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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  300 soft top - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By vbul53 - January 20 - 10:00 am

  car looks mint , added soft top makes a nice touch , sound system terrific , good trunk space , built car from scratch the way i wanted it , dealership was a group of nice people who helped when asked for never pushey only wanted me to be satisfied , runs great

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  My First Chrysler Ever - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Wanatcha - January 20 - 10:00 am

  This is a car thats fun to drive and still provides a luxury ride. Id rather drive the 300C than my Nissan 300ZX because the 300C would beat the pants off the 300ZX. My only complaint is the drivers seat doesnt provide adequate upper leg support.On long drives leg fatigue sets in.

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  Very good drive - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By markdm1 - January 19 - 2:00 am

  Ive been driving this car a lot since I got it last May. I put about 9,000 miles on it from June through August, and then Ive put another 7,500 on it in the last 4 months or so (about 16,500 total in the last 8 months) and its still running perfectly. It is comfortable, and you can feel a lot of power underneath you.

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  Great so Far....... - 2000 Chrysler 300M
  By PaulS - January 18 - 2:00 am

  I just bought the 2000 300M a month ago. So far it has been great. Road noise a little loud but it is a Chrysler. Power, comfort, and style all in one package. Fun to drive!

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  Great so Far....... - 2000 Chrysler 300M
  By Pauls - January 18 - 2:00 am

  I just bought the 2000 300M a month ago. So far it has been great. Road noise a little loud but it is a Chrysler. Power, comfort, and style all in one package. Fun to drive!

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  FUN IN TH SUN - 1997 Chrysler Sebring
  By puttinfool - January 14 - 2:00 am

  Beautiful car, has exellent styling and is much more attractive than the 2001 and newer models. Overlooked by many critics due to lack of horsepower.

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  A fun car to own. - 2003 Chrysler 300M
  By David1011 - January 13 - 2:00 am

  So far I have been very pleased with the cars performance and handling. It makes long car trips much more enjoyable and comfortable.

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  Best family car - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Walt - January 12 - 9:50 pm

  This is the best tribe mobile I have ever owned. After a dozen years of driving Caravans as the family vehicle this is a great compromise. It rides as good as my friends caddy, has plenty of space and is fun to drive. Even after a year and a half the magic still has not warn off. My Vette is even getting jealous of the time I spend driving the Pacifica. Three the family members now own one. My father-in-law even got the same car, color and options. During a family event last weekend it was wild to see 4 of them in my driveway!

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  300M - 2000 Chrysler 300M
  By vector32 - January 12 - 2:00 am

  WOW! So far this car has been a blast. The auto-stick is fairly worthless however, so I just drive with the shifter in "Drive." Passing power has yet to be questioned and 0-60 mph is surprisingly snappy. This was quite a pleasant surprise for front-wheel drive I thought. The A/C and heat controls are awesome as are the heated power seats. With auto-start and XM radio, this car will be with me for some time! Its great that a domestic car with its huge interior could handle and ride so smoothly. Thanks Chrysler!!

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  The best car Ive had so far... - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Kaptn Kirk - January 11 - 10:00 am

  I love that car. It is really all I wanted, roomy, well built and great to drive and look at. Cargo space is outstanding and it drives very well for a car in this size.