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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  Car Of My Teenage Dreams - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By George E. Murphy - February 20 - 11:30 am

  I can recall reading Road & Track as a teenager when I was supposed to be doing homework; all I wanted in life was one of those beautiful touring cars. I have gone through my share of economy, functional, mini-van types and finally I have my car of my 14 year old dreams. Chiropracters should thank all of us for the way for the way it twists necks. I had a Porsche driver pull next to me on the highway and give me/it a thumbs up! I love everything about it, acceleration, comfort, handling and particularly styling. I had to wait until I was 65, but it was worth the wait!

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  Chrysler LHS - 2000 Chrysler LHS
  By jimsberg - February 20 - 2:00 am

  An unbelievable bargain cant wait to drive it every day.Far better than previous 1994 LHS. Fuel mileage somewhat disappointing: 18mpg in town, 24-25mpg on highway. Actually is fun to drive (handling)in a way that Ford and GM luxury cars are not.

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  Love this car!!! - 1999 Chrysler 300M
  By GearHead70 - February 20 - 2:00 am

  I couldnt be happier with my 300M. I spent 6 months researching cars before I settled on this one, and Im glad I did. Styling is excellent. Standard features blow the competition out of the water. It handles great, and has plenty of power for passing at highway speeds. For those who wish for more torque and horsepower, all I can say is there is only so much you can do with a front wheel drive platform. Wait for the 300N in 2004 when they go to rear wheel drive and have the optional V8 Hemi engine.

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  My Wonder Chrysler 2016 200C - 2016 Chrysler 200
  By scott ross - February 19 - 7:35 pm

  I rented this car because mine was in the shop and loved the feel of the car and the interior was outstanding. I found out that my car was going to be at the dealership for a long time due to a part delay. I rented this 200 for 1 month and my wife fell in love with it. Long story short...my car was recalled and I bought a 200 with the works and it was the best decision Ive made in a long time. If youre looking for a luxury look that causes stares to identify what type of car youre driving this is the one for you! Rich look for a reasonable price. Only down side Ive had was that navigation is not standard feature for 200c model. I have the 8.4 Uconnect with the Alpine 9 speaker system but would have to pay $695 additionally for just navigation. Not pleased to say the least and at this point will not incur the additional cost for what should be a standard option in such a nice car. Overall rating 9.

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  The Perfect Car - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Mami - February 19 - 5:20 pm

  I absolutly LOVE my PT Cruiser. Sure it could use a bit more power like everyone states but Im not in that big of a hurry. This car handles well, is very comfortable and I love all the space inside. I use to drive a small Hatchback and didnt want to loose that style but I wanted something a bit bigger than say a Mini. This car has everything I need and no wasted space. I highlt recommend the PT.

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  never buy a chysler cirrus - 1995 Chrysler Cirrus
  By brokedowncys - February 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought my cirrus at 32,000 mi. The dealer wouldnt come down on the price, but I loved it (the look of it) so much I didnt care. Ive learned a huge lesson!!! The exterior is beautiful, but the mechanics of this car suck!! I had to replace the transmission soon after I bought it! It was in the shop all the time!! The front end was a mess! cv joints always gave me problems. Dont judge a car by its cover!! Now its broke down and I still owe $5000 to my bank!! Im currently looking for a reliable car!!!

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  lemon - 1995 Chrysler Cirrus
  By thesaint - February 19 - 2:00 am

  As was mentioned in several other reviews, this car is very unreliable. I just bought the car six months ago and it has been in the shop four different times. I have had the fuel pump, fuel filter, idle motor, cap and rotor, new ty rods and ball joint replaced so far. Right now its broke down in the garage because it needs a new coil pack/distributor that is over $800. My mechanic has the car more then I do. Stay away.

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  Good looking - Bad problems - 1997 Chrysler Sebring
  By tonid - February 19 - 2:00 am

  Dont get me wrong I love to drive my car, I put an air intake on her and this bumped the bhp to 177 and she turns heads. But she has been in the shop every couple of months, it is so bad they know my cell phone number by heart at the dealer. The roof has always leaked, I have had to have a new roof and a new carpet it has been so bad. I went through four batteries in four years due to a slight leak and corrosion. I now am experiencing a rough idle, an oil warning light, a break warning light, roof leaks and the interior panels are breaking down. I dont expect cars to last for ever but I definately will not be buying a new one.

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  Satisfied Owner - 1999 Chrysler 300M
  By Doug Grover - February 19 - 2:00 am

  Overall, am happy with this vehicle. It is easy to drive, performs well, and looks good. Things that bother me after 4 years with this vehicle include some of the materials used in the interior - some of the plastic around the window/lock switches and around the gear selector seems to be sticky, no matter what you use to clean them, so you get a dirty look in those areas. Also, I have a problem with half of the rear seat leather in that it is getting scaly feeling, even though I have the windows tinted and keep the vehicle inside most of the time. It is only the upper portion of one seat, so I dont think its related to maintenance on my part.

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  Try and find one... - 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Crossfire in LA - February 17 - 10:00 am

  This is such an amazing car. Fit and finsih are very tight and engine is solid as a rock. Cannot go anywhere without attention--which says alot in LA.