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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  Best Car Ive Owned to 212K miles! - 2000 Chrysler Grand Voyager
  By JustJim - October 28 - 9:30 am

  My faithful Dodge caravan will finally have to be replaced. It lasted 212,000 miles and over 10 years! I have hauled everything in this car, been stuck in it for up to 3 hours a day NYC driving, and driven it through 10 NY winters. It has been great. My wife owned one first and we kept that one for 140k miles. Air went at 180k on my car and 140k on hers. Thats about it. Cost about $8k less than the SUVs when I bought it, and have done everything from camp out of it to commute at 65 mph day in and day out. Kept me safe in one deer/car crash.

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  Outstanding Car at a great price - 2002 Chrysler Concorde
  By ejwilliamson - October 27 - 2:00 am

  Love this car and everything about it.. I drive a truck and this is my wives car and I always look forward to geatting to drive it. The amount of room inside is great, even if you sit behind me (62") there is still plenty of room. Plan on keeping this car a long time..

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  A problem Minivan - 2002 Chrysler Voyager
  By donf - October 26 - 1:00 am

  After six months the power steering hose broke.The steering vibrated and couldnt be fixed after many new parts and several attempts.Now,after only 18000 miles the transmission isnt shifting right and is making noises.Im glad to have traded it in.

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  TOO MUCH ROAD NOISE!! - 1999 Chrysler 300M
  By Paint Sales Rep. - October 26 - 1:00 am

  My 99 300M is a company car. I drive 700 to 900 miles a week. All in all its not a bad car. I have had no problems in the first 50,000 mi. I find the ride very hard. The seats too firm and far too much road noise. The sound system is great. Probably not the car I would buy if given the choice. But would not rule it out.

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  Conservative Show Off - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Don Yates - October 25 - 9:50 pm

  Everytime I return to my car in public parking there are people admiring it and asking questions. I say the car matches my personality. Aggressive, fast, yet highly sophisticated! People usually walk away at that point! I doubt Ferrari owners get this level of attention!

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  MarkB - 2001 Chrysler 300M
  By MarkPB - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Best car I ever owned. Fun to drive, comfortable on long trips. Reliable. 45k miles with no service except oil, tires & front brakes. (brakes at 40k)

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  Problems With Design Of Car - 2004 Chrysler 300M
  By Frederick Jacobs - October 25 - 2:00 am

  First the front end sits to low to the ground,when you pull into a parking space watch out for the cement tire stop because your bumper skirt will go over it and when you back up it hangs up and tears it loose from where it is fasten to the fender with screws and will scrape the paint off every time . The second thing there is a MAJOR SAFETY HAZZARD in this car that at the time of purchase they dont tell you about and that is until you read your owners manual will you find out it has to do with people that have pacemakers or know some one with one before riding in this vehicle, it has to do with the TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTOM.

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  nice car - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By mkremedy - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I love everything about the car, except for the fuel economy and I wish the car had more engine power. I will buy a second one when this lease is over.

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  My 300 - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Darius - October 25 - 2:00 am

  On the original wheels and tires it is a very smooth ride. The ride is a little bit more rough when you move up to 20" rims and low-riding tires. Has good power, but is a little sluggish in disingaging the overdrive.

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  the best yet!!!!! - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Daniela Rendon - October 24 - 10:50 am

  Overall this car is the best car yet!!! i am very satisfied with its exterior and interior looks. the only thing is that when stopped at a red light is sometimes shakes like it wants to turn off. that is something that others drivers have expressed as well to me.