in the back and watching videos. So, if you have kids this is a must have feature. We were hesitant about the seating because we are a family of five which would put one person sitting alone in one of the rows but we have found that having the extra seating, elbow room,in the second row is nice.

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  MULTIPLE ISSUES - 2002 Chrysler Concorde
  By lemon02 - September 4 - 9:30 am

  Shortly after we brought the car in for its 60000 mi maintenance which included coolant flush & fill, it overheated several times. We brought it back to the garage & they told us that some particle had gotten stuck in the system. They flushed & filled it again (no charge). A couple of years later it developed a fuel leak which goes away after engine warm up. We brought it back to the garage for this & they replaced the fuel injector seals but it still leaks. We have brought it back several more times but they cannot fix the problem. My suspicion is that the leak developed as a result of the engine overheating some years ago. Several other issues as well. Not enough space to write here

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  Reliable van that grew with my kids!! - 2001 Chrysler Voyager
  By MOTHER OF 4 - August 30 - 11:11 am

  Ive always loved my van, I bought it new. When my kids were small they always had enough space not to be "touching" each other. As they grew older the middle seats were taken out to accommodate their ever growing bodies. Ive had no problems with it apart from the usual battery, brakes, and tires until the a/c evaporator gave out at 100,000 miles, followed by the a/c compressor at 140,000 and two weeks later the a/c blower motor! Now at 147,000 miles the transmission has given up...Im waiting for an estimate, sadly wondering whether its worth keeping. For those of you who are thinking of getting one I have nothing bad to say about it, it does what its supposed to do and does it well.

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  My 300C - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Tony - August 26 - 11:20 am

  I love this car, most fun driving it than any car Ive owned in over 40 years (including an early 60s T-Bird and a 67 Cougar). After 4 years with this car I still get lots of looks and comments about the style. Wife wont even let me consider buying another car. Car is comfortable to ride in, and has more legroom than a friends Lexus.