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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  super soft-top - 1998 Chrysler Sebring
  By bjnet - August 24 - 2:00 am

  a full 5 seater. very comfortable and reasonable performance. so far very reliable. car lives up to the promise of being a well priced easy to use convertible with no real drawbacks

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  Chrysler 200S - 2015 Chrysler 200
  By Joe - August 23 - 4:03 pm

  Well I purchased this 200s my 1st new car in 10 years at first I was very excited to replace my old "06 Sebring with this new powerful 3.7L pinta star powered 200s first the engine is very fast and powerful no problem there, the 9 speed trans, well it needs a little, the 8.4" display is really nice and I liked the nav system the heater controls are a mixed bag you have to use the display and the external controls to work the climate system you have to look at the display and select to work all the functions you have to take your eyes off the road and that is not a good thing just to change the heater controls, the comfort and ride is where this car really failed me, the leather seats are fancy but very hard and very uncomfortable, and the ride is very harsh and very uncomfortable after 30min. on the highway I had to pull over I could not take it anymore and the 38psi low profile tires id not help the situation. After owning the car for 4 weeks I traded it back in lost a bunch of money on it. I purchased a new 2015 Chevy Malibu and I am much happier with it.

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  Excellent Car ! - 2000 Chrysler Cirrus
  By dev01 - August 23 - 2:00 am

  I have being driving this car for more than two years. No problems at all. It has a lot of interior space for every one of the 5 passengers seats, which makes long trips very very comfortable. The design is superb, and the performance? excellent!

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  DO NOT BUY - 1997 Chrysler Sebring
  By SFTURBEVILLE - August 23 - 2:00 am

  I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2000 WITH JUST OVER 30,000 MILES. ONCE THE ODOMETER REACHED 36K THE PROBLEMS STARTED. I CURRENTLY OWN THE VEHICLE AND HAVE PUT CLOSE TO 10K DOLLARS INTO KEEPING IT ON THE ROAD. THERE HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE THAT MY CAR HAS SPENT MORE TIME WITH THE MECHANIC THAN I HAVE SPENT IN IT. I SAY AGAIN DO NOT BUY THIS CAR.

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  Love it! - Except for gas mileage - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Dan - August 22 - 9:36 am

  We pretty much love the Pacifica except that we havent gotten more than 18 miles to the gallon in a year even though its sticker said 17-24.

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  voyager - 2002 Chrysler Voyager
  By char 2003 - August 22 - 2:00 am

  Ive had too many problems with this vehicle. The abs brake system continues to cause problems.

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  i love my car - 1995 Chrysler LHS
  By tonya - August 21 - 2:00 am

  except for a broken ball joint and some a/c problems, this car has performed flawlessly.its a beautiful, sporty looking car and i always get 2nd looks in it. the interior makes me want to never get out. the infinity system is 2nd to none, just like my car!!!!

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  Consumer Report said dont buy a 2003 - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Karen - August 20 - 6:03 am

  Too bad I didnt find out until 3 years later! Replaced power steering pump, ABS is out, sensors burning out all over, replaced pricey turbo belts in first year, my dash looks like a Christmas tree with all the failure lights I have had to respond to. I love the car, but I hate the money I have to put into a car I am still paying for. Oh, and it has the turning radius of a brick. But love the look and heated seats and all the really fantastic extras -- a ton of room, really great for moving!

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  What a Car - 2002 Chrysler Concorde
  By another happy person - August 20 - 2:00 am

  What a sound system. When I drive the car, feels like I am driving my corvette. I could not tell I was driving 90 mph on the Interstate.

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  Great! - 1999 Chrysler 300M
  By dok1300 - August 19 - 2:00 am

  Have had very few problems, and now have 62K miles on it. Only problem so far is the speed sensor, it cost $161 to replace. I have read about the power window problem, have had no problem there, but can hardly wait my turn! Car has a great trunk,back seat room, handles great for a large car, pep is exceptional. It has an annoying problem with road noise. While it is a fixable problem Chrysler choses not to worry about it. (The road/wind noise was MUCH worse on my 1993 LTS, if you can imagine that!) Maybe by my next one.....they will have committed to the wind/road noise thing.