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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  Nice SUV but read this before you buy? - 2008 Chrysler Aspen
  By Ms. Frugal - May 28 - 2:57 pm

  I really do like my 2008 Aspen but I wish I would have noticed a few things before I purchased it. #1, the sunroof does not go all the way back as in flush. Therefore, it causes a bit of noise that will require a wind deflector. #2, The Antenna, I dont know how I missed this but being as though none of my past models had it, it just slipped by. But, why in 2008 are there still visible antennas? Its really annoying going through a car wash! #3, Even though it is an SUV, it SUCKS gas like crazy. I did get the Hemi engine but I dont stomp on the pedal at all. A full tank of gas gets you about 350-375 miles, so I guess its not to bad but dont forget the 5.7 engine requires 89 octane gas!!!

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  Accident Problems? - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Steve - May 26 - 8:46 pm

  Love my 06 300C but recently had a freak problem with only 22K miles on the car. Accelerator assembly (gas pedal) broke loose and jammed behind the brake resulting in not being able to stop and a rear end accident at less than 10 mph occurred. The front end looked trashed but worse resulted in $7K worth of body work plus $5.4K+ for a used Hemi motor (mine was out of balance after the impact) and a used $2.4K transmission. This low impact resulted in > $14K in repair and the car has not run right since. Chrysler has turned a deaf ear on this incident even thought it is fully documented. Lost my shirt on the residual value, time to dump and buy foreign at any cost.

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  My New 2006 Chrysler 300 - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Chrysler 300 - May 26 - 5:30 pm

  I have driven my 2006 Chrysler 300 for about a week. I bought it from a fleet dealer. I did not know that it had a small engine since I really dont know much about cars and I fell in love with the cars appearance. It seems to lack power, its OK but i need a little more get up and go...! I guess I just have to get used to it. Drives noisy like a airplane taking off!

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  2.7 litre engine stinks on 98 Concorde - 1998 Chrysler Concorde
  By Pamalama - May 26 - 3:07 pm

  I loved my Concorde and would never have dreamed that 2 years after I purchased it and paid off a $9,000.00 dollar loan I wouldnt be driving it anymore. The engine blew unexpectedly. I have heard so many people now say that the 2.7 engine stinks and the car engine was not built correctly. I cant believe Chrysler has not opted to help the customer out and recall these cars because of this, I work hard for my money and now have to sink my money into another car. Do not buy a Chrysler Concorde with a 2.7 engine, they stink.

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  Wow, What A Surpise - 2001 Chrysler Sebring
  By MissShona - May 24 - 11:55 pm

  A couple of weeks ago I brought a 01 Sebring LX. I was on a tight budget but I still wanted a "cool" car. I never knew a Chrysler would fit the bill! Although I have an LX, it has the V-6 engine. This is my first automatic car but its so peppy I almost dont miss shifting. Passing and acceleration are no problem. Its comfortable on long road trips. It looks amazing for a 7 year old car. I was considering the Mitsubishi Eclipse from around the same years and this car was thousands cheaper than the Mitsubishi Eclipse GT (but with the same engine). The exterior looks very classy too.

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  Just telling it how it is - 2000 Chrysler Concorde
  By Rell - May 24 - 11:29 am

  I purchased my Concorde in 2006. Id been looking for one for over 6 months. When I found this one it rode out smooth, everything worked and it had 121,000 miles on it. Ive since had it for almost three years and with it being used Ive loved having it. Ive never had to fix it, I used high mileage oil for performance and keep all my fluids changed as suggested. I love my Concorde.

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  What a wagon! - 2007 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Mr Mapes - May 22 - 10:08 pm

  Test drove 2005 & 2006 models before falling for the 2007 model with 4.0 and six speed automatic. Bought a fleet car with 24,000. Just finished a 2500 mile trip. Average city MPG is 18.5 and 26 MPG on the highway doing 75. Would get 32 if I kept it at 60-65. 10% ethanol cuts mileage by 10-20%. Tons of room in front and 2nd row. Acceleration is great. Havent driven in the snow, but dont have any worries based on experience to date. It has the capacity of full size SUV, with gas mileage of mid-sized sedan.

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  Maximum Bang for the Buck - 2007 Chrysler 300
  By ML - May 22 - 8:43 pm

  Absolutely love the car. You cant beat the value here. Where else, besides the other SRT8s, can you get a 425hp motor, race tuned suspension and Brembos for around $40k? Nowhere! Exterior styling isnt my favorite, but it gets tons of compliments. Interior is well laid out, other then the cruise control stalk, but material quality could be better. As far as performance goes, this car easily keeps up with the German performance sedans and annihilates the American and Japanese ones. That goes for acceleration, which goes without saying, but also handling, where the SRT8 puts up handling numbers, comparable to the M5, and that shame cars such as the E55 and STS-V. Very impressive.

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  Hard to go wrong - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Ozzallos - May 20 - 6:06 pm

  Purchased this vehicle as high mileage fleet, and have very few complaints. The interior is comfy, the storage capacity positively huge. Ive had one burnt out turn signal and a wiper replacement in the year Ive owned it so far and its handled, all the weather Indiana could throw at it.

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  2006 Crossfire - 2006 Chrysler Crossfire
  By shypoke - May 16 - 11:04 pm

  Excellent car for a two seater. Get a seat cushion for long trips if your back end is bony like mine. Use high-heel gel pads for your elbows (at the obvious places). I looked at lots of this type of car... wouldnt have anything else.