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:

• 

  EWWWW.... Too many problems!!! - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Jay1121 - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I have purchased this vehicle and I will NEVER buy any Chrysler again!!! It was my second Chrysler and now I learned my lesson!!! This car gave me in less than 2 months apart $2500 worth of repairs. I took it to Chrysler Service and I felt "ripped off". First time in service was about $1000, and the second was about $1480. I had 60k mile warranty on this car, and as soon as it turned 61208 it started with problems. As if it had some computerized mechanism to do so. Go figure!!!

• 

  Great car - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Swanee - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Only have 1000 miles on the car but love it. Handles great both in snow and on dry pavement. Quiet and great ride. Mileage OK with about 18 to 19 combined city and highway. Lots of room for adults although third seat only for children. Finish top notch.

• 

  Why dont I see more on the road?! - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By clrkstevo - May 9 - 2:00 am

  This car is the ultimate in proportional beauty. Ive had numerous people comment on what a pretty car this is, inside & out. The look is extremely rich, yet aggressive. A vehicle with classic lines & detail, with an interior to match. A "cult-car" for the thirty-somethings.

• 

  Pacifica Advantages - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By scjake697 - May 9 - 2:00 am

  The Pacifica is a pleasing blend of European road sedan (Mercedes E-Class) and minivan. The interior - although less functional than a minivan - is much more luxurious. The vehicle steers and stops with the precision of an expensive sedan yet provides more interior space, flexibility, and comfort. It is a classy family wagon with safety and comfort first on the satisfaction list.

• 

  Very Satisfied - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By HappyOne - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Ive had it for a couple of weeks now, and am very pleased. It is a joy to drive, and has awoken the old car bug in me that has been asleep for a long time.

• 

  Impressed so far - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By DBK - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Our long driveway slopes from 20 to 35 degrees. So during snowy weather, two wheel drive vehicles dont stand a chance. The Pacificas AWD goes up and down the hill with very little slippage and gives us confidence. (We had the dealer swap the OE tires with Goodyear Forteras) We have been extremely pleased with the comfort of the ride and the quietness of the cab. In fact those were the 2 main reasons we chose the Pacifica over the Pilot, which we found to be rather stiff and noisy on the highway. The rear seats are comfortable, even the third row is very sedan like.

• 

  Dreams Do Come True - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By ORRN - May 9 - 2:00 am

  If you have always dreamed of owning a convertable(like me) this is a winner! It drives good. It rides good. It looks good.What more can you want? Even my husband(picky, picky) likes this car! Too bad I dont let him drive it!

• 

  road report - 2005 Chrysler Sebring
  By commander - May 7 - 3:57 pm

  Although dealer service was good,the auto came through with defects. Electronic coupler was loose and caused malfunctions in a number of systems.. oil leak is being attended to next week.

• 

  My Sebring, My Baby - 1999 Chrysler Sebring
  By silvey - May 7 - 2:01 pm

  Love! Love! Love my 1999 LIMITED convertible! Bought used - went from a 90 LeBaron to this and both have been amazing cars. Car handles like a dream and its so much fun to drive! All of the added LIMITED features (fog lights, cloth top, cd player & autostick which I love in the snow) were so worth the extra few dollars. Custom PLATINUM color is gorgeous & the compliments are plenty, even on a 6-yr old car. Love it! Only problems were a pesky wiper that carved into the windshield and the rear defogger detached twice, which the dealership replaced, and getting used to the large blindspots. I agree with the other comments that the dealership service has been the pits, though. 5 star? NO WAY!

• 

  Reality of Ownership. 18 months, 15k miles - 2015 Chrysler 200
  By unhappy2020 - May 7 - 12:44 pm

  Purchased brand new prior to massive incentives with 18 miles on the car when I bought it. Engine sounds good when new, beautiful style, feels much more expensive than it is, at first. Then come the never ending rattles, from door panels, pillar panels, vibrations of the engine making cups rattle in the cup holders. The 4 cylinder engine that now sounds like it has a heavy piston tap when at idle in gear with the AC on. ( Dont worry they say, thats the Multi Air System its perfectly normal.) Then comes the real problem, the transmission. Driving the car in the 500 mile "re-learn" period after they "update/flash/reset" the car drives as normal as it can with so many gears. Once it "learns your driving" ( I dont race my car, I drive like a responsible adult, however racing it around like an idiot does make the car seem a bit more normal) the transmission does have a number of lovely added features such as; sudden lunges when downshifting, getting stuck in 3rd gear when coming to a stop to prevent you from accelerating normally through an intersection, half way through it will suddenly drop the transmission into second giving you burst of acceleration (almost like you have turbo lag accompanied by horrendous noise ) , loss of power while making a U-turn on busy roads, lunging forward into garage walls once its put in park. Harsh shifts, are a common experience with this car, if you decide to buy it know that you will often feel like someone is kicking you under your seat as you are driving down the road. You will also experience the loving surge the car has acquired since the last "reset" when cruising along at any consistent speed in 4th or 7th gear. Ive decided it must be part of a driver alertness package my car wasnt purchased with. Thanks Chrysler for the free upgrade... The car has also had its fair share of "phantoms" with the 8.4 Uconnect system, AC couldnt be controlled, freezing when phone was plugged in to the USB port, now randomly the ghost of Chryslers past (hackers) have come out to allow the Uconnect to mess with my phone if it is plugged into the USB system. I can tell the car to be on radio and it will shift back to play my phone every 2-3 minutes. If i need to charge my phone now I drive in silence with my phone turned off as well. You will meet many new people with your Chrysler 200, if its anything like mine the 10 visits to service in the 15k miles (nearly every 1500 miles, but whos counting I love being without my car, or a loaner) have allowed me to meet nearly every service advisor at both dealerships with in 35 miles of my house. In addition to talking with number of agents working at Chrysler Customer Care. My newest introduction was to a lovely lady named TRIVIA who works for the customer resolutions department, in a review of Lemon Law dispute with the car. She has a wonderful habit of not answering ANY phone calls, returns voicemails when its convenient and makes appointments with you (at your request) for phone calls which she never makes, or takes when you call her at said time. She must be incredibly overworked at Chrysler in light of the companies poor build quality, and poor customer service standards. It all makes sense now why Chrysler is discontinuing the 200 and Dart. The company will be bleeding money by the time they are done with recalls/ buybacks/ and bad public relations but America will just bail them out again... Your Tax dollars hard at work.