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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  07 PAC just bought - 2007 Chrysler Pacifica
  By sweet-wm - June 6 - 11:09 pm

  I have just aquired an 07 Pacifica with 29k miles. Off lease, this is a super clean car. comfor level is great. . .headroom is wonderful, easy in/out for us old timers. I am pleased, perhaps paid a littl too much but love love love the car.

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  Impressed all around! - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Jerry Lang - June 6 - 4:53 pm

  I loved the style when it first came out. I was told it was cheaply made. But, recently I was able to purchase one that had 33K and in my budget. It is fully loaded and though the gas mileage could be better it still beats the Explorer I had. It has the roominess for me and more comfortable than my 4-runner. It handles really nice and I get lots of compliments on the looks. It has lots of room for my needs and I love the speed it puts out. It now has 48K on it and I drive it 80 miles a day to and from work. We had signage put on it for my Wifes business and it sure looks good on the Cruiser with a big yellow sunflower on the back of the onyx green pearl coat. It really stands out.

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  Eye Catcher - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Art - June 5 - 6:26 pm

  Hi folks,I have a 2005 chrysler 300 base and Im suprised hearing some of the bad reviews about the base model.I read where people said it dont have power and thats not true it has more than a person needs plus great on gas. Only the people who are speed crazy would think that.Also some say its interior is cheap which is not true people who see it loves it.I see many 300s for sale with torn leather.Also people knock the steel wheels with hubcaps on them.Nothing wrong with that at least a person can change the hubcaps at a fair price whenever they want to while other owners are stuck with high priced wheels.I have friends who have the touring model and mine is more eye cathing.

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  Loving every minute of it - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Chenango Mango - June 5 - 5:10 am

  Traded in an Audi A4 Avant because I needed a bigger car with the addition of a new child. Read all the reviews, test drove the VW Passat, Volvo XC and Audi A6. The Pacifica just has so much more room and functionality and, suprisingly, its darn fun to drive. It doesnt hug the corners like my Audi did, but thats little sacrifce based on what Im gaining. This car has done very well in the snow with all-season tires but I do plan on getting snows for next winter. If Chyslers quality sustains itself over the next 3 years, I will easily lease another one. Right now, I have nothing bad to say about this car based on 1 month and 1000 miles. I love it.

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  Hott!!!! - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Mallory - June 4 - 5:10 pm

  The Chrysler 500 is very reliable and awesome! The interior and exterior are HOTT!!! This car is probably the best car Ive EVER had!!

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  Excellent driving machine - 2007 Chrysler 300
  By Don S. - June 4 - 2:10 pm

  I bought a 2000 300m new, and loved it for 6 years. Picked up the 2007 Touring (ex-Rental) for 14K at a local GM dealer, added chrome 18" 300c wheels and Goodyear Eagle Response Edge tires. What a difference! It now handles like my old 300m which had a performance/handling package. Same 3.5L V6 moves it around pretty well, and gets 27 mpg highway. I drive windy mountain roads daily, and use the auto-stick to keep it in 3rd up to 45mph. On the hwy, it slips into 5th, and just flat cruises. RWD took some time to adjust to, but handles well. The stock stereo sounds almost as good as the old 300m. The aux jack connects to an MP3 player or ??. GSM replaces compass/computer.

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  Good car - 2000 Chrysler Voyager
  By John - June 4 - 10:43 am

  The van has done exactly what we needed it to do. Performed well, great acceleration for a van, carts kids well, had few non wear and tear mechanical problems. At 114K it still looks and drives well. We have had to replace all the expected parts, such as tires, shocks, platinum plugs. I think that we can drive the van for another 10 years.

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  My second 300C - 2007 Chrysler 300
  By me - June 3 - 7:27 pm

  This is my second 300C, after trading in a 2005 RWD. The first one was an early build, first model year and it had several small annoyances, some of which were fixed under warranty. The 2007 has been problem-free. AWD is great in a car like this, you can take off in any weather with no wheel hop not that RWD was unusable in snow, but the OEM Continental tires that wore out in 10K miles were the real culprit. Your mileage may vary, but it can honestly get 25mpg with the car loaded and the A/C on in hilly terrain.

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  Fantastic car great price - 2009 Chrysler 300
  By Stuckond - June 2 - 8:10 am

  Low road noise, GREAT power from the 5.7, and a delicious ride from this sexy looking car. Has all of the power of my 1970 Firebird 400 (With a rebuilt motor), and turns just as many heads. Although I have not quite hit 1,000 miles on the 300C yet, This is without question my favorite car Ive ever owned. Very good turning radius for a big car. At 24 HWY MPG on a brand new car, its not awful. In town at 16.5 could be worse.

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  Work of Art,in progress - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By Mike - May 31 - 7:10 am

  Have had car about 14 months now.Extremely reliable and very fuel efficient.Hard top makes for very quiet convertible.Styling seems to attract scores of people who watch the top go up and down in awe.Ive had a couple of Mercedes guys just fall in love with this car.Trunk opens up to massive area representitive of the late 60s early 70s cars when convertible top is up for space.The 18 inch wheels I have on the vehicle really grips the road and the ride is excellant.The paint,fit and finish is also excellant.This car gives me great pride when I take it anywhere as someone is bound to spark a conversation about the car and or lead into the hard top covertible they had in the fifties.