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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  Stay away - 1998 Chrysler Sebring
  By D Reynolds - February 11 - 2:00 am

  DO NOT BUY THIS VEHICLE... is all I can say. I only bought it a few months ago and have nothing but transmission problems and brakes problems and now it is making all kinds of rattle noises. I wish I could take it back.....

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  Great car - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Jeff - February 10 - 7:43 pm

  Bought my mother age 78 a Stock 4 door PT Cruiser. The car came Nicely equipped and rides like a bigger car. The 4 cylinder is bigger than most. It has full size 15 inch wheels and lots of head and legroom. The new interior is excellent for the 2006 model year. She got the car for $2200 down and $120 a month for a 27 month lease. Great deal on a 4 door sedan.

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  PT ruined 2 holidays with malfunctions. - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By dutchman - February 10 - 2:30 pm

  We fell for the shape of the PT. thus far we had two major failures (engine management system blocked the car because of blocked fuel line??. replaced spark plugs and cables (myself, check the costs!)) and have had the antenna replaced 4 times. Still dont have reception, only in larger populated areas. Consumption in congested cities like where we live is absolutely sky-high. We hit the 14.1 liter/100km every so often. Doors creak terribly, it wakes our sleeping son in the backseat. Materials are bad: seat material stains with water (unbelievable but true!),dashboard creaks,a rattle inside te steering column. Good things? The looks, but the novelty wears quickly. The headroom in the back

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  Beautiful car - 1998 Chrysler Concorde
  By TinaJ - February 9 - 2:00 am

  This car has the most luxurious interior of any other car Ive driven. It has great looks and comfort. Thats about all its got. At 55,000 Ive replaced the rotors, brakes, tie rods, transmission fluid and filter. The check engine light comes on for no reason. The power window motors have been replaced and the speakers work intermittently. Im at the mechanics every other week for some reason or another.

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  Great car for the money - 1997 Chrysler LHS
  By bellmar - February 8 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car used ( 1 yr. old ) for $19,000 in 1998. It has been a great car. Lots of room, plenty of pickup. The traction control and anti lock brakes are a plus. Only problem has been warped rotors which may have more to do with the wifes driving than the car. :) As long as you keep up the maintenance you should fare well with this car. Gas mileage is good for such a large car. If they still made this car I would consider buying one again.

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  Worst Car Ever - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Christina - February 7 - 12:36 pm

  I had a 2001 Hyundai Elantra before this car and never had as many issues as Ive had with the PT Cruiser. Granted I purchased it used, but within two days of purchasing it the mechanical issues began. Ive had to replace the torque converter, battery, PVC hose, a torn CV joint and front left axle. It makes a grinding noise between 45-60mph, vibrates during idle and starting first thing in the morning, and this morning it almost stalled on me while driving 75mph. Its also very uncomfortable. I feel like I am sitting on a bag of rocks. This is the only car Ive driven where you have to push up for the wipers, not down and the window controls are in the center of the vehicle.A true lemon

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  Mechanical Junk - 1996 Chrysler LHS
  By crushrocks - February 7 - 2:00 am

  This is a comfortable car with good performance. However mechanically is leaves a lot to be desired. You name it and it has gone wrong on this car. The crowning event was went a frost plug on the engine started to leak. No big deal I thought until I was told that the transmission had to be dropped to get to it. I had this diagonisis confirmed before I had the work done. I wrote to Chrysler to see if I could get some compensation but they basically said "drop dead, it is out of warranty". This is the last Chrysler product I will ever buy.

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  One for GENX - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Mperon93 - February 6 - 12:33 am

  It is the perfect car for the non- minivan yet not another car person. To me all cars today look alike. I wanted something that stands out. This car does. You get the feeling of a sports car via the and yet there is enough room for the kids like in a mini-van. It took me a while to find a car that would satisfy all of my driving needs and this car definetly did it.

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  Dream Cruiser - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By buggman - February 5 - 10:00 am

  Great car, awesome styling, fun to drive. Always get looks, where ever you are.

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  2005 Conv. Cruiser - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Charles - February 5 - 6:10 am

  The car has been nothing but fun. The windows opening with the door has been a pain here in northern Michigan. The water pump has just been replaced. But all in all it has just been fun!