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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  Second Sebring Convertible - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By Al@MYR - January 31 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Sebring Convertible--I had a 1996 JXI. My 96 had absolutely no problems--zero--in 97,000 miles. My 2004 Limited has 3200 miles on it so far, and no problems have been noted with it either. Unfortunately, Chrysler cheapened the interior. The heater/ac controls look like they were lifted from a Soviet tractor, and the top-of-the-line radio has no combination cassette/CD feature like the old one. The power outlet is also crude, having no cover (even my Dodge truck has this), just a black rubber stopper. The carpet no longer has vinyl heel pads.

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  Reliable car - 1998 Chrysler Cirrus
  By Jim Erickson - January 31 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car new. It has been very reliable. I now have 129000 miles on it. Be careful about transmission fluid on this vehicle. You MUST use Chrysler transmission fluid, or you will damage the transmission. The manual warns of this, and they arent kidding.

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  LHS Review - 2000 Chrysler LHS
  By Rebel - January 31 - 2:00 am

  My 2nd LHS great, comfortable and safe Roomy back for guests

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  Want Another 300 - 2004 Chrysler 300M
  By Gordon Kay - January 31 - 2:00 am

  I have 115000 miles on my 99 300M. It runs better and better each day. It handles great especially since I installed the extra firm touring shocks & struts at 90000 miles...sticks to the road like glue.

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  Car Guy gets his gal a car. - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Ace Gere - January 30 - 3:53 pm

  I remember this cars info commercial. I really liked it then. Then the WRX came out and I forgot about the PT. Now that Im married with a child the PT looked like a good choice. But, my wife did not want a hatchback. So, we were looking at small cars like Hyundai Sonata or Dodge Stratus. Loved the Sonata but out of my price range. (broke college student) When an old friend at a dealership pointed it out I thought my wife would shoot it down. Instead the willy old carsales man gets her into a Turbo Touring and she fell in love. We could not afford that one without braking the bank. They did have a certified used Non-turbo Touring. we bought it for less than $12,000. we love it.

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  Utter junk - 1998 Chrysler Sebring
  By Sebring is worthless - January 30 - 2:00 am

  I have never had a car I hated so much. Low profile tires cause the rims to bend at every pothole - 5 flat tires and one blow out. Ground clearance is horrid, it doesnt clear cement parking guides. The brakes continually squeal, even when new. Shakes constantly, and starting to make noises. Front seats are too small for most men [fine for me, as I am a smaller woman]. Speakers buzz and shake with louder volume. Horn is difficult to blow. Just yuk, yuk, yuk!!!! Also, turning radius sucks.

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  Great car for little money - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By David Aron Andrews - January 30 - 2:00 am

  The overall perfomance and value ration is very high in this car. The 2.7 liter engine ( although undersized ) shows a very smooth torque curve starting at low rpm. This translates in a smooth and fairly quick car. Were this car really stands out is in the comfort category. There is more room inside the car then most cars in its class. The seats are great, the build quality is far better than expected. The interior is very quiet even at high way speeds.

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  Awesome Ride! - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By KLP1102 - January 29 - 7:16 am

  Weve even been to California and back, Since we had no problems, Three of us rode comfortably and had room for all the stuff, Were off to Nevada next! Our Nieces & Nephews even Love to cruise in it as much as we do.

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  Initial experience is quite nice - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Anonymous - January 28 - 10:25 pm

  We are driving this care for a month now, had a Sienna before and temporarily a Kia Sedona for comparison. It offers a nice, convenient ride, modern look, good accessibility and view from the drivers seat. We have the bigger LCD display and the rear camera is excellent. Rear cross traffic alert and blind spot warning work very well. The nine speed transmission doesnt allow manual intervention, but it is programmed well and has been working fine under all conditions so far. Gas mileage on highways is better than with previous minivans, in the city/suburbs the same. Overall we can recommend it as a stylish family shuttle that is sufficiently fun to drive.

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  Fun to drive - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Margaret Hustava - January 28 - 6:50 am

  Cruising on the freeway is great. I have the 3.5L and if i need to get around somebody on the freeway its got power and im gone. The braking system is awesome. It is by far the best braking vehicle ive ever driven.