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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  Missing Important things - 2003 Chrysler Voyager
  By msdania - February 5 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car thinking that Chyrsler was a top rated vehicle. While Im pleased with the overall car I found some things I dont like. First: I didnt buy the baseline but this 2003 does not have remote mirrors. What gives? Second: I have two bench seats. I can move the larger to the front, but the small one cant go into the back. Poor design! There were other things that were more my fault for not looking at better, but......ummm. Not a happy camper.

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  Wow - 2003 Chrysler 300M
  By Chris Yoss - February 5 - 2:00 am

  I compared the 300M to the Volvo, BMW and Jaguar...This is a much better value!

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  I love my new car. - 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Lindabelle - February 5 - 2:00 am

  I love my new car. It is awesome to drive. Its design catch everyone eye. Its just beautiful.

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  you looken at me? - 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
  By echozulu48 - February 5 - 2:00 am

  I was looking at 350s and Accords when my wife told me to look for the new Chryeler. I wasnt sure what she was talking about until I got a look at one in the showroom. That was all it took. Two days later we were proud owners of a very cool vehicle, and the price was great just for the looks and questions we get no matter where we drive. Everybody wants to know what a Crossfire is.

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  Poor customer service - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Ted Lieb - February 5 - 2:00 am

  The car drives better than any car Ive ever driven. Handeling is wonderful. Our problem has been service. The engine light has come on twice. The first time they could not locate the problem. The second time we waited forever on a part and was told by hte service manager parts are extremly hard to get. He said he had over a hundred cars that had been waiting as long as 9 weeks on parts.

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  LONG HAUL - 1993 Chrysler Concorde
  By phaedrus - February 4 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car in 1996 with 46K, now it has 237K - same 3.3L engine - burns no oil. Transmission problems big time all along - five torque converters in all, finally put in a mopar reman and all seems okay. Never stranded me.

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  Terrific car...very nice styling - 1997 Chrysler Concorde
  By Opher - February 3 - 2:00 am

  Hello, I bought this vehicle being impressed with the interior leather seats and console design. True Chrysler dont have a resale value like Hondas, but who cares if you enjoy the vehicle as I have. I have had a Civic blow headgaskets twice, so much for Japenese reliability ha? There is nothing bad I can say about this vehicle, except for in wet pavement, its a little slippery. The engine is great, and very powerful, I rate this vehicle 9 1/2. Opher

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  One Great Car! - 1997 Chrysler Sebring
  By A. Holt - February 3 - 2:00 am

  Ive had a lot of cars over the years, including Acuras & Volvos, and none have been more reliable and dependable then my 96 Chrysler Sebring LXI. Outside of normal service nothing yet has gone wrong with it and Ive had it for over six years. And you should see it perform in the snow, its a tank. The leather seats still look NEW! This would be a GREAT car for a student.

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  pleasing to own - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By wayne&peggyjenkins - February 2 - 10:46 pm

  ride and drive are excellent and gas mileage great. the looks and comments from perfect straingers is what makes it pleasing to own.

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  C IS NOT FOR CHUMP! - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Michael VANBUER - January 31 - 7:15 pm

  Nice ride, quiet and with the 5.7 Hemi V-8 very powerful!