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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  Young Again!!! - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Gregory F.Smith Sr. - November 4 - 10:06 pm

  Needs lockable console compt. Only getting 11-12 mpg in town, acceleration grabs when given gas, needs diferent tires upgraded, needs tinted side windows darker. It is a fun car to drive, outside of suvs and pickups, this is the first regular car I have bought since a new 1964 Pontiac gto with 3 duces, so I am really feeling young again. Chrysler has a real keeper here!!! Keep it up!!!

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  Nice Car But - 2002 Chrysler 300M
  By cjd - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I enjoy the ride and handling of this car.I have been a chevy person for years but fell in love with looks and power. Overall it is a very nice car but I am having no luck with it. I have had the cam and crankshaft sensors replaced. The sound system is the worst 360 watts???? I have had to replace the transmission cooling lines 2 times in 20000 miles.I agree with the guy about the snow mobile in the trunk. The tires are a big mistake for a car in the northeast. I want my montecarlo back but this car looks great so I will keep it and hope it runs for a couple of years.

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  i have 2006 coverablie love when i get to put t - 2006 Chrysler Sebring
  By susan daley - November 3 - 9:02 pm

  best car ever never gave me anyproblems

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  Awesome vehicle; good price! - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By pacgrrl - November 2 - 5:10 pm

  I had no interest in the Pacifica; had heard nothing about it; wanted a Subaru....then I got inside...and then took it for a ride...It won me over! I needed some hauling space, but also wanted comfort for people riding in the back seat...and we even have a comfortable and usable 3rd row seat! Plenty of leg and seat room (for shorter adults, and still enough room in the trunk area for a cooler and some gear for 6 people. Excellent ride comfort; good for cruising the highway and it handles well on back roads. Fun to drive, comfortable, great looking interior, and AWD...hard to beat! Chrysler, whoda thunk it?

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  Super Automobile - 1998 Chrysler Concorde
  By imntacrook - November 2 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned every car imaginable and this is the best ever, in every respect. After 90000 miles its time to move on - Prius is next, but the Chrysler was great.

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  cool ride - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By david macdonald - October 31 - 9:23 pm

  I simply love this car, it rides smooth and quiet, has plenty of power, get more attention than I need or want. Talk about a chick magnent! The top works smooth and with no effort.The sound system is great!

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  WOW - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Ric W - October 31 - 2:16 pm

  I have discovered that the need for "TURBO" is no need at all. The 5 speed has just as much pickup, and is much more affordable.

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  YUP - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By DSDSDS - October 31 - 10:00 am

  GREAT CAR FOR THE $$$

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  To many times in the shop - 2001 Chrysler Voyager
  By otho - October 31 - 2:00 am

  I bought it with 45,000 on it and already have had a speed sensor go bad, alternator die, sterring linkage continous poping, and A/C compressor also go bad. I cannot rely on this van. I feel as if something else will go wrong. What is next?

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  hope i did the right thing - 2000 Chrysler 300M
  By phil e - October 29 - 2:00 am

  Had a 2000 Intrepid, cinnamon glaze,nice color loved it very much but I was afraid about the 2.7 engine problems. So I traded the car for the 300M same color. Many, many, more options, fun to drive, handles as good as my Corvette. With the 3.5, 250 hp engine and auto stick couldnt be more fun to drive. I have the car for one month so far, so good. Now I have the best of both worlds.