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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  My new car! - 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
  By LFW - December 1 - 2:00 am

  This is my second sports car, in 25 years. I love the fact that it is not fiberglass. It handles great. Love that I can turn off the passenger air bags, to beable to take my grand child in the car. Would never sell this car. We plan on keeping it forever...

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  Pacifica in Atlantica - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By m.chumsae - December 1 - 2:00 am

  Good handling, solid, quiet car. Good power but its not going to scare anyone. Quality feel throughout, stops easily for a heavy vehicle. Airbags everywhere. I dont mind the exhaust tone at all...think its rather sporty (except full throttle). All wheel drive has seamless execution.

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  Had I of known... - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By IN2SIRFIN - December 1 - 2:00 am

  The gas mileage is no where near what the window sticker says. And this was what I was looking for. As I drive to San Diego on weekends, I needed good mpg. I didnt get it. Fun car to drive. Might have been happieer with the Turbo model, but not for what they were asking for it. The salesman said the turbo model got less MPG, later the service tech, said the Turbo got better.

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  Chrysler is Up and Coming - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By Hairlady - December 1 - 2:00 am

  After driving Ford for several years, my husband and I decided on a Chrysler product. And to find Chrysler has out done the others in many ways. Other items that cost extra on other cars, come standard on the Chrysler. And not only fun to drive, the 2004 Sebring LXI is a very comfortable car, with the V6 it has enough get up, one would think it had 8 cylinders under that hood.

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  Baby Boomer Fun Car - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By wts - December 1 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive. We get alot of looks. We own the GT TURBO with 220 HP. Im afraid my wife will get a speeding ticket. Very quick, handles great. More room than it appears to have.

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  Ive seen the light - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By EddieC - December 1 - 2:00 am

  This looks, drives, and feels like a 60K sedan and cost half as much. The ride in this car is superior to the Lexus that I traded in and the performance is outstanding.

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  Treat Yourself (no one else will ;-) - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By P. Goldman - November 30 - 2:50 pm

  Pure joy. 60s USA muscle meets 21st century Mercedes hi-tech & refinement. Quiet, smooth, luxury comfort w/ enough get-up-and-go to scare my wife! Havent been in snow yet, but expect AWD offers the the same foul weather reliability as my old SUV. The "Bentley Lite" exterior styling is solid & bold, not stuffy. Per Car&Driver a Bentley has marginaly upscaled cup holders ... and can be yours for only about a 1/4 million more than a loaded 300C @~$40K. My advice: forget the "entry" models, spend $40K on a Hemi loaded up with options & feel like youre KING of the road! Without question the best luxury sedan value on the market by far - deserves its Car of the Year status.

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  Great Full-Size Value! - 1998 Chrysler Concorde
  By MDIII - November 30 - 2:00 am

  The car is a great value for the money. Mildly fun to drive and very well built, Extremely good gas mileage I got 27 MPG on the 3.2L V6. Never had a single problem with it!

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  Concorde limited - 2003 Chrysler Concorde
  By concorde owner - November 30 - 2:00 am

  This is the fourth Chrysler I owned in the last 11 years, and by for the best. It is ideal on long trips. Very large trunk space, good acceleration for a sedan, good fuel economy, and crusieds effortless at the legal speeds limits. Three adults are very comfortable on long trips in the rear seats. I would recommend this car for anyone wanting a first class touring sedan.

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  depreciation of car value - 2003 Chrysler 300M
  By ggracer67 - November 30 - 2:00 am

  I love my 300M, but thought that I could go from an SUV to a car. Now almot 1 year later, I am trying to trade in my car and have been laughed at. My value went down almost $13,000 in 9 months. I have never heard of anything so crazy. I have had a few other minor things go wrong, but otherwise like my car. I love the look and the shape of the car.