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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  Drives Like a Dream - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Leon Remington - April 11 - 10:03 am

  It drives like a dream. I can drive miles without the leg pain and back pain that I get when driving other vehicles. There is always extra power if needed. I can set the cruise control and watch the miles disappear.

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  WOW - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By MDV - April 11 - 10:00 am

  Extremely comfortable and a real head- turner. Impressed with handling and performance; DaimlerChrysler/Mercedes has a winner with the Pacifica!

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  Top Notch Vehicle - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Rollin - April 10 - 3:30 am

  Have owned this vehicle for about two months now and Im pleased with our decision. Did not need to trade but like this model since it was first offered. One gets the "Mercedes" feel when driving. Having been a Mercedes owner for several years when working and driving in excess of 50,000 miles per year I know the ropes. Only negative thus far is gas mileage which is around 16-17 mpg. Great safety feel and comfort. Most of the needed add ons are standard. Great vehicle.

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  The Best Car EVER - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By limartinez - April 9 - 8:58 am

  I got my PT in 2006, when it had only 57 miles on it. It has 156,000 miles on it. I have pushed it to its limits and then some. I moved from WI to TX and hauled 9x its max load pulling a trailer. The car did not give out not even when I knew I broke the engine. Literally. Never did it leave me or my family on the side of the road. Best Car I have Ever Owned. I rebuilt the old engine and purrrrrs like a kitty....

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  outstanding - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By kathleen collins - April 8 - 11:06 pm

  this vehicle has exceeded expectations. the ride is great, handling superior and the safety ratings speak for themselves. I have 30,000 miles on the vehicle with no major problems. all I have done is change the oil and rotate the tires.The one real surprise was how helpful the GPS system is. I will not buy another vehicle without it. The day I purchased the vehicle I test drove the honda pilot, toyota highlander and the pacifica. The pilot was third, the highlander was a very close second, but the pacifica was much more vehicle for what I paid. The highlander and the pacifica came in close in price, but the pacifica had many more features (options) and a better warranty.

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  Luv My Car !!! - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Linda - April 8 - 12:06 pm

  Traded in my beautiful 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (a bit large) for this compact 2-seater and have absolutely NO regrets! Gas savings is a big plus, but the car handles great and looks great and is HEAVENLY with the top down. Even though I look like 007 while the top does its thing.

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  2003 PT Cruiser GT turbo - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Grant Watson - April 4 - 8:43 am

  A very fine car, I enjoy driving it very much. The only thing I have any problem with is seeing the instruments in day-time. I thought I should get better city mpg.

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  Luv my convertible - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By magoo - April 1 - 11:56 pm

  Had a Porsche Boxster S and traded it for this car--best decision I have made when car shopping! It handles like a dream and the graphite grey color is beautiful with all the metal flake! I thought the luggage was a nice touch and very unexpected on my part.

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  2005 Pacifica - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Robyn - March 31 - 12:40 am

  This vehicle is extremely nice and comfortable. The design was well thought out. It drives like a car and not so much like a minivan. It is very sporty looking and was a nice transition for me from a minivan (where I felt a little frumpy driving it).

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  a sweet ride - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By phat pharm - March 28 - 10:00 am

  The car only had a 300 mile break in on the mitsubishi engine, and I havent been beaten at a stop light since!!!