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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  You will be surprized - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Peter Campbell - May 4 - 10:00 am

  This is a land rocket, the accelleration comes on so smoothly in the corfortable interior, that you will not know how fast you are going to you look down or in the rear view mirror. The auto stick lets you keep the revs up in the "go zone". The stereo is out of this world. It is a E class with way more power for a lot less money. Get the V8!

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  Great fun, but some cheapies - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By drrad - May 4 - 10:00 am

  ONLY HAD THE HEMI FOR ONE WEEK AND LOVE THE CAR. THE AUTO-MANUAL SHIFT IS A REAL TREAT. A SLEEPER OFF THE LINE OR PASSING. NOT TRASHING THE CAR, BUT WHAT DUMMY WOULD PUT PALE WHITE FLOOR MATS ON THIS OR ANY CAR? THE FIRST DAY THEY WERE SOILED. I THEN ORDERED DARK MATS THAT MATCHED THE INTERIOR TRIM. THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE TAKEN BACK THE OLD/NEW MATS AND TRADED THE NEW/NEW ONES OUT AND NOT NICKEL/DIMED ME FOR THE $65.00. HUGE GRIPE: THE "CHROME-CLAD" ALUMINUM WHEELS. SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE ALUMINUM WHEELS THAT ARE CHROMED. NOT SO. THESE LOOK GREAT BUT ARE LITERALLY CHROME COLORED PLASTIC COVERINGS OVER ALUMINUM WHEELS--CHEAP!

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  DaimlerChrysler Has A Definate Winner! - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Junechld - May 4 - 10:00 am

  I am loving my new 300C. It feels as though almost everything is automatic. And yes,the MDS does work effortlessly to improved gas mileage on the highways. Since Ive purchased my C,I get kidded a lot by co-workers asking me if I want to race. Whereas car racing isnt of any interest to me, however, I do enjoy knowing that I have that extra power to maneuver around someone and also knowing that I could beat those co-workers easily,that kid me about the racing thing on any given day.

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  Took a mob to the beach.. - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Bob - May 4 - 3:47 am

  Rented a 2017 Pacifica for a 70 mile trip to the beach. 5 adults, 2 kids in car seats, a 30 mph headwind, cruise set at 75 mph and still got 25 mpg. Ride is amazing. Very quiet. A little cramped in the very back row with 2 car seats, but a small adult can fit.Good handling and acceleration, good brakes. Bobs around a little in a strong winds. Love how the engine shuts down if you have to sit at a light for a bit. The second that you take your foot off of the brake, it fires up quickly and off you go. A great vehicle for road trips!

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  chrysler sebring limited convertible - 2005 Chrysler Sebring
  By mac - May 3 - 4:21 pm

  water gets in windows when washed with a wand. Handles very poorly around curves.Much bumpier ride than I expected for the money. Doesnt even compare to my last car in performance or comfort, that was a 2 door grand Prix 97.I have serious buyers remorse.

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  Race Car - 2002 Chrysler 300M
  By Tom - April 30 - 11:28 am

  I bought this car out of frustation because I had looked at so many. I bought the wrong car. Pretty expensive, lousy milage, and not the highway car that I needed. Having said that, it is a very good car. Handles great, fast (too fast?), roomy, room for 2 + golf bags in the trunk but noisey from road noise. OEM tires lasted 20,000 at $300/each. All in all next time Id buy somethink else. Mopar fans probably love it, I dont.

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  Love this car! - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Mike - April 30 - 4:23 am

  Shopped dealer lots and online through four states. Looked at DeVille, Lucerne, LS-430, and the Avalon. The 300 was the better buy all around. Fantastic deal -- after the rebate, it was $2K less than TMV. Love the ride, the power. Wife likes the safety aspects and the memory functions. I LOVE the HEMI! Mileage isnt great, but knew that going in. The dealer took the Contis off and put on Goodyear Assurance. Handles great and its quiet. Didnt take a big hit on the insurance, either. Time will tell about the reliability. Hope to keep it ten years. Will repost after a few months.

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  Second Sebring owner - 2005 Chrysler Sebring
  By JayTee - April 29 - 8:40 pm

  I use the Sebring 4 door 2.7L as a compnay vehicle. It is the second one Ive gotten. The first, a 2002 model, was traded at 75,000 miles. No problems - ever! Why does Edmunds slam the interior? Look inside a Malibu, then look in a Sebring. Ive driven both and I can say that the Malibu is built like a Yugo compared to the Sebring. The interior of the Sebring is very well screwed together and not all all cheap looking - try to say that about any GM car. Brakes are excellent!!! Torque is a bit lacking. Gotta rev it hard, till the engine sounds like its coming apart. Aside from that,Chrysler really has come a long way. I am very pleased. Chrysler, please put a powerful engine in this car

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  Great Car - 2005 Chrysler Sebring
  By Chuck - April 29 - 3:20 pm

  Great car for cruising. But if you want a car for speed and sports handling, then this is not the car. But then where can the average person fly around hair pin turns, down shifting and sliding the back end on the turn. The ads you see on television for the aggressive driver are the exception.

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  5 time Corvette owners point of view. - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Potter - April 29 - 12:53 pm

  The car is amazingly fun to drive on north Georgias mountain roads, and is a real head turner. It doesnt have the power of my new Vette, but makes up for it in the fun to drive/head-turner catagories...