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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  Wow - 2001 Chrysler 300M
  By TRV - October 19 - 2:00 am

  Bought a 2001 with 10,000 miles on it about three weeks ago, and so far...we love this car. Very impressed with the comfort of the interior, and the exterior speaks for itself. One of those cars you find yourself staring at as you walk away from it in a parking lot!

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  Love it!!! - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By NaNa - October 18 - 11:46 pm

  I absolutely LOVE this car and get complimented all the time! I have mine in Cool Vanilla. My only complaint is, while there is plenty of leg room in the back, if you have a car seat in, it is hard to fit 2 additional passengers in the back. Cargo space is excellent, love that the seats fold down. Considering how expensive gas is, it is pretty fuel efficient. The pick up is excellent and best of all, this car fits anywhere!

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  Not your typical "Granny Mobile"! - 2002 Chrysler 300M
  By lafayette_la_boy - October 18 - 2:00 am

  It was time for my grandmother to get a new vehicle! We looked at Cadillac, Buick, Lincoln, Volvo, and Chrysler. The only automaker that came close was Volvo the deciding factor was that my grandmother chose not to get another station wagon. I am the "car buff" of the family so my grandmother and I searched together. My Grandfather has a 98 Town Car and has nothing but problems with it, so we were not crazy of Lincoln to start with. We have also had Very Horrible experiences with GM. We decided on not getting any more GM products. She loves the fact that she is a Grandmother, but doesn’t drive a "Granny Mobile".

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  Loving It - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By TravelNurse - October 17 - 3:23 pm

  I love my new Cruiser, its fun to drive, easy on gas, comfortable to drive in. The turning circle is wider than I expected. The drive is smooth. I have driven in the mountains with this and it acts like a typical 4 cylinder, but has adequate power to make it up the mountains. The a/c is cold - important in Arizona! The fold down/take out seats are a real plus for carrying things in the back. My daughter does complain that the seating in the rear is not as comfortable as the front. My husband has bad knees and finds the higher seating very comfortable both to drive as well as getting in and out of the car. We are very happy with the car and look forward to many years with the new PT.

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  great car - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By golfin fool - October 17 - 2:00 am

  after the test drive i had to have this car. best drive of any american car i have driven. quiet, smooth, etremely comfortable seats.

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  A great car for the price - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By Rudy - October 17 - 2:00 am

  Considering the price of this car compared to others in its class it is a real steal. Great car to drive.

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  SRT8 Value - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By str8-voom - October 16 - 4:30 pm

  I have owned more expensive European and Japanese models, the SRT8 is the best value for dollar paid in terms of performance and build quality. Must driveit at the SRT Experience Trials.

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  Step up to the plate and get a 300! - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By STEVE - October 16 - 6:40 am

  Just purchased my new 2006 awd touring...and all i have to say is nothing but "praise" for this car...it handles so well, and is such a smooth ride. It has great power 250 horse for the 3.5 engine. For all the nay-sayers out there, you dont know what your missing!! I am 27 years old and bought this vehicle and i have had people i dont even know approach me out of the blue and have recieved compliments from them!! What are you waiting for?!?!? Step up to the plate and buy this car if youre even considering it!!

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  Solid, fun-to-drive & not a single prblm - 1999 Chrysler Sebring
  By Doctor P - October 15 - 2:00 am

  I drove some sporty cars with good gas mileage in the past (Sunbird, Saturn SC), but there was always a prblm of no room in the back seat for adults.So I tried my 1st convertible, the Sebring, mainly because it had a back seat big enough for adults, & still looked sporty. Consumer Reports had it rated only average, but Ive been pleasently surprised -- its a solidly built car with upper 20s MPG (mixed highway/city)that has run w/o even a hint of a problem.

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  A Very Different Chrysler - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By RTR - October 12 - 10:00 am

  The Pacifica is impressive compared to Chryslers I owned in the 80s. Nice styling, very comfortable interior, solid and quiet ride. Fit and finish is at a new level for Chrysler.