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:

• 

  love the car - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By KellixPT - August 19 - 2:00 pm

  I love the car, has been great, knock on wood. Its stylish fun to drive, and very roomy. I used it to haul an oven the other day.

• 

  Not bad for a Cancer donation car - 1993 Chrysler Imperial
  By Badkitty - August 19 - 2:00 am

  This was a Cancer Donated car from a junk yard so I was taking my chances.111000 then,135000 now,owned 2yrs. Only have had to make normal repairs (brakes,waterpump,windsheild wiper motor replacement,etc)for a car this old and with this "many" miles! Only negative mechanical comment...rear automatic leveling system, doesnt last. 2nd Chrysler same problem. Know someone with same car,same problem. Solutionreplacing rear spirngs and putting in air shocks. Friend said this solved problem...no difference in ride.Other wise...Mechanicly.."A VERY DEPENDABLE CAR!". Even started everyday this past winter in -10deg weather,10 days in a row, "NO" hesitation!!!

• 

  Hmmm... - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Jo - August 18 - 3:13 pm

  After 1 year I am averaging 17 mpg I get excuses from service dept. "You dont drive it right, different emissions, only under certain circumstances. will you get good MPG, the car is new, others are getting less (and this is something to be proud of?) When will the fuel mileage increase? I even got a call from Chrysler Corp. More excuses...

• 

  Whats was I thinking? - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By Sam Wild - August 18 - 10:00 am

  Sold this car as soon as I could, the Quality is one of the worst Ive ever seen on a car. This was my 5th Chrysler and I think it will be may last one.

• 

  CAN I TRADE IT IN FOR A PINTO??? - 1995 Chrysler Cirrus
  By Rob Sexton - August 17 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned my 95 Cirrus LX for about 6 months and it has been in the shop 13 times - first the waterpump /seals/timing belt went out a week after I bought it ($800 to fix). I had the fuel pump/injector system replaced ($550 to fix). The computer system started failing. At this point Ive replaced 3 sensors (crankshaft mechanism sensor, and throttle position sensor twice, all at $200 a piece). I had a new computer put in it at over $700, and 3 days later it started failing again and is now currently in the shop being diagnosed at $70 per hour...my opinion? Chysler has designed a car that makes the Pinto seem like a Mercedes. Dont buy this car! EVER!

• 

  Great Choice ! - 1999 Chrysler Concorde
  By ercwrbbl - August 16 - 2:00 am

  It was just before closing on a Friday when I test drove the Concorde LXi. The salesman told me to keep it for the weekend. Since I was just looking I decided to take the nicest one on the lot. It was green with tan leather, moon-roof, CD etc... That was three years ago. Needless to say, I never returned the car.

• 

  Great Automobile! - 2000 Chrysler 300M
  By doo-wop62 - August 14 - 2:00 am

  My 300M is almost four years old, 75K miles, and has never needed a special service. The tires were just replaced, but all other equipment remain the original items. I have never had an automobile with this level of reliability, performance and value. It is also one of the most appealing looking cars on the highway...would purchase another one!

• 

  fun car - 1998 Chrysler Sebring
  By genlee - August 14 - 2:00 am

  Great car to own except for the audio system. That really isnt a problem for me anyway though since I am installin an all diamond audio setup. This car actually makes it funl to drive to work :)

• 

  Great Looking Car - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By KenSwenson - August 13 - 10:00 am

  The car is quite riding with solid construction. Nicely finished inside and out. Currently I have 7200 miles with no problems. The city fuel economy is a little less then I had hoped. Currently 20mpg in the city and 27mpg on the highway.

• 

  Love our Pacifica - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By David - August 13 - 9:06 am

  The car is super comfortable. My have has difficulties finding a comfortable driver and passenger seat in cars because of her lupus, but the touring l plus has fully adjustable power driver and passenger seats, the limited did too but the ventilated seats were too hard. Ours has the advanced safetytec package, and I highly recommend it.This car seems to help you monitor everything without be obtrusive or annoying. The rear seat entertainment system on the L Plus is great with games you can play, inputs to connect devices and ability to control rear climate settings.