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:

• 

  Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - 2003 Chrysler Sebring
  By wannie - November 20 - 2:00 am

  I love it. I love it. I love it. Now repeat after me. I love it. I love it. I love it.

• 

  Bringing Back The Fun - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By nhrapt - November 19 - 8:13 pm

  This car brings back the fun of driving for me an my family, cruisin just like we used too.The only thing Ive added so far is sirius radio, for those long cruises, I wouldnt trade car for any other new car.

• 

  Great Car - But WAY Single Focus - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By HillBoy - November 19 - 12:23 am

  If youre married, over 40, have arthritis, have kids, or ever buy anything at a mall - you should probably just forget this car. I am actually quite shocked how sharp and unforgiving a blade this car is for a CHRYSLER product!!! Expansion joints in my neighbourhood cause the CD to skip. Getting into the car is best left to 18 year olds whose joints are still made out of rubber bands. All that being said, this car actually generates more envy and loathing and stares than my 1987 Lemonengelb (lemon yellow) Porsche 944S did. I love it beyond measure!!!

• 

  Love this car! - 2014 Chrysler 300
  By Robert Traina - November 18 - 9:04 pm

  This car is gorgeous, inside and out. The interior is supremely comfortable, and the technology/infotainment system cannot be beat. Super smooth, and good acceleration for a six cylinder car. Excellent gas mileage for a 4000 pound car of 31 MPG highway, 25 city! This car is a pleasure to drive.

• 

  i love my pacifica - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By jbarb - November 18 - 10:00 am

  it is a well designed vehicle. perfect for a short woman with kids and a dog, very luxurious feel inside, handles well for a big car. feels very safe. love it!

• 

  JDS PT CRUISE - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By jds pt cruiser - November 18 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE MY CRUISER I GET GREAT GAS MILEGE NOT OVERLLY POWERFUL BUT THEN IM NOT USED TO 4-CYL. PEOPLE GIVE ALOT OF PRAISE ABOUT MINE EVERYWHERE I GO.

• 

  Will never buy another Chrysler - 2012 Chrysler 200
  By Roger T - November 18 - 7:14 am

  Wish I could afford to sue Chrysler for how off they are about the MPG. Have done regular maintenance on this vehicle over the 3 years I have owned it. No matter how easy I drive this vehicle I have yet to see overy 24 MPG. My average since owning the car is 21. This IS a 4 cylinder. Next, the acceleration is terrible. You press the pedal expecting it to go, wait 3-4 seconds of almost standstill then finally some movement. Not safe if you ask me when defensive driving is important. Braking has never been good. Any quick stop results in the entire vehicle shaking from its horrible anti lock. I have already been told that the brakes and rotors are good so again just terrible mechanics. There are many other things but my biggest pet peeve is the tricks Chrysler uses to force you back to the dealership for maintenance. For example, if you want to change the battery you must remove the front bumper, remove the headlight and then the battery. Even just changing the headlight bulb requires the same thing or removing the plastic in the wheel well. Ridiculous is putting it gently. Just look elsewhere at all costs. Buyer beware.

• 

  Best Car - 1999 Chrysler Concorde
  By kinnjh - November 18 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car I have ever driven. The style is outstanding, the ride is smooth, the tracking is excellent, the 3.2L engine more than enough with good gas mileage. Handling is superb due partly to the 16 inch rims with 60 ratio tires. Chrysler outdid themselves on this one. After 3 and a half years, I enjoy it as much as ever. The front plate goes on a bracket the dealer installs in the middle of the grill. works out ok.

• 

  A darn good traveler! - 2002 Chrysler Voyager
  By ArtM - November 18 - 2:00 am

  Of the four Chrysler Voyagers[86, 89, 99, 02] we have had, this 2002 beats even the 89 SE extended we drove for 11 years/110k miles all over the US, often towing a small popup camper. The 2002 has the the 3.3L engine/4 spd Auto, strong enough to pull our 82 Viking for 8 weeks/8000 miles, from Illinois to Virginia, then up the East Coast to the top of Newfoundland, then to Quebec, Toronto, Upper Michigan and Wisconsin, Minneapolis, and then home.

• 

  Sebring LXI - 1999 Chrysler Sebring
  By anne - November 18 - 2:00 am

  One thing I notice is it is inconvient to put a CD into the playerwhen the car is in park or reverse There is not enough room meaning you have to move around the gear shift.Nocup holders, seats hard. hard to seeout of rear window due to the rear coming up to high.1 cupholder that the car did offer fell apart.At 65k I notice the trasmission to be "slipping".It doesnt seem to shift correctly.the passanger door needs to aligned which could cost $300it doesnt shut right when the window is up.BIG PROBLEM window needs to be down in order to close properly. Does the sensor in the rear view mirror really work?