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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  2nd Sebring - 1999 Chrysler Sebring
  By shayne3 - September 3 - 6:49 pm

  My first Sebring was the convertible Custom. Loved that car. bought it with only 20,000 miles on it. My husband and I took long trips with it and I can honestly say that when my husband left me for my best friend I wasnt thinking too9 clearly. I totaled it. That car SAVED my life. When it came time to get another car I immediately went in search for another one. I found one that had been maintained. It has 157,000 miles on it and many of the things that were someone else s were already done. It gets 35 mpg on the highway and mid twenties city. It does have electrical problems, but there tolerable. Trunk can decapitate you, and I need new struts. She does leak fluids at times.

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  Beware - 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
  By ronfor1 - September 3 - 2:38 pm

  Car is product of bad marriage and even worse divorce between Mercedes and Chrysler. Chrysler unable/unwilling to fix warranty item, tried to buy back for half value. Dealer claimed no responsibility, deferred to Chrysler. Both unwilling to do the right thing by consumer. Car same as Mercedes SLK under skin but Mercedes also unwilling to assist in repair. "Bastard child" to both manufacturers..dont get suckered.

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  Disappointed - 1998 Chrysler Sebring
  By isis12 - September 2 - 1:33 am

  My 1998 Sebring LXi had 95,000kms on it when I bought a few weeks ago and it has a V-6 2.5L engine, it also looks like new. The exterior looks very sharp and sporty, its fun to drive, and the interior also looks very sharp, with big buttons that are placed intelligently. The seats in this car are very stiff and no matter how much the drivers seat is adjusted there is no comfy way to drive this car. This car has terrible fuel economy because my sister who owns a Grand Am with a 3.1L gets less than 10L/100km in the city while my car gets 11L/100km on the highway and my car has a considerably smaller engine. This car has already cost me $1000+ in repairs. I would not recommend this car.

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  So far, so good - 2011 Chrysler 200
  By wns808 - August 30 - 5:00 pm

  Recently purchased a new 2011 Chrysler 200 Touring after coming from a gas-guzzing 2009 GMC Envoy, although it did take me a bit to become familiar once again with a midsize sedan, Im impressed with what Chrysler has done with the 200, as well as the fuel savings down the road

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  My first pacifica was free, the one they gave me the next day was not - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By oileater - August 30 - 1:35 am

  Bought a 38k model in 2005. On the 45 min. drive home (I-75 N) the accelorator began to surge & fail. About half way home it became clear that I would have to "CRAWL" the rest of the way in order to avoid an accident. Made it home called carmax. They asked if I could drive it back the next day. I told them I was coming back now (tonight). Got there right before they closed where I was lead to a 7 yr. old "rough" celica loaner. This is surely the ONLY $38,000 7 yr old celica known to ever exist. After a week of the dealer managment insisting that I "honor" the service agreement we had purchased the "DAY BEFORE". The newly promoted Pres. of dealership asked me to pick a equally valued replace

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  Solid, low cost Mommy-Mobile. - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By nettech - August 28 - 6:36 pm

  Weve had our 2006 Pacifica for a year now, and it has been a blessing for us as new parents. The amount of things one needs to carry around for a baby is staggering, and our old Corolla wasnt cutting it. Its comfortable, feels very smooth and solid while driving, and holds quite a bit of stuff, making it perfect for weekend shopping trips. Only real downside so far has been the fuel economy (about 16-18 mpg on average, quite a contrast to a Corolla), but we knew that going in. We purchased it in 2010 from a wholesaler for $10,900, which was a significant discount from its $28,000 sticker price. If it continues to run for the next 4-5 years without any major repairs, well be happy.

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  Good idea, bad implementation. - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By jp384 - August 24 - 2:14 am

  Not the most comfortable car to drive. Feels like a boat and Im afraid of hitting everything when Im in the city. Front suspension seems a bit loose so every time we had to stop quick, the front would take a deep dive and when it went over a driveway that was higher then the road it would bottom out at 12 mph, which might be why the bearing plates broke (something our mechanic told us was common in them). Learning transmission never up shifted when it should have and loved to rev up to the red before it would finally shift. Needs plus gas for power and fuel economy. For a car thats supposed to be a town car and SUV I think Chrysler failed to make a car thats good at being either.

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  2010 Sebring Hardtop convertible - 2010 Chrysler Sebring
  By tament - August 23 - 4:49 pm

  This is the best car I have ever purchased. Mechanically it is sound, Ive had it for over a year, 13K miles and not a single problem. Better yet, however, is reaction from others to a convertible, especially a hardtop convertible. I live in the northern plains were it gets very cold (-30) and this car was like driving any other car, quiet, warm and sporty in the winter. Then comes summer and oh man, put down the top. I couldnt have picked a better car. My neighbors, friends and coworkers are all envious. I know this sounds over the top, but that is how I feel about this car. I could not endorse it more strongly.

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  I am going to Miss This Car! - 1999 Chrysler 300M
  By nursediesel - August 23 - 12:24 pm

  Had this car since it was a 2002 and had to give it up after 8 years of ownership. Nice styling, power and a comfortable ride. Changed the oil ever 3K and pampered it. Only problems were 1: Power Window Regulators (replaced 3 of them) 2: Chrome wheels began flaking and wouldnt hold tire pressure - had 4 wheels resurfaced $500. 3: Had to update the radio finally after CD stopped working This car would have probably gone to 250K miles, but it began to nickel and dime me. Latest quote was $2,000 for new struts and tranny was slipping a bit between 2nd and 3rd so it was time to move or have a possible money-pit starting.

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  Engine light on , Engine or electrical Problems - 2005 Chrysler Sebring
  By bingonut15 - August 21 - 5:37 pm

  I had so many problems with this since I bought it 2007 used from a Dealer that I thought I coud trust but I was wrong. He sold me a lemon. Bought hub bearings three times, struts, tie rods, crankshaft, crankshaft sensors, camshaft sensors and much more. Two weeks ago, I was have problems when I drove the car home the check engine came on and the car was jerking when I got up to 60 miles per hour. I went to Advance auto,test it out and they said needed a camshaft, so I bought it .installed it ,was still jerking. Then I took it to Midas to test it and it was the crankshaft sensor,got one, installed it still jerking. Brought to Chrysler test it, said Powertrain Module and