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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  Spacious Luxury - 1995 Chrysler Concorde
  By EMH - April 22 - 2:00 am

  I find my Concorde to be extremely reliable, spacious interior, luxurious appointments and a plenty big trunk that easily accomodates 2 full sets of golf clubs!

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  1994 Concorde - 1994 Chrysler Concorde
  By mx5racer - April 21 - 2:00 am

  Very impressive - far better than I expected of an older Chrysler. I believe these fullsize "LH" sedans heralded the beginning of a sort of "rebirth" of quality design and build at Chrysler.

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  My wifes favorite car ever - 2000 Chrysler LHS
  By reotto - April 21 - 2:00 am

  My wife has owned a Grand Am and a Grand Prix. Both were within 2 years old when purchased and always were in the shop. They both, also, lacked the simple little refinements of the LHS. Everytime I drive the LHS, when allowed, I am pleasantly reassured that I have the best car of the road for styling, dependability, and safety for my wife and my family.

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  Great Family Car - 2000 Chrysler Concorde
  By Burfurd21 - April 21 - 2:00 am

  Im 65" tall and have 3 teenage kids, so I needed a full sized car to handle us. The 2000 Concorde LXi fit my needs perfectly. A large cabin (even my 67" son is comfortable driving it), good gas mileage at about 25 mpg overall, stylish looks, and a great interior with a superb stereo system make this car an pleasure to drive.

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  SWEET RIDE FOR THE MONEY - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By neb - April 20 - 10:00 am

  EXCELLENT RIDE PLENTY OF GET UP AND GO. GREAT CAR FOR FAMILY AND STILL LOOK COOL

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  Love my Car! - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By dholl0602 - April 20 - 10:00 am

  Chrysler has done a great job with this car. Stylish, affordable, great looker!! Handling is great and the 5.7 Hemi is out of this world!! The engineers of this vehicle..I take my hats off to you. The marketing people that came up with pricing structure I take my hat off to you too!! This will be a car that I will keep for life. It has no age bounderies, young and old alike enjoy this car!! Great job Chrysler!!

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  New 300 - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Jason Taylor - April 20 - 10:00 am

  $25,700 purchase price on black touring, way more car I could ever expect at this price....very sharp interior and exterior design

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  after 48,000 miles......... - 1999 Chrysler 300M
  By whodatic - April 20 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 300M as a new demo and although it has modest mileage now it has performed far above what many have come to expect from a domestic vehicle. Thanks to reviewing Edmunds early on I knew to take the car back to the dealer at the first sign of problem with the electric windows and eventually had all four replaced under warranty. Otherwise the car has performed flawlessly and after downsizing from a Suburban it has far exceeded my expectations for a combination of size/performance/economy.

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  Great for the $$$$ - 1998 Chrysler Cirrus
  By DanMan!!! - April 18 - 2:00 am

  The car has a solid engine and is nicely appointed overall. The vehicle handles well, accelerates decently, and is fairly comfortable. It has needed no work beyond the normal brakes, tune- up, etc. The car has been in the family since new, and now I have got it to replace my 98 Neon. A switch that was a definate step up.

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  Love My Car - 1997 Chrysler Sebring
  By Carmine - April 18 - 2:00 am

  This is the best large convertable for the price. Its great in all weather seats 5 with leg room. Great sterio system, its dependable and handles great.