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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  Fun in the Sun - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Daelen - June 23 - 7:56 pm

  I have wanted a convertible all my life, and am not a bit sorry I chose this one. It handles beautifully, has a smooth comfortable ride, the bucket seats cradle you. The single latch one button operation for the top couldnt be simpler. This is not a good rainy day car, water will run off the top into open doors or windows due to no gutters on a ragtop, and rain will also run off the lid into the trunk. The turbo model has good pickup, and there is enough room in the trunk for 2 peoples weekend luggage. If they could improve the fuel economy even a little it would make this car the best in its class. Having the Glove Box lock and unlock with the doors would be a really nice feature.

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  My Dream Come True - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By DragonLady - June 23 - 5:20 pm

  After dreaming for 2 years, I finally got my PT Cruiser!! I love to look, the comfort, the sound system, and the drivability. My friends are so jealous. I have so much fun its like when I bought my first car as a teenager. Everyone should have this much fun.

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  Problem with manual transmission - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Myers1 - June 22 - 2:40 pm

  I am very disappointed in the durability of the clutch. I had to have it replaced at the dealership at 23,000 miles. It cost around a thousand dollars and is not covered under the warranty. I was told by the dealership that I was probably "riding the clutch". I have owned four cars with manual transmissions (all Hondas) and have never had any problem other than normal clutch wear. I am curious if others have experianced the same problem?

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  2000 Chrysler LHS - 2000 Chrysler LHS
  By Mike Caldwell - June 22 - 2:00 am

  I traded a 94 Cadillac Seville for this car. The Chrysler has more options than the Cadillac and is much cheaper to operate. Gas milage is about 28- 30mpg on the highway depending on my speed. At 70-75 it usually gets around 27-28 mpg.

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  The best car I have owned - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Matt DiGiambattista - June 21 - 4:36 am

  Great car ! Its big fast and corners like a much smaller car . What more could you want out of a car?

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  Love My 2015 Chrysler 300 (3.6 L 6 cyl 8A) - 2015 Chrysler 300
  By Rick - June 21 - 3:01 am

  My Chrysler 300 has been great so far. It is very comfortable, gets great gas mileage, handles very well and has sufficient power to do whatever I need. I appreciate the quiet cabin and enjoy the luxury that it provides. The U Connect is a great feature and is easy to understand. This is my third 300. Of the three, this is my favorite. I believe I got a great deal at the Harry Blackwell Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram Dealership in Dexter Mo. Billy and Seth were great to work with and I would highly recommend them.

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  Poor gas mileage - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Dick Daniel - June 19 - 7:16 am

  While the 300C is a great vehicle, the only real complaint is the lack of gas mileage any where near that stated in the literature. Combined mileage for 6 Months averaged 16 MPG with travel being 60% highway and 40% city. Even the dealer knew what my complaint would be when I took the car in for routine service. Other than that, only minor electrical problems at delivery due to a shorted cable connector in the truck.

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  I love it! - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Bobbi - June 19 - 2:00 am

  We wanted an all wheel drive vehicle with room for at least 6. When we started looking, we were really turned off by the truck based SUVs. They drove like trucks and were incredibly plain on the inside. The Pacifica handles like a car. It rides like a car. The interior is gorgeous. It is the perfect mix of luxury car and SUV. We have every option except the hands-free phone, and yet it wasnt anymore expensive than a Ford Explorer. We had also looked at the Acura MDX, but when we added in all the options we wanted, the MDX got really pricey. Besides, the Pacifica had much better pick up than the MDX.

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  Mellifluous! - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Brouhahaataja - June 17 - 2:00 am

  Mellifluous means "smooth and sweet, like honey." Thats this car. I got it a couple days ago and it has been an absolute joyance. The amount of features is incredible, the most important being the nice ride. Bumps that used to torture my old cars are all but forgotten in this one (I mean, you feel them, but you dont FEEL them). Yes, it has its negatives--a light weight that makes me question its winter fortitude, and 20-25 mpg is a lot less than what Im used to--but I kept my old car for those things. Overall, though, its a great car. Granted, I havent had it very long--but if anything goes awry, Ill be sure to write back!

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  Great Car - 1999 Chrysler Concorde
  By mjsais - June 13 - 2:00 am

  This car has been great. Its only problem was the driver (small front-end collission). Mechanicaly everything has performed very well. Comfort is great. Looks are excellent. Noise is a little higher since I added a K&N air filter. Brake pedal is a little soft, would love to get a little more resistance when pressed. Overall, the car is everything that I wanted. I dont understand why JPPower rates this car average.