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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  Drive one - you will see! - 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Mark - February 9 - 4:09 pm

  Dream car - a gift to myself after three years overseas. Tested many GTs some costing twice as much. Amazing build quality, great handling, exotic car looks. Body is a work of art. No repairs and no prblems at all. Would buy another without hesitation! Make mine black. Drive one and you will buy it.

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  Best Of All Worlds - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By LION4130 - February 9 - 2:33 pm

  I just left my Jeep lease and was actually looking for a truck when I came across the Pacifica. Not your typical "family truckster". The design makes it not quite an SUV but not quite a mini van, incorporating the best of both while keeping a car like ride. Im 64" and there is more than enough space for me with comfortable power seats. The base model comes with many standard features that you might pay extra for on other vehicles . The $3000.00 cash back and extra $1000.00 lease loyalty combined with some help from Edmunds on the MSRP, made it a deal I couldnt refuse.

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  company car - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By rwk - February 9 - 7:43 am

  great looking but with the small windows it takes time to get used to driving it. very comfortable on long trips..

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  love at first sight - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By BobL. - February 7 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned and/or driven many good cars. My last car was an suv and it was big because we have huge dogs. I was looking for a new suv and had driven the Volvo xc90, various Toyota suvs and a Mitsubishi Montero. When I went on my test drive in the Pacifica, i knew that this was the car for me. Having owned 4 Mercedes, I can see Daimlers influence.

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  wow!!!!! are pt is a Great ride. - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By jerry185 - February 6 - 6:33 am

  We love are 2006 pt Cruser MPG in town We get 27 and on the open road we get 33. if you want better MPG. DONT RUN gas with ethinal. We only got 22 in town and 26 out of town.

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  the new chrysler - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By kg - February 4 - 6:28 am

  Since the buy out the cars coming out seem very well put together. I LOVE MY CAR. Drives very well, Handles very well on the open road or in town. I had shopped around for other cars and was not even looking at the sebring, i sat in the ar and then test drove it and fell in love. Bought it on site that day.

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  Poor mans Bentley - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By L. Thomas - February 3 - 12:56 pm

  I love my 300 Limited. I travel continuously and the ride I get from this car awesome. I recently had surgery and the car took the bumps on the road like a charm. This car has been on my list every since it came out. I feel I made an excellent choice in buying this car.

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  The American Dream Come True - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By coolrunning - February 2 - 3:43 am

  I love this car! It is Inferno Red Crystal Pearlcoat, and is a 2006 300c Heritage Edition, loaded with every option. It looks like a fabulous luxury car, and it truly is. Dont be fooled. It has that fabulous HEMI under the hood that wakes up the minute you summon it with a light touch of your right foot and transforms itself into a sports car with thoroughbred lineage. It handles like a dream, brakes with little effort and has a throaty growl that only an American V-8 is capable of voicing. This may be the most versatile vehicle I have ever experienced for many reasons. I find myself taking "the long way" and inventing reasons to drive. I love this car so much, I bought 2 identical!

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  Crossfire is a winner - 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
  By W Michaels - February 1 - 2:00 am

  I just hit 2,000 miles on my new Crossfire and its been the most pleasurable 2,000 I heve ever driven. I cant say enough about how fun this car is to drive. For those who think this car is underpowered I would sugest that you buy a Viper. For those who want a car thats a blast to drive buy a Crossfire.

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  The best vehicle - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Grant Baker - February 1 - 2:00 am

  An all round fantastic ridng vehicle for the family. I recommend this vehicle when ever someone ask me for my honest opinion.