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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  Mixed Opinions - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Matt - March 4 - 7:54 pm

  I have owned this car for almost 2 years and Im just approaching 40k miles and over all im impressed with the looks and thats it, mecanicaly I have had nothing but headaches. The transmission slips and steering becomes difficult when its cold (I live in Canada), extremly rough idle and the dealer claims there is nothing wrong, I had to replace all speakers in the car, both rear power window motors twice, brake rotors at 15k and the OEM Goodyear tires stink they wear out fast and I had them replaced at 20k miles for a set of Michelins. This is my 3rd Chrysler and I wont be buying another any time soon and in fact Im trading it for a Honda Accord EX V6 next week.

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  Love this car!! - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By CrUiZeR - March 4 - 1:56 am

  Ive owned a 2002 PT for almost 4 years. Bought with 60,000 miles, now have just over 100,000. Have had VERY few issues with this car. I never head out in the morning with the fear that the car wont start or get me where Im going. Runs great and gets some good speed on the freeway. Not everyones cup of tea, but the car is beautiful, especially with a spoiler, chrome accents, and aftermarket mags. Interior is well designed and comfortable. Would recommend this car to anyone looking for a nice family car. Now Im just looking for something more sporty.

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  RICKS 300C - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By RICKY CROWDER - February 29 - 3:30 am

  YOU FEEL GREAT WITH THIS CAR. FROM CRUSING TO ROCKITING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS CAR WILL TAKE THE MOTO FROM THE COMPETITION. GMCS PROFESSIONAL GRADE, LOOK AT THE 300C. FORDS BUILT FOR THE ROAD AHEAD, LOOK TO THE 300C. THIS IS THE CAR THAT CAN MAKE ANYBODY FIT IN AT THE AUTO SHOW. IF YOURE YOUNG, YOU CAN COMPETE WITH ANY OF THE NEW HOT RODS. IF YOURE OLDER YOU CAN PARK NEXT TO THE MOST EXPENSIVE LUXJURY CAR AND NOT FEEL OUT OF PLACE. THIS CAR IS COOL ENOUGH FOR A SINGLE MAN OUT ON THE TOWN, AND CAN MAKE A MAN MARRIED WITH CHILD FEEL AS IF HES STILL GOT IT. THE DOWN SIDE IS YOUR WIFE OR GIRLFRIEND WILL WANT TO DRIVE TOO. THE FINAL WORDS. HOMERUN CHRYSLER, HOMERUN.

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  abc - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By john doe - February 24 - 1:10 am

  low winshield. difficult to see traffic lights when up close. sometimes using the sun roof to see the traffic light makes it easier. however, then you have to move up to the stop line. that brings you close to the center of traffic. nevertheless, its something you get use to. the car is dynamite. i am told so by people on the street every day. the guys just go on about the design and the ladies, its the unspoken look. good job

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  Some flaws but over good car - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By DrinkingStar - February 22 - 3:06 pm

  Ive driven my car for about 1000 miles. The precision of the steering, the brakes and the standard audio system are the best of any car Ive owned. It gets 24-26 mpg & I have gotten 28.3 mpg mainly hwy with some city driving. Acceleration is decent but seems to be slower than it really is because of the smooth ride. Even though the cabin space is bigger than my 97 Sebring ragtop, there is less front & almost no rear legroom compared to the 97. The fit & finish of the interior & the materials make the car look retro-futuristic. As for the design, it is comparable to the Japanese cars. The ride is as good as an Acura or Scion and the interior & trunk space are better than the VW Eos.

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  GTC Needs Something - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By snowdogg - February 21 - 3:55 pm

  This car is fun but all the design/build shortcuts make it a question mark as to how long it will hold up. I drive more than 20K miles a year and can see potential problems ahead. At 50K the brakes seem like they need to be replaced, the suspension groans and creaks, the body has lots of rattles and there are small but annoying noises coming from behind the dash. The washer fluid freezes in the winter, the car takes very long to warm up, there is not even a height adjustment on the drivers seat and I can see wear on the convertible top from rubbing on the frame. i wish that I could say lots of good things about it. I really wanted to "drive American" but this unit is a disappointment!

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  engine type makes ALL the difference - 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By b1-66er - February 21 - 8:33 am

  rented a convertible two different times for a total of 2k miles and thought it was the funnest car id ever driven. when i heard they were going to discontinue it, i ordered one from the factory. feels top-heavy on sharp turns but is an absolute king of flat-out cruising. the standard engine is adequate -- the turbo is thrilling. the stereo upgrade is worth every penny and is easily the best audio ive ever heard in ANY vehicle. front seats are comfortable -- especially with leather and seat heaters. the back seats are cambered just a bit too far back. tons and tons of head room. extremely easy engine to check the oil on. very fun.

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  Good overall everyday car - 1999 Chrysler Cirrus
  By jiminiowa - February 18 - 7:27 pm

  Have had this vehicle from dealer, it has been a very good car. It has had the water pump replaced, the transmission gaskets replaced twice but all under warranty. It is now burning some oil but I have 74000 miles on it, we dont drive it very much. After the initial problems worked out it has been reliable. We loved the sportiness of the vehicle, it looks very sharp with the alloy wheels. I would recommend this car to anyone. The cup holders in the back are poorly designed and needs more room in the middle compartment(ours broke). It has a lot of power for a V-6 also which has been nice to have when needed on the highway. Overall a 9.

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  Number 3 - 2006 Chrysler Sebring
  By Dan - February 17 - 7:11 pm

  My 1st was a 99 JXI conv. My 2nd was an 03 Limited conv. and my present, an 06 Limited conv. I obviously like the car. Ive had good luck w/all. Each was purchased 2yrs. old w/low mileage. Ive gotten compliments on all 3. Theyve all been fun to drive w/very few repairs and each has improved over the previous. The 06 seems more solid and more quiet at time of purchase than the 03. The ride is smooth and it handles very well. I live in Pa. and drop the top every chance I can from March till Nov.

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  Surprised - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By ed - February 16 - 7:18 am

  I have a Touring Sedan 2.7, a car generally cross-shopped by consumers looking in the 4cyl Accord/Camry price range. Edmunds leaves this model out of the pull down menu. This car is what I have long appreciated in my Hondas the "we make it simple" principle. As an example, compare the Sebrings three knob HVAC controls to the mess of buttons that now plagues the Accord. The Sebring has an ultra rigid body and the touring suspension has the travel and damping required to navigate Americas deteriorating roads. The 2.7 touring model is a very capable driver too. The seating position is excellent and support good posture. Boston sound is superb and when it is off, the interior is silent.