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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  Save Yourself The Trouble! - 2007 Chrysler Sebring
  By Brianna - November 20 - 9:53 pm

  I have the 2.7L V6 engine. Let me start by saying i havent had many problems but the problems I do have are ridiculous. As previously mentioned by others, the car randomly stalls out on you whether you are moving or not... Especially in the rain! It is absolutely horrible on gas. My gas cap seems to be an ongoing issue as the car chooses when it thinks the gas cap is working properly and when it isnt... Ive been through 2 or 3 gas caps so far. Ive gotten water stuck in the door during a rainstorm which drained out over the course of a few days. If youre looking for something that handles nicely and is good in all weather, this is absolutely not the car for you. My car slides all over the place when its wet or icy out... I dread driving it in the winter. Ive had to replace the brakes twice in 6 months because they dont seem to hold up well and this car takes what seems like days to stop. I LOVE the acceleration in the car though! I must conclude by saying the car is 100% plastic and I was recently in a very minor accident (rear ended another vehicle) and the front of my car SMASHED. $4,500 in damage. Cosmetic parts are entirely too expensive for such a horribly made vehicle. The airbags also did not deploy. I could go on and on about why I hate this car but my advice to you is to skip out on it and look for another vehicle!!!

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  Loved this car! - 1994 Chrysler Concorde
  By Laurie - November 19 - 4:17 pm

  Received this car from my aunt, when she got too old to drive. It had been garage-kept, and regularly maintained, so it was in great condition, and VERY LOW mileage. In fact, for a 20 year old car, it had 86,500 miles on it! Car runs very smooth. Great acceleration getting on the highway. Extremely comfortable to drive, and to be a rider. Front seat space is huge, and the back is quite comfortable, even for a long drive. The trunk is huge! We really had no use for it, and we wouldnt get very much for it, so we donated it to the Fire Department for training. So sad to say goodbye.

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  Old, but totally reliable - 1998 Chrysler Sebring
  By Dave - November 16 - 9:37 pm

  We bought this car new in 1998, and it has been a totally reliable, trouble free vehicle in 130,000 miles. Aside from normal maintenance, the car has never been in the shop for repairs. The technology for its time was good. Garage kept all its life, the original top lasted 16 years - top material was good, but the threads began to fail. Original Michelin tires went 90,000 miles-shes still on her second set of tires and brakes, just installed 2nd replacement battery. Plugs, hoses, belts, timing belt changed a couple years ago at 115,000. Leather seats, carpet, etc. still appear near new. No complaints-it was driven daily for the first 10 years. Shes become a garage queen in the past several years. Probably never sell it at this point. Bought a twin to it for our grand daughter 3 years ago. It has also been trouble free.

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  2006 Chrysler Sebring GTC Money Pit - 2006 Chrysler Sebring
  By M Perry - November 16 - 7:41 pm

  This car, at 96000 miles, well maintained, has been nothing but a nightmare. Im the second owner, paid $4k for the 2006 GTC model. After only 6 months of ownership Ive had to replace the fuel pump, a transmission sensor when the car died while driving 35 mph & a new alternator...approximately $1,300 in repairs!! Now KBB is telling me my car is worth $2,100 private party sales? This car is a 6 cylinder but reacts sluggishly when accelerating from a stopped position. Car shakes & seems very unstable with even the slightest poor road handling, especially when top is retracted. I will never purchase or recommend a Chrysler product again!!

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  Great vehicle - 1998 Chrysler Concorde
  By E. Barto - November 15 - 6:41 pm

  This vehicle is great. Great interior, comfortable and very roomy and the trunk space is huge. It drives smoothly and handles well.

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  Rented for a week - 2015 Chrysler 200
  By John Donaldson - November 15 - 1:02 am

  I found the Chrysler 200 4Cyl to have noticeable shift points, poor gas pedal response, poorly placed controls (shift knob, headlight switch), the sound system turned on every time I started the car even though I turned it off previously. The rental car lacked basic features of most large cars today such as Auto climate controls. Trunk space was adequate, engine power was good after a lag when depressing the gas pedal. The drivers headrest was about 1" too far forward for me, making this the drop dead feature for me not to buy a Chrysler 200. I would not recommend this car for purchase or lease.

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  This Car Needs An Autobahn - 2015 Chrysler 200
  By Scott in W.PA. - November 13 - 9:39 pm

  Purchased new in May 15 and have 12,250 as of Nov 1st so yes, I have piled on the miles. Traded in an aging 09 Audi A8L, so my basis for comparison is a highly ranked luxury sedan. The 200S is not perfect, has some niggling little flaws, but overall is a highly capable performer that returns gobs of fun for the price that you pay. Im ready to get a vanity plate that reads "A4Killr." My 200S is only missing the LED headlights and rear parking sensors. It has those killer wheels you see in all their ads, sport seats, UConnect 8.4, and everything else. It also has an absolutely gigantic trunk. Lets look around the cabin. Ergonomics Execution of controls is near-perfect. The large touch screens interface is so well designed you do not need the manual to figure out ANYTHING (are you listening Audi & BMW?). Screens are logically arranged, fonts are easy to read, and the myriad of adjustments are easily found. The customization of the dash readouts is delightful, and toggling between dash screens is effortless. You can seamlessly get vehicle information (tire pressures, etc) then check the gas mileage then back to the digital speedo (or whatever else you have programmed the screen to show you). The rotary gear selector takes a little getting used to, but will be the standard within a few years as long as automatic transmission continue to pester us with paddle shifters. Interior lighting is just a hair short of phenomenal. Colors and hues blend beautifully. Night driving is truly a pleasure. The sport seats are superb. The wife just got a Volvo XC60 with its vaunted seats, and they are spectacular...but the 200s are just as good. Teh back seats are very good for two, and a little cramped for three. Legroom is at a premium. Driving Dynamics There is a bit of a mixed bag here. The star of the show is the engine. Step on it, and it pulls. Let up, step on it again, and it pulls harder. Cruising at 90 and stomping on it gets you to 110+ RIGHT NOW. It is amazing. Every bit as fast as the Audi A8L. The brakes are confident with minimal if any fade. Handling is good, not great. "Sport" mode seems to just make the steering feel heavier, not more inspiring. "Sport" mode does the usual transmission shift adjustments, and it does them very well. It also makes the car feel more like a rear-wheel driver as it disengages the traction control and makes it feel tossable. The 9 speed tranny does occasional hunting, and will sometimes stay in a lower gear going down hills. But it also turns less than 2700RPM at 110MPH. I remember my 86 GTI droning on at 3500rpm at 70mph all the way to Florida. On several Pittsburgh to Richmond trips, a rather mountainous journey, the 200S returned an unbelievable 31.5mpg, and thats with spirited driving at sustained 85+. The suspension is taught, and the 19" wheels take a bit of the magic-carpet-ride feel away. But it is not unpleasant. Finally, there is the exhaust note. It is mean, nasty, gnarly, growlingly perfect. Perfect. Concerns Obviously the reliability issue rears its ugly head as we really dont know how this purring lion is going to hold up. Im already experiencing a squeak from, of all places, the upper seat back of the drivers seat. At 61" and 185lbs I am certainly not taxing the capability of the seat too much. My other concern is the rear view mirror is so big it can actually block an SUV sitting at an intersection. I am forced to duck my head down to see under it. And yes, Ive moved the seat down. Conclusion I looked at (looked at = test drove at length) the Volvo S60, BMW 3 and Audi 4 & 6 series. I wanted a mid-size family sedan with AWD. Subaru was just too basic, Audi and BMW just too expensive, Mazda and Honda have no AWD, and that left me with the 200S or a Ford Fusion. Since the Fusion is not a Ford truck, it was automatically crossed off the list. The 200S with the V6 is a Beast. Its fun to drive, explodes off the line, and reins in confidently. The cabin is uber cool with a monstrous sunroof and a 500+ watt Alpine system that Led Zeppelin regularly enjoys. The heated seats and heated steering wheel are appreciated now that the thermometer is dipping towards freezing. Oh...you can set the car to automatically heat the seats and steering wheel for you...a nice touch and super-easy to program (or turn off). This car is well thought-out, well-executed, and damn nice to look at.

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  Worst car Ive ever owned - 2007 Chrysler Sebring
  By Katelyn - November 8 - 8:39 pm

  Ive only had this car for about a year now, as soon as I got it, it would shut off in the middle of the road. Took it to several places to get fixed, spent thousands of dollars and still not fixed. The gears get stuck in park, sometimes the keys dont want to come out of the ignition, so make sure you have a spare.. And just recently Ive discovered that when it rains water gets inside of my doors. Do not waste your money on this car!

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  Best Car EVER - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By Candy - November 8 - 12:46 pm

  I love my Convertible. I recommend the larger V-6 though fast efficient and FUN

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  Love my girl! - 2006 Chrysler Sebring
  By Dawn - November 5 - 12:15 pm

  I bought in 2007 Apr with 17k miles on it. Overpriced for sure. Have finally paid it off and not wanting to get into another car pmnt. First thing fixed was the fuel tank...then the drivers window motor... now it is 10 yrs old since it was built and it needs new passenger window motor and some dumb head removed the interior door lock mechanism so I am having to get that installed as well And needs a paint job! The all leather seats were awesome until my husband had to use my car for a few years, so I just bought slip on seat covers. The trunk donut cover broke the first time my husband pulled it out, so need a replacement for that. I love this car, rides great and is smooth on the highway. Gas mileage, not so good, about 23 mpg. it is now at 118k and just starting to have some things that need to be addressed like ball joints and steering belt Firestone replaced the alternator a couple months back...