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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  Good car - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By Matthew Hernandez - December 17 - 11:29 am

  this car has i believe a good interior but not a super fast car. meaning cant go from 0 to 100 in blink of an eye. i own one and like it. speakers are loud so dont have replace them, braking good acceleration is OK. overall give this car 6.8 out of 10

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  problem from the beginning - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By disappointed - October 29 - 2:43 pm

  My problem is that I have had multiple front end and suspension problems. In four years I have had multiple wheel bearing, three sets of lower control arms and numerous trips to the dealship complaining about the rattle in the front of my car. Now I have more suspension problems, a broken motor mount and a blow head gasket. It is a shame because I really love my car just hate the poor design.

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  Who would expect this... - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By chantel - October 8 - 6:53 pm

  I have had my Touring Ed. auto 4dr wagon since 5/05, bought brand new. Now with 3 years under my belt and a little less than 18,000 miles on my Cruiser. I have had more problems than I expected from it. OK just the other day my CD player went out but due to it being under the 3 years/36,000 miles warranty, I now cant get it fixed. I have a problem with the oil light coming on for no reason, I can turn the ignition off and back on and the light will not come back on. The dealership tells me they cant find anything wrong. I have had it (while sitting at a red light) rumble, shake and RPM gauge fluctuate. I guess it could be worse. I hope this isnt a sign of things to come though.

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  What a disappointment - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Travis Culver - September 24 - 5:13 am

  There are lots of high reviews for the PT...this is not one of them. This thing LOVES the shop, rocks and gas stations. In the 3 years weve owned it, it has had 3 of 4 window motors replaced, approx. 8 windshileds (no, not kidding) a rebuilt transmission, squeaky brakes, a bad EGR valve, and malfunctioning fog lights. Even though my wife and I love the PT for its looks and functionality, we are sick and tired of the cost of gas and the trips to the shop. If the tranny hadnt one bad less that 500 miles within its 70,000 mile warranty, we would have been in for $3,000+ in repairs. Wish I could say better things about a car we had high hopes for, but just wishing wed never bought it.

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  Needs some improvements - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Pat Haley - September 16 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle is very comfortable to drive especially on the highway. I feel it is over priced for the following reasons. 1. Interior componets do not live up to a $40,000 car 2. Mileage is horrible, (does not meet window sticker) 3. Limited rear view (always feel as we are going to back into something or someone.) 4. Transmission shifts rough at times.

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  very nice ride - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By bustergen - September 12 - 10:00 am

  could use more power with awd price goes up fast with options

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  Wouldnt do it again - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Cali - August 21 - 7:23 am

  I traded in my Jeep Grand Cherokee for this car/wagon. I was looking for something with good fuel economy as I drive 90% in the city. I liked the looks of the PT and the salesman talked me into it due to it having a gas "sipping" 4 cylinder. I have no idea how people are getting 17 or more mpg? Ive put in new plugs, tuned it, and put in a KN high flow filter and I average 15.9 mpg with a standard commute. The shop says "to bad". I gave up 4 wheel drive, room, and v8 performance for an extra 3mpg? Ive had similar problams with water staining the seats, I cant get the headrest in a comfortable spot, and the speakers already sound like they are about to blow? I would never buy one again.

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  Problem vehicle - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Bull is Bad - July 25 - 10:00 am

  There are many problems with the braking system. The transmission also has shifting problems. Brakes goe to the floor alot. Many times this vehicle does not want to start. This car has computer problems! Also the body makes noises, it moves from the frame!

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  Broke my heart - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By CHKELL - June 27 - 8:43 pm

  When I purchased my Cruiser, I was totally in love. It handled well, looked great and was the first car I purchased that I actually wanted. Sorry to say, I traded it in last November, 3 years later. At 60K, the head gasket was leaking and replaced. It had problems in the front end at 75K and had the springs, wheel bearing, tie rods replaced. When I traded, the rear end was making much the same noise and I was looking at more, expensive work done. Nice car, but if you drive like I do, it is not the most reliable. And the gas mileage is as listed, very poor.

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  built cheap... - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By hall - June 27 - 4:30 am

  bought pt cruiser for looks, and for the 4 cyclinder engine mpg....it gets very lousy gas mileage for a 4, only 15 mpg....brakes are way to small for car, had to have rotors replaced at 40k miles at a cost of 400. if youre looking for an economical vehicle, a pt cruiser isnt the one your after...keep shopping!