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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  Great Car - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By JennyC - September 24 - 9:40 am

  I really enjoy driving this car. Its a little hard on the pocketbook for the gas but I feel extremely safe in it. Its great in the snow and I have no problems going up steep hills.

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  MES Pacifica - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Topp MES - September 24 - 2:00 am

  I am totally satified with my vehicle. The only thing that I think needs improving on, is Engine noise at high Rev and fuel economy.

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  Feels like a sports car! - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By HelenS - September 24 - 12:30 am

  When I first saw the car in 2004 I wasnt very impressed. This car grows on you. It is elegant, very zippy and fun to drive. Carrying 4 passengers and a driver on a road trip to Miami was very comfortable with lots of room for luggage - trunk is huge! I optioned mine with a moon roof, luxury interior, Nav system, and protection package. I get lots of complements on it. Only complaint is that the Nav System is about 2 years out of date in some cases and I havent been too successful in getting info on the updates.

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  Great luxury value! - 1999 Chrysler LHS
  By TChris - September 23 - 2:00 am

  An excellent value! Engine is great, 235HP. Heated leather seats and great Infinity sound system. Fuel economy is good for this class: 25- 30 hwy. The trunk is a huge cavern. Could have shortened the overall vehicle length and/or increased the leg room by shrinking the trunk a bit. The interior noise level is pretty high for a luxury car. It handles well, with 17-inch alloy wheels and low-profile tires, but its not terribly quiet. If you want a sporty luxury car without going to Mercedes or BMW to get it, this is the one!

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  P.Ts ROCK - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By BeachBum - September 22 - 10:00 am

  Been A blast to drive - Gets looks where ever I go.

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  Appraisal - 2003 Chrysler 300M
  By dhansen4 - September 21 - 2:00 am

  Great car for the money. Easy to drive has plenty of room for my guests.

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  LOVE MY CAR - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By CAROLE CAVIN - September 19 - 10:00 am

  I HAVE MAINTAIN MY CAR AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS: THIS MEANS OIL CHANGES (synthetic) AND RUN CHEVRON GAS ONLY. ONCE EVERY 2 MONTH I PUT CHEVRON GAS ADDITIVE THIS KEEP THE CAR RUNNING SMOOTH...MY CAR IS A 5 SPEED TOO!!

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  Cant believe the ride - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By graya - September 19 - 10:00 am

  I live in Brooklyn NY and if you know anything about NY, Pot holes is its infamous nemsis. Not for my Pacific. I just purchased it yesterday and it is an impressive vehicle. It handles bumps smoothly with good control and precision . It came with full options to the point where there are no more to add accept a rubber mat for the rear panel. Unbelievable quality, comfort and style for 32k. Purchasd Used without a scratch with 11k miles. Highly recommended.

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  Rolling Dream - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Chrome1958 - September 19 - 10:00 am

  Why consider a bland Lexus ES, a twitchy and cramped Acura TL, or a torque-steering Nissan Maxima when you could spend the same or less and get a fire-breathing, beautifully crafted hot rod? No quality issues yet, but you can see where money was saved--no trunk pull down, no torso airbags (head curtains are an option), and limited color choices, among others. The fuel economy isnt horrific, my combined city/highway is about 23 and the car is in its break in period. Those that complain about their observed economy should realize that they chose to buy a 4,000lb car with a 340h.p. 5.7 liter V-8.

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  Glad I did it - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Erik F - September 19 - 10:00 am

  Was considering the CTS, FX35 and RX330...than found my 300C. Was sold the car at invoice with almost all the goodies, and it is amazing. Never gotten off the line like this before, all kinds of looks, thumbs up, etc from passers by. To get anything close to this car at Cady or foreign would have cost me at least another $8-$10K. It has the looks and feel to make you happy, the American nameplate to make you patriotic, and the performance and price to make you proud you bought it.