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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  MerChrysler! - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Yuri - September 25 - 8:43 pm

  I bought this car after looking at many others such as Mustang GT, G35, 350Z, Audi TT and M-B SLK. The Crossfire is a far more interesting vehicle and reminds me of nothing else out there is bland car land. Only the TT has as much chararcter. It may not be as fast as some of the others, but it has other amazing qualities. I love the look, the ride and the fact that it is not one of 160,000 sold. Quality is amazing since the "donor" was an excellent car to begin with. However, the main reason to buy a car such as the Crossfire is the way it looks. This car looks better than many exotics costing 4 times as much. I love this car and it was flawless in the 15 day Florida trip I took it on!

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  HEMI power - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By xtmracer - September 20 - 12:56 pm

  that car is great. it hauls more then people and it is a luxury car. i have played with a few 350z on the freeway and they we surpised that i passed them. great car. very comfortable. the features are all perfect and the performance is great. it gets alot of looks and attention.

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  Nothing Serious... - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By northernpt - September 19 - 1:43 am

  We spend 6 weeks driving to and thru Alaska and back (over 10,000) and enjoyed every minute of it. The car handled long hours of operation with out any problems. When the car had 90,000 kilometers it did experience electronic problems which required new Computer modules, spark plugs and wiring very costly. With proper tires it travels well in rain and snow....

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  I cant say enough about it ! - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By FRANK BARCELONA - September 18 - 12:46 pm

  I ordered the 300c in june and it was delivered in late august. It was worth the wait. We get alot of attention everywhere we go. The traffic down here in florida is horrific, so the power of the hemi engine and the suspension work well getting in and out of traffic.I would recommend this automoblie to anyone. This is the best car i ever owned and i plan to keep it along time --it could be a collectors item someday !!!

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  A good buy! - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By John Chawolsky - September 17 - 10:00 am

  We traded a 1997 JXI convertible and are very pleased with our decision. So far, its had the fewest number of problems that weve ever experienced in a new car.

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  chrysler hemi - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By daje inc - September 15 - 12:56 pm

  enjoyable comfortable and everyone stares at the vehchle because of its breakthough style just got back from a 3600 mile road trip in 9 days and fuel performance and comfort excellent I also own a lexus ls 400 and the chrysler is not as quite but man o man for the difference in money what a great auto.

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  2005 Pacifica - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Redge - September 15 - 12:30 am

  Excellent build quality, solid feel when driving, low interior noise. I love the car. I also tow a 2,000 lb camp trailer with it in the mountains and as a tow car it does very well and far better than any pickup truck. Love to drive this car!

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  I love my pacifica - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By workingpowermom - September 11 - 10:00 am

  We were looking for a suv that could hold more people if needed w/o the large size but NO MINIVAN. I almost bought another make and then the pacifica came out. I test drove it and fell in love. I love the way it drives and how it looks. Not a week goes by that someone asks me how do I like it. I went from a suv to this and cant tell any difference in height. It was worth the time it took me to save the money. Cant wait for snow.

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  New Pacifica in a class by itself. - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By MarcH - September 11 - 10:00 am

  I was in the "Family Sedan" market, and checked out a Pacifica on a whim, thinking it was out of my range in size and price. In the back of my mind, though, Ive felt the third row of seats in a vehicle is really practical--especially with a family (4 of us on my case) but I defintely didnt want to go the mini-van route. I was pleasantly surprised by the lease price of a Pacifica AWD, and now its in my garage. I love the styling, and you can tell theres some Daimler in this Chrysler, too! I just need to get used to a larger vehicle than my last sedan (a Passat), but Chrysler defintely stole me away from VW, Honda, Nissan, and others.

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  So far, so good... - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By The YARDI Guy - September 10 - 9:53 am

  I just bought it, after a few thousand miles in Chrysler Sebrings. The Sebring is great on the highway, but a little "boaty" in the city, not to mention too AARP for me. The PT, on the other hand, is just "ugly enough" to keep things on the light side. Plus, its nimble enough and small enough to zip around the burbs. 50 is as fast as I can do in the 300 mile break-in, so I hope it does as well over 70. For that matter, I hope I do, too!!!