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:

• 

  Good lookin, fun car that is reliable - 1997 Chrysler Sebring
  By P. Robert - February 23 - 2:00 am

  Weve put 82,000 miles on our 97 LXi with only a few minor problems. All in all, we have been very happy with it. We live in an area that experiences harsh winter weather. The car handles snow great...and, after years of all- weather driving, still not a single spot of rust! In fact, it still looks new and everything works as well as it did when it came from the dealer.

• 

  Concorde - 2004 Chrysler Concorde
  By Boltonfn - February 23 - 2:00 am

  I had a 1998 Concorde also. I love the car!!! Never had a problem. Lots of room. Safe car

• 

  my chrysler - 1998 Chrysler Sebring
  By your daddy - February 22 - 2:00 am

  great car until 90,000 miles. Also, expensive to repair due to mitsubishi parts.

• 

  This is a great Car - 2004 Chrysler 300M
  By Cate - February 22 - 2:00 am

  This car has lots of get up and go, we travel back and forth to NYC and Boston quite often and I can honestly say it is a great ride! This car is very comfortable and you feel like your sitting on a cloud. The Stereo system is awesome. The back seat is large and roomy and the access to the trunk is a major plus when your on the road. Leather seat heaters heat quite fast.

• 

  Love my red badger cruiser - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By jeffrey p nygaard - February 21 - 4:56 am

  I bought my cruiser in July of 08 and its been running like a new car even though its had a lady bang into the drivers side doors. Before I even took it home I took it to Minnesota and my relatives said its really nice!

• 

  Lots of Fun - 2004 Chrysler 300M
  By BillyBBB - February 21 - 2:00 am

  Over-all, my 300M offers me a lot of car for the buck but the radio and the CD Player have each had their time to blow and therefore both were replaced within three months of one-another. Also, little noises from the dash would come and go. While these little rattles didnt interfere with performance, they were annoying and of course when I would bring the car to the dealer, the noises would suddenly disappear. The car has a lot of power for its size, it responds well and I continue to enjoy driving it (with the exception of the occasional rattles).

• 

  The Gangsters Helped - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By tfakehany - February 20 - 10:06 pm

  Attitude, humor and styling are what this vehicle is all about. PT Cruiser owners are a cult unto their own. The car is neither too big nor little. The seats are neither too hard nor soft. The engine is neither too powerful or a pussy cat. Owning a PT Cruiser is an adventure into selfish realism and being an owner of such an “AG” colored vehicle is youthful, courageous and magnificent. And that is all I have to say.

• 

  Drive it you will buy it. - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Frances Ann Nagel - February 20 - 9:10 am

  This car has it all. POWER, STYLE, Comfort,AAAAAAAAAAA plus. If youre a soccer mom who is tired of van after van, This ride is for you. I have three kids and have driven van after van for 11 years, boring. I bought my Pacifica a year ago , Know problems it rocks. Ill buy another one for sure. Drive it youll buy it. Dont let your husband drive it or you will never get it back. ha ha ha. I used to build high performance cars many years ago. Stock it Rocks Snow driving used to be no fun. Now I have fun and saftey isnt an issue.

• 

  Upgrade From Town & Country - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By pftaylor - February 19 - 10:00 am

  I couldnt pass up the $5,500 in manufacturer incentives on top of the dealer discount. $4K from Chrysler, $1K from Chrylser Financial, plus a $500 eCertificate from Chrysler. I was basically able to get a fully loaded Pacifica for the cost of a striped one. The Pacifica is a real winner in almost every category when compared to any other SUV on the market.

• 

  Perfect car for me! - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Vanillla - February 19 - 10:00 am

  I am a traveling saleman. This car is the perfect size to get me through traffic and is very comfortable for a long haul. The turbo make it easy to merge onto the highway and the gas mileage is good. If you need a traveling office, this is the perfect car. Its a car or truck when you need it.