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:

• 

  The Lang account - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Lang - July 21 - 7:40 am

  I love to drive it around every where. Every where I go I get comments about how good it looks. It drives smooth and has awesome pick-up.Its a great little car with plenty of space in the back seat.

• 

  Nice Commuter Car - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By philip drayer - July 20 - 12:06 pm

  Its a nice car......has some wear and tear on the seats in the interior....lots of little dents on the body...maybe from hail? Its a good commuter car which is why I bought it.

• 

  1999 Sebring - 1999 Chrysler Sebring
  By Nissan Lover1 - July 20 - 2:00 am

  First Car, very Bad Expierence. Fuel Pump went bad at about 1,200 miles. Brakes have been a nagging problem from 7,500 to present. Engine sensor went bad at 8,500 Miles. Fuel Sensor went bad at 21,500 which shut the engine down when the brakes were apllied. Now have an ugly black tar leaking out from under the doors due to the heat. Should have spent 2,000 extra and went with toyota or nissian. I learned from this mistake but at a cost.

• 

  All about the sun - 2003 Chrysler Sebring
  By Roxi - July 20 - 2:00 am

  well brand new we purchased and within 2 weeks a fan belt had to be replaced. other wise a good car

• 

  Good Car - 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By BigCougar - July 18 - 4:06 pm

  I have the dream cruiser. I roll up my front and rear windows on the dash board. Unusual, but you get used to it. When I need the power I speed around other cars and leave them in the dust. I let it hang out around the curves. It is fun to drive. Mileage is not too good, but then what do you expect from a car with a turbo. It give me great performance. If you are looking for mileage conseder something else.

• 

  Great Car, aside from gas mileage - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By J.M. - July 17 - 3:30 pm

  Car is awesome, aside from terrible gas mileage. Fun to drive, real head turner, but gas mileage is worse than i imagined. I have been driving it very calmly and only getting 12 mpg

• 

  Worst car I ever owned - 1998 Chrysler Concorde
  By GregfromNJ - July 17 - 2:00 am

  Normally do not submit reviews, but this car was/is just so bad I cant help myself. 2 major problems before it hit 60k miles. Currently runs without an electronics, as the fuses all short out within a day of replacing. Local Chrysler dealer can not figure out whats wrong, so just told me to buy "alot of fuses". Various problems the car had to be towed twice. Air conditioner also broke down. $900 repair bill on that one. I dont have the nerve to sell it and burden another person with this vehicle. I will have to eat the 25G I lost on it. All the local dealer could tell me when I asked if this was a lemon was "parts go bad".

• 

  Why Im surprised - 2004 Chrysler 300M
  By Surprised also - July 17 - 2:00 am

  Back in the mid 80s I had bought a couple Chryslers and was basically very disappointed with the reliability, but boy have these cars come a long way since then! It has really been a pleasantry to see my 300M never break down the 90000 miles I have driven it. I have very much been impressed.

• 

  lemon - 2016 Chrysler 200
  By Emma Hanson - July 16 - 1:06 pm

  Bought the car brand new first month had to take it back when in cruse control going up a small sill will slow down about 7 miles form set control then coming down it will speed up over 12 miles and I say over cause I had to disengage the control to slow down, took it to the dealership and they told me it is the nature of the model. Three months later I took it in for problems with front passenger carpet they semi fixed it, a month later took it back in for same reason they replaced it, about six months later took it in for a nose on the nob shifter every time I stepped on the beak and only with the motor running if you stepped on the break and put it on drive it wouldnt happen, the fixed that, it was a censer in the shifter. Couple of moths later doing about 75mph down a busy Hwy I have a truck on my back when to accelerate to pass and get out of this trucks way, all my gages when haywire and car when from 75 to 45 check engine light came on and heat gage showed it was hot so I pulled over gave it a few minutes though well Ill limp to the nearest exit stepped on gas and guess what went back to 75 like nothing had just happened, however the check engine light stayed on so took it back in following morning after all this was on a Sunday, they checked it out said it was a censer in the transmission, fixed that got it back a week later, the day I got it back went home at home go put it in reverse there it set transmission would not engage, took it back next day they had the car for another week they couldnt fine nothing wrong cense then it shifts funny, and now just took it in for the carpet issue AGAIN. Im at the point that I dont know what to do any more I just know I dont want this car. I love the car the design of the car the looks but not all the problems Ive been having

• 

  This Concorde Still "Flying" - 1997 Chrysler Concorde
  By Orange County Bill - July 16 - 2:00 am

  Was "gifted" this former company car about a year ago. Has been well maintained with frequent oil changes and preventive maintenance. Runs great and has more pick-up than my 2002 Olds Aurora, with more or less the same size engine ( 3.5 ) I had a prior Concorde ( a 1993 model ) that had more problems including a transmission failure at about 60k miles. A few maint. issues such as the fuel gauge replaced, oxygen sensors ( twice ), and power steering pump. No problem with "drive-train" on this one. Overall, good value for the money.