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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  Love it - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Dean - October 20 - 3:10 am

  Purchased mine last week and what more can I say than its fast very fast build and comfort are excellent - did I mention it it was fast - This is a very nice car and as I have not seen an SRT on the roads in England I feel like Im in an exclusive club

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  ex M5er - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Steve - October 19 - 6:03 pm

  The day after trading an 01 M5 for this SRT8, my stomach was in knots of anxiety, but no more. Im crazy about this car! It has tons of features, is built well, and looks fantastic! It doesnt have the quality materials as the BMW, but its so much less expensive. I expect this car to be much cheaper to own and repair, the Bimmer was horrific.

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  2000 Chrysler LHS Ownership - 2000 Chrysler LHS
  By Frank R. Hawkins - October 19 - 4:30 pm

  I purchased the car new and have had a very pleasant and satisfying ownership experience. With the exception of the replacement of an electric door lock actuator, I have had no problems with the car. The car performs well and the 3.5 litre, 250 horsepower engine has plenty of power and gets pretty good mileage. The car has a roomy interior and substantially more rear leg room than most cars, many of which cost substantially more. I can accomodate four men comfortably and get four sets of golf clubs in the large trunk. Try this with most other cars. Overall I have had a very good ownership experience with this 2000 Chrysler LHS.

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  Too many trips to the service department - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By Sharon - October 18 - 9:37 pm

  I love this car. It is so much fun, but unfortunately I will be trading it in for either a Honda or Toyota. I have never had a vehicle that had to go into the shop so often and since I have 38K+ miles on it now the factory warranty has expired. I have an extended warrenty but not everything is covered under it and each time I take it in for repairs I pay a $100 deductible. OUCH!! Im afraid its just a matter of time before something goes wrong with it that is not covered under the extended warrenty. I am afraid to keep it.

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  mistaken identity - 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By pat karrick - October 18 - 7:53 pm

  I misread the information on pt cruiser being a midsized car for 2010 and misjudged the vehicles it was compared to. I bought a 2010 which has a 2000.00 discount. I accepted black. The only color said available. I am in a compact car not a midsized car. I have filled the gas tank twice and only put on 300. Miles. Its a 15 gallon tank. I was told and read a 26 mpg. My 1996 Buick regal v6 3800 motor with 200,300. Miles on it got 26 miles to a gallon if not more. I want my old car back.

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  First and Last Chrysler - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Sampson - October 18 - 5:13 pm

  At one point while driving my brand new Pacifica home from the dealership, I thought that I felt the car move to the right. Within the next day, I discovered that the car did pull to the right when I accelerated. I took the vehicle back to the dealer and that began a long battle between myself and Chrysler. The only answer I have gotten from them is that the pulling to the right is a characteristic of the car! I was told to "deal with it!" I persued this problem throught Chrysler and was told that there was nothing that could be done. I hate driving this car and I am in the process of trading it now.

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  Big bold and a dream to drive - 2007 Chrysler Aspen
  By GRB - October 18 - 2:39 pm

  Wonderful ride quality at an exceptionally good price. Good equipment level and nice finishing touches. The ride is positive, comfortable and at all times you feel under control, despite the large size. Build appears solid and have not noted any drifting at sharper turns.

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  For the Money - 2002 Chrysler 300M
  By Ashley - October 18 - 10:23 am

  For the money... This is a good car to buy used you can buy this exact car for 12900, w/60k miles 10/18/06. You get near luxury options wrapped up with a decent body/engine. I would be upset if I had paid 30k. 12k was better. Reliabilty has been ok, had tranny problems. way below avg sound system (nothing premium about it) horrible road noise. some problems with interior parts. decent performance/handling, great exhaust note!

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  Best Car for the price - 1997 Chrysler Concorde
  By Jim G. - October 17 - 5:18 pm

  Owned it since it was new. Mialage is 24 city, 30 highway. have over 185,000 miles and just needed first non-scheduled service (intake manifold gasket.) My normal service is oil change every 3K miles with Mobile-1 10w-30, spark plugs every 30K-40K miles, trans filter/oil every 60,000 miles, and timming belt, accessory belts, water pump and radiator hoses at 120,000 miles. At 150,000 miles had to replace power steering hose and fuel pump. At 185,000 miles fixed the manifold gasket, and installed new struts, and engine cradle bushings.

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  Had for 4.5 years and still going strong - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By MarkM - October 17 - 11:45 am

  I have had this car since spring of 2002 and I still love driving it. I changed the brake pads and fluids at 50,000 and have changed the tires twice in 60,000 miles, and thats been the only maintenance necessary (other than oil changes). It still runs smoothly, and still has plenty of power. This car is the perfect balance between performance and practicality. I have moved apartments twice, transporting my stuff in this car. The back seat is spacious, and the sound system is GREAT. I didnt expect to still love the car this much after 4 and a half years, and I still get compliments on it.