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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  EXCELLENTE - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Dude151 - September 6 - 2:00 am

  This is an awesome car! It has all you need

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  Awesome! - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By MYfavcar120 - September 6 - 2:00 am

  This has to be the Best Car in the World!

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  Dont Expect Too Much - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By techshark - September 5 - 11:33 pm

  We have a 2001 PT Cruiser. While its fun to look at it is seriously underpowered and has lots of issues. Despite that we have a "bumper to bumper" extended warranty, it never seems to cover any of the issues and each service is several hundred dollars a time and at least $100 to diagnose. The car has a VERY dangerous blind spot so you must adjust the mirrors exactly and take your eyes off the road to look behind you in both directions to change lanes. The car is so underpowered that it cannot make more than 60 mph up a hill with 2 people in it. The gas mileage is on its best day 20 mpg highway so dont buy this for fuel economy. If all you want is styling, this is the car for you.

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  frustratrated - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By tman - September 5 - 10:46 am

  sqeeking brakes and a banging noise whenever i hit a road bump of any size. invested about 2000.00 in repairs and still the same.dealer mechanics cant find anything wrong.. anybody out there want to buy a cruser?

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  Still in Love - 2000 Chrysler Grand Voyager
  By Kwisk - September 5 - 10:00 am

  How is it possible for Chrysler to keep improving on the mini-van. Usually after so many years a model is "let go". Still smoother than many luxury cars, comfortable for even the longest trip. In 80,000 km. of driving there was one small warranty repair. People cant believe how easily the sliding doors work even after all this time.

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  TOO MUCH HYPE - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By jomiwin - September 5 - 10:00 am

  Not a bad car- No power when a/c is on-

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  6 months and 16kmi & no probs!!!!! - 2002 Chrysler Concorde
  By moparaustin - September 5 - 2:00 am

  It is a large car, that averages 20.5 mpg with maybe 40-45% (65mph is less than 2k rpm) highway driving. It has space for 5 adults and ALL their stuff. The trunk is like a cavern. Preformance is excellent for 234hp an auto, and being a relatively large car. Fantastic brakes also. There has been one warranty repair, and that was because the antenna is in the rear window, and when the rear defrost was on it had a little static if listening to the radio, no biggie. Slightly rough idle, but is very reliable. You get a very nicely finished car for a great price, but you get a slightly rough idle that runs excellently. I see no problem there.

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  Limited availability means no sale - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Bob Tucker - September 4 - 8:25 pm

  This is an all around great car. I was really to buy a touring L plus, but was unable to find one from a reputable dealer. Now Im waiting for the 2018 cars to arrive.

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  Cynz 300m - 2003 Chrysler 300M
  By Cynthia S - September 4 - 2:00 am

  I love the room in my car. The shape is awesome. I love the way it rides.

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  1999 Sebring Convertible - 1999 Chrysler Sebring
  By cupkake53 - September 4 - 2:00 am

  Love my car! Traded in a Buick Park Avenue for my Sebring, thought I would really miss the comfort of the PA but have found that I get great gas mileage compared to the PA and have not really missed the size of the PA. Only negative aspect is the noise of the convertible comparatively speaking, but in defense of the Sebring I believe all convertibles would be noisier. Car drives like a dream, even on icy, snow covered roads, have never been stuck.