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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  Lexus, Caddi Contender - 2012 Chrysler 300
  By drjoe4 - March 15 - 10:17 am

  Very nice job Chrysler! Now have driven 4500 miles, still awesome. Have owned Lexus ES350, Caddi STS, this car is better, believe it or not. Very nice, well put together interior, perfect fit and finish.

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  Waiting/hoping to expect something good from America - 2001 Chrysler 300M
  By thafemann - March 15 - 8:44 am

  Hello all, I purchased a 1998 Dodge Ram Van, new, and vowed that it would be the last Chrysler product that I would ever own. The Van didnt last 10 years until it was in the junk yard. Recently I purchased a 2001 Chrysler 300M. The car looks really sharp and is fun to drive. I purchased it from a dealer who gave me a great price. I know of the previous single owner and they took great care of the car as all the records show. Second day with the car it began to shake at 50-70 mph. There were LOTS of new parts. Turns out the torque converter and timing belt need replacing. Another $3k. So much for a good deal. I want to buy American...quit making JUNK and I will.

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  Love my 300 - 2001 Chrysler 300M
  By hollyberry206 - March 14 - 7:30 pm

  I bought my 300 in 2004 with 29K miles. No major problems in 8 years. In 2011, a bad oil change (at a shop) got me a rebuilt engine with 30K fewer miles than the blown one. Car now sits with 124K miles (so 94K on engine) I get an ave of 26 mpg - I Love this car! Driver seat has never heated for me (I didnt think about trying this when buying a 4 year old car in July, lesson learned). I have some rust inside the driver (lower) door and some around the sunroof, but no leaks. My son blew my front speakers a few years ago and Im researching their replacement now. I am planning on keeping this car for a long time yet - NO complaints here.

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  1999 Chrysler cirrus - 1999 Chrysler Cirrus
  By rikkia - March 14 - 10:38 am

  I worked all summer to get a car and the 99 Chrysler cirrus was the one i bought. It has been the most reliable car anyone in my family has owned. i get between 25-30 MPG, and i have a slight oil and transmission leak but its no big deal right now. the Cirrus has wonderful handling, and it is definitely built for short people .

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  Very pleased with selection - 2012 Chrysler 300
  By wsandman - March 13 - 8:39 am

  Overall I am very pleased with my purchase. My dealer experience was a bit heavy handed in sales approach and the addition of a worthless $1000 package for exterior/interior protection and a couple of other things. But I will not fault the vehicle for this. Nice well appointed interior, excellent U-connect features. Performance seems very adequate for a vehicle of this class considering it is the standard equipment drive train offering. Only about 300 miles on it so far so I dont want to rush to my observation about fuel mileage yet, but Im at around 22 mpg so far. Already received 3 comments from strangers about how nice the car looks. Vehicle has the Luxury Package + Nav. system.

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  A true American Can - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By arhashim78 - March 11 - 5:14 am

  With this car Chrysler put the American car on the map again. It is an example how an american car should be. Big powerful engine, rear wheel drive, appealing exterior, roomy interior with reliability and a lot of luxury. This car is such a phenomenal car. Although it is an 05, yet it is an eye catch. with its beautiful chromed rims, spectacular front inspired from the 1958 300C. Also, my car is black so I think that adds more elegance to it. It had 112000 miles on the odometer when I bought it and today it has 124000 miles yet I havent spend any penny on any kind of reparations.

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  Great ride, Great value - 2012 Chrysler 200
  By jlatta - March 6 - 1:28 pm

  I just bought my 2012 200 Limited yesterday and so far I am loving it. After test driving several I opted for the v6 over the 4 cylinder. That 283 hp is just hard to resist. If this car holds up over time, Toyota may have a serious competitor on their hands again from an American manufacturer. My wife is already wanting me to drive her Avalon so she can drive the 200. Fun Ride. Buy American.

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  Chrysler Sebrings: The rich peoples car. - 2005 Chrysler Sebring
  By jen_love - March 3 - 1:15 pm

  I have 2005, when I first got it I was so happy. It feels luxurious. I thought it was the closest thing to a fancy car I was going to get being a student and low income. It has been nothing but a nightmare. To replace the battery, you have to remove the front wheel. To replace spark plugs you have to remove the upper plenum and intake. I havent even gotten into whatever else I will have to do. But let me say, it is expensive to do the smallest thing with this car and I am poor! If you have money to drop 100, 200, 300 for every little thing - this is the car for you. If not, then dont buy it. I know I wish I never had.

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  Have Always Loved This Car - 2000 Chrysler LHS
  By kbest - March 2 - 7:57 pm

  This is our second LHS. We bought it 7 years ago as the second owner with 64k miles on it. Weve loved it ever since. Weve only ever done routine maintenance until we hit 215k when we had a noise from the differential. We had the tranny and differential rebuilt (its one unit) and shes been running strong to this day. Shes at 226k and showing no signs of giving up. Our friends always want to take our car because its so comfortable. She always has plenty of power and is fun to drive. We average 24 to 25 mpg between in town and highway which isnt bad for such a large car! Very sad they dont still make them!

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  Stay away from this car - 1999 Chrysler Sebring
  By mikeson1 - March 2 - 11:48 am

  While the car may look great and fun to drive, it will always be in the shop. I have had the car in the shop 4 times, since I bought it 1 month ago. The car has been severely random misfiring and they have replaced the computer, spark plugs, valve cover, manifold, distrubuter, and they are now changing the EGR. In addition to this the car squeaks terribly at low speeds. Not only this the car has electrical problems, the cruise quit working, lights turn on and off when they want to and the remote keys only work when they want to any will randomly set the car alarm off. The car is not even junk yard worthy!!!