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:

• 

  Jayvees Sebring Convertible - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By jayvee - July 12 - 10:00 am

  Love this car! Drove a Lexus E300 before this one, and this actually feels as tight as the Lexus. As it is a convertible, there is a bit of noise when driving with the top up, but nothing annoying. The car is really a fun ride and although it isnt the most sexy car on the road, for me, its all I need and more.

• 

  First time - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By o. fuentes - July 12 - 10:00 am

  This is the first non Ford product that I buy and drive. Prior to buying the PACIFICA I had owned Lincoln (Mark VII, VIII, and LS). I love the roominess, comfort, options, acessability and easy to reach/read to all instruments. I love the navigation system and my granddaughter loves the DVD system. I could actually use a small V-8, but that is beacuse I love 8cyl. vehicles and the power behind them. This 6cyl really surprised me, with its power. I drove to Arizona from Texarkana, Ar. to test the vehicle and give it a good break-in. I was very pleased (actually surprised) with the ride, it was very smooth, I was expecting a rough ride.

• 

  What FIVE STAR service ? - 2000 Chrysler Concorde
  By chuck d. - July 12 - 2:00 am

  Overall this car blends well with the plethora of cookie cutters out there. The "leather" trimmed seats could actually use at least another micrometer of color. Other things worry me to. The paint on the lower plastic parts have already worn off and have been repainted at about 20,000 miles. The dealship gave me such a hassle. So much for FIVE star service. Hopefully Mercedes can help these shmucks out at Chrysler and not let the lack of quality at Chyrsler infect Mercedes. Also the dealership where I bought my car scratched it from bumper to bumper. They called it "prepping". Live and learn....

• 

  Great Car - 1998 Chrysler Concorde
  By rkymtnmike - July 11 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for 4 years now and not one problem. More importantly I live in Colorado and spend a lot of time in the mountains. This car just flat ass gets up the mountain. This particular model has the turbo engine and after 43,000 it still beats a lexus up the mountain. By far this is the best car I have ever owned. I was thinking about getting a 300M, but I think Im just going to get a 2003 Concorde, if they havent mess with it too much.

• 

  High Maintenance - 2002 Chrysler 300M
  By cosmicbandito - July 11 - 2:00 am

  Car has electrical gremlins that appear and disappear. With high mileage use, 3000 mile oil changes become burdensome. My BMw needed only 10000 mile changes, same with my Mercedes. The 300M is more comfortable than either of the other cars. If I followed the dealer service recommendations the 300M would cost substantially more to maintain than the BMW or MBZ.

• 

  Junk in Miami - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Junk in Miami - July 10 - 10:00 am

  Great concept, poorly executed! We loved our car when we first bought it. Dark Blues with the Woody package. Still turns heads to this day. However, front wheel bearings went out at 20K, transmission went out at 37K, water pump went out at 52K and overheated warping the head. Luckily this all was covered under the extended bumper to bumper warranty. When the water pump went out, it still cost me over $800 for misc repairs that the car needed. Four months later the car started running rough, so back to the dealer and another $1100. None of the work they did before was now covered since the warranty expired and so did the warranty on their work! Really? Yes. I can not afford this junk!

• 

  Fast car, alot of minor problems - 1997 Chrysler Concorde
  By detritus - July 10 - 2:00 am

  The 3.5 V6 really packs alot of power. However, Thankfully we got a warranty. The EGR valve went out 6 times on the car since we had it, and the air conditioner went out last year. The brakes have a weird feeling to them, and arent as responsive compared to other cars. This was the last year of this concorde/intrepid series before the design was completely revamped. If you look at Consumer Reports, youll see their ratings for the car jump after 1997. If youre looking for a Concorde, id definitely consider going with a 98 or higher, where alot of improvements were made.

• 

  Reliability not in Chrysler Dictionary - 1994 Chrysler Concorde
  By JETPILOT - July 10 - 2:00 am

  I guess Im just repeating the other unsatisfied drivers. A lot of A/C trouble,Waterpump failed a couple times,and now the second transmission has to go in.Its time that Chrysler takes an example at the Japanese! With this worthless reliability level,it is no surprise their business is going down.Maybe the flaws in the design are not a coincidence at all ! Maybe their engineers need to go take some classes in Tokyo ! All together,it is hard to believe that we can build a space shuttle , but not a reliable car.

• 

  Great Value - 1998 Chrysler Cirrus
  By Mark O - July 10 - 2:00 am

  Where else can you get leather, all the power options, programable homelink garage door opener, etc,etc,etc all for less than $20,000.

• 

  Chrysler cant build a transmission - 2000 Chrysler Voyager
  By Thomas Rose - July 10 - 2:00 am

  I have a new van at 20000 miles I needed a new transmission. Several dodge dealers in my area ,would not work on a Chrysler!! Then the told me if I did not buy the van there they wont do warrenty work! Now I got it repaired an at 29000 miles it needs a new transmission. What a peice of junk..