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:

• 

  my opion - 1997 Chrysler Cirrus
  By ken robertson - March 15 - 7:25 am

  kick to drive, go for the six cylinder

• 

  Chrysler 300 - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Robert B. Tisdale - March 14 - 9:56 pm

  The New Chrysler 300 Limited Touring Sedan is the best car I have ever owned . The drive is unbelieveably good and I have owned a benz and Cads and lincolns and none of them will ride or drive or have the styling of this car. the very best quailty went in to this new car.

• 

  1999 LHS a great auto - 1999 Chrysler LHS
  By mhjjr - March 14 - 8:11 am

  I am very happy with my LHS. I am sad that they have discontinued this model. I am considering purchasing a new car but thye 300M has too small a trunk.

• 

  Luxurious, but with teeth - 1995 Chrysler Concorde
  By Firenet01 - March 13 - 2:00 am

  The 95 concorde is between a cadilac, and a mustang. The size is right in the middle, the interior is in the middle, and the power and handling are in the middle. If you want a luxury car, without a luxury price this is it. If you want a fast good handling car without the police following you, this is it.

• 

  Better than I thought - 2002 Chrysler Voyager
  By Lurch - March 13 - 12:24 am

  I was upgrading from a 1994 voyager, boy what a difference 8 years makes. They have come a long way in making the mini van a true pleasure to drive and own.

• 

  Thank you Chrysler ! Thank You ! - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By samson - March 12 - 10:00 am

  The Best 100 % American I Ever Drove, Forget About all the others Copy Cats They All Look the Same. Thank You Chrysler ! Thank You ! Thank You ! Thank You !

• 

  excellent - 2002 Chrysler Concorde
  By angel - March 12 - 12:19 am

  rides like a baby, very smooth ride, good power and sporty looking for a 4 door sedan, the interior room is outstanding, the trunk space is more spacious than most suvs, love the car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• 

  Great Value - 2002 Chrysler 300M
  By LeeG - March 11 - 7:16 pm

  As a salesman I need plenty of room for customers, kids, literature, and samples. This car has it all. The trunk in huge, the styling is elegant, the back seat seats 3 adults comfortably (even with my drivers seat all the way back), and the performance is impressive. With 250 horsepower and a relatively tight suspension I am satisfied. The interior is sleak and the sound system is outstanding. Foreign cars are too expensive and most are much smaller inside.

• 

  Nice Car - 2002 Chrysler 300M
  By Tim Herber - March 11 - 1:51 pm

  The car sure draws attention. Mine is silver with the chrome wheels and spoiler. Car has plenty of interior room for 4 adults. Sure beats hauling around in a mini-van.

• 

  More fun than expected, so-so on gas - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Cruiser in the Keys - March 11 - 1:56 am

  Rented a PT Cruiser for a week long trip through the Florida Keys. It was MUCH more "fun" than I would have expected - Im 63 and the driving position was more comfortable than most vehicles. The Touring Turbo has pretty good pick-up and handling was really good for such a tall vehicle. VERY impressed with the fit and finish.