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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  great services - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Esteban Ofarrell - March 2 - 2:19 am

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  Chrysler 300c - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By BOB ISHI - March 1 - 10:43 pm

  The most fun car to drive since I sold my 68 442. It is by far the best long distance traveling car I have owned and I get a new car every 3 years and I am 63 yrs old

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  300 C - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By lmg5555 - February 28 - 8:26 pm

  This is one great automobile. Ive owned a lot of performance cars (Corvette 427 - 390 hp, Pontiac GTO 455, 1967 Chev Impala - 427 -425 HP and 440 Dodge Charger)and this one ranks up there with the best of them! The best part of driving this vehicle is not on the interstates but rather the country two lane roads. Its handling and acceleration in passing is second to none. On top of all of this, its interior and exterior styling has it sitting comfortably in the luxury class. If I have one complaint it has to be with the height of the front end - you have to be very careful when diagonal parking tht you dont get your bumper hung up on the curb.

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  sebring convert. - 2005 Chrysler Sebring
  By julie curtis - February 27 - 1:21 pm

  We have not had the car for long, about 2 months, so not much time to discover endurance of quality yet. We love the kick in the car...the only problem we have encountered has been a problem shifting into gear correctly. It doesnt always go into reverse on first try. takes several times of putting gear back into park first and then back to reverse. We just started noticing this problem about a week or2 ago. Will take it into dealer very soon, will be able to tell at that point if Dealer is going to be a good one to deal with or not. The only "flaw" I can see in the way the car is made is that the Gear shift can be shifted into drive,reverse,etc... without a safety feature.Kids have shi

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  Not the quietest - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Tej - February 26 - 8:37 pm

  I have turned in my 2012 Sienna and got the l plus. The claim that Chrysler makes "quietest in its class" is absurd. My old sienna was much quieter. The road and wind noise levels even with active noise cancellation is high compared to sienna that does not have active noise cancellation. The adv safety tech is okay, but is more like beta and needs lot of improvement. The stop and go is decent but active steering is awful, dont even try it. Interior is good, comparable or better in its class.

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  grat van - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Dano - February 26 - 8:08 am

  Nice van if you need one!!! owned several Honda Odysseys and made the switch. Very comparable at much better price

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  pacifica 2004 - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By bill - February 26 - 2:00 am

  Love the style and color and ride of this vehicle. I look forward to taking a trip with this vehicle. No problems so far and I purchased in the end of may of 2004

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  Get one...if you can! - 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Dave J - February 24 - 10:00 am

  This car handles like a dream. It is a very limited production vehicle and one cannot get it easy. I found one and absolutely love the car.

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  TOO NEW TO RATE EVERYTHING - 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
  By AUTOCRITIC - February 24 - 10:00 am

  SEXY HEAD-TURNER LEGROOM AND HEADROOM INADEQUATE FOR SIX FOOTERS ROAD NOISE ON ROUGH PAVEMENT IS A SERIOUS FAULT. APPEARS TO BE LITTLE INSULATION IN THE CAR! NOISE OVER RAILROAD TRACKS IS TERRIBLE!! ACCELERATION IS OK, BUT WILL HAVE YOU LONGING FOR A V8 OR BMW INLINE POWER. HANDLING WAS GOOD, BUT I DIDNT PUSH IT VERY HARD. STRENGTHS: STYLING WEAKNESS: LEGROOM, HEADROOM, ROAD NOISE, AVERAGE ACCELERATION BOTTOM LINE: A GOOD FIRST EFFORT, BUT WAIT FOR NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS. YOUD BE STUPID TO PAY STICKER PRICE FOR THIS CAR!

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  A good car that could be great. - 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
  By norwhoski - February 24 - 10:00 am

  Several small things that could be better and one BIG one. Headlight switch is VERY stiff. I have problems with my hands and it is very hard to use this switch. The sun visor cant be swiveled to use on the side windows. The seats are BAD. Not just uncomfortable but on a trip of any duration you will have to adjust the seat several times or just stop and get out to give your back a break. The drivers seat has lots of adjustments but if you are 6 or over you will have to move the seat all the way back to get in or out, and it can take for ever to get the seat adjusted again. It needs a memory system for the seat.