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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  1994 Chrysler Concorde 3.5L - 1994 Chrysler Concorde
  By tbolt2 - July 23 - 8:26 am

  We have not had the same experience as others. With only 108,000 miles on this car in July 2011, we have had the following experiences: 1. Had to replace whole AC system at 65,000 - cost $1500. 2. Had to have two intake and two exhaust rockers in right back overhead cam replaced in 2007 at 66,500 miles. 3. Had to replace engine timing sensor in crankcase at 82,000 miles in 2008. 3. AC compressor failed again at 92,000 miles in 2009 - replaced at $650. 4. Alloy wheels every 2 to 3 years have to be taken off and oxidation removed from tire bead area to prevent air loss. Worse in winter for some reason. 5. Whole front end tie rod ends and steering linkages replaced in 2011.

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  Pretty but nowhere near perfect - 2011 Chrysler 200
  By nlr - July 20 - 3:54 pm

  I purchased a Chrysler 200 S V6 and was told it was an "award winning engine". Im not convinced of that. I love the car...comfortable, beautiful. But I must say, I am very disappointed in the performance. It does not get good gas mileage at all. I have just under 7,000 miles on the car and the engine has begun to rev while driving with no response from the accelerator at all. Then all of the sudden it engages again with a hard bump. This has happened several times during highway driving and once under 40 mph. There is also a problem with the floor matt, which is custom designed for the S, bunching up under the accelerator. Everyone loves the car, but they dont drive it.

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  take a pass - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By adad - July 19 - 2:57 pm

  This car gave me so much anxiety because it always had some kind of a problem. My axel broke, burned oil, funny noises when turning, ABS problems,lights always burning out ( I finally kept driving it and it seemed to repair itself (abs problem)) always smelled like it was burning oil, Chrysler cs was horrible I finally went into the dealership in front of customers and voiced my complaint...they finally addressed my problems. I purchased this car as a family car and hated that I was stuck driving my family in this unreliable heap of junk. traded in after 2yrs took a huge loss not to mention repairs and traded in for a Honda Pilot . It feels good to drive a reliable car again.

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  Never Again - 2003 Chrysler Sebring
  By luckypilot - July 17 - 3:37 pm

  As a family we have owned our Sebring since new. It was one of those cars that would never fail for anything. Recently (within the past 6 months) if one thing has gone wrong everything has. Transmission, Cats, Head gasket, intake manifold gaskets. After nothing but Chryslers in our family since 1992, I am currently looking to buy something from another brand.

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  best and funnest car me ever had! - 2006 Chrysler Sebring
  By robsmopar - July 7 - 9:57 am

  this is such a nice car, its sells for a great price too . my wife and I were afraid at first to buy one because people told us it was a junk car,but we talked to several people who have them and one with 185,000 miles on it with never 1 single problem,now there our friends and we do trips together too, this is not a perfect car and diff.people have diff. likes ,but for us we would deffinetly buy this car again,we love it its got style,

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  a stickered $42K car for under $20K - 2007 Chrysler Crossfire
  By stogie556 - July 3 - 9:15 am

  I have the auto stick. an o7 with under 3k miles...i think ill start driving it now! Its a fun car. if you can find one...buy it!

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  Mileage is Terrible - 2009 Chrysler Aspen
  By gomer99 - July 1 - 3:57 pm

  Just traded my 2008 Silverado pickup for a more elegant puller for my travel trailer. Big mistake! The Aspen is, indeed, elegant, with all the bells and whistles. And, with a tow rating of 8900 lbs, it outpulls my truck -- and any Suburban or Expedition on the road, BUT: Mileage empty tops out at 12.5, feather-footing on country roads, and was 7.7 for towing the trailer. Looks good, but will be dumped for a diesel next week.

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  2011 Bright White Chrysler 200 S - 2011 Chrysler 200
  By claymaker52 - July 1 - 3:39 am

  I just recently purchase a 200 S, and I must say it has really impressed me and others around me. I cannot tell you how many times, in a very short period, that I have had someone stop and ask what kind of car I am driving. 283 HP, UConnect, Navigation, Heated Seats, Leather and Suede Interior, LED front and rear lights, LED interior lights for a great price. This is by far a great value car that is sporty and stylish. I have read many reviews that have just put the 200 to the side because of its resemblance to the Sebring. I question whether they actually compared this car to say a Sonata which gets better MPG but offers nothing in terms of interior quality and the smoothness of ride

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  Lemons - 2011 Chrysler 300
  By razmataz7 - June 27 - 9:22 pm

  I think I own a 2011 Chrysler 300, but that is hard to definitely say since we bought it 35 days ago, we drove it 11 days, and it has been in the repair shop of the other 24. At first Chrysler was not even going to cover the repairs under warranty, but then relented after two weeks and no fix yet. Now as of today it just needs new software. When I get this car back (if I do) I have a mind to paint it lemon yellow and add a sign advertising for Chrysler lemonade. By the way, stupid me bought an extended warranty.

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  Great car for the money. - 2000 Chrysler Sebring
  By mich12 - June 25 - 3:03 pm

  The car now has 159,000 miles on it, its really been a gem. Still runs great. Isnt really fast off the line, but has plenty of high end torque, which makes passing maneuvers easy. Many people badmouth Chrysler, but Ive had really good luck with them, this is my 7th chrysler, and one of 6 to go well past the 100,000 mile mark. The only one thats really been problematic is my PT Cruiser GT, but even when its transmission went bad, it still didnt leave me stranded. I drove it to the repair shop. I wish the same could be said of the MINI Cooper I purchased brand new. It left me stranded twice in its first 17,000 miles. Needless to say, I went running back to Chryslers.