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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  Best Car I Have Ever Owned - 1999 Chrysler 300M
  By braveman69 - May 6 - 2:00 am

  I liked my 300M so much that I let my son drive it to college and I went out and bought another. It is the best car I have ever owned. I find it fun to drive, extremely comfortable for a 270 pound 6 foot 4 inch fellow, with still plenty of legroom for others in the back seat. I would recommend it to any and all.

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  Great Performance - 2001 Chrysler 300M
  By OLDMANALBERT - May 5 - 2:00 am

  Most of my driving is relatively high speed and long distances, travelling between WV and Florida. The 300m is comfortable on major highways and has very good gas mileage, getting 25mpg after the first 4 hours of driving.

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  3 Dealer trips in 1st 600 miles - 2002 Chrysler Voyager
  By Mike Nugent - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Replaced 96 Voyager that was totaled. i like the refinments especially to the ride and dipstick now the oil stays on stick. I had the air bag pretensioner replaced at 300 miles and a harness for the airbag at 600 miles. The dealer also fixed a popped out pies on the inner fenderwell. My last voyager went 119K with only a cv joint at 35K. It was reliable this one not sure. Ha 1200 miles now. 18MPG mixed driving 3.3 my 3.0 1996 24mpg avg.

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  Lovinit - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By curlydawn - May 4 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. Accelleration could be much better, gas mileage is lower than expected for a 4 cyl engine. Otherwise, there isnt a thing I dont enjoy. I have put about 30,000 miles on my PT and havent had a single issue. Please buy this car, its comfortable, stylish and very very cool.

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  amazed at the fun of it - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Thomas - May 3 - 11:03 am

  recently purchased my 2007 cruiser and couldnt be happier. i was recently in a pretty bad accident in another car and it became totaled so when i was looking to buy another car i wanted something i knew would feel safe. i test drove other cars the cobalt and the mazda 6 but they didnt feel right i got in the cruiser and feel in love i couldnt be happier with how it drives and how much fun everyone has getting in it and driving around. Im only 20 but i do a lot of traveling with friends and need the extra space that i didnt have in my other car.

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  Chrysler 43 years later - 2002 Chrysler Concorde
  By Grandpa Dave - May 3 - 2:00 am

  This is the first Chrysler product that I have owned since 1959. The quality level is miles better than the last one. As you can see I have black listed their products for 43 years. I have owned several Ford products over the years but found that between 60k and 80k miles they fall apart. I have owned several GM products and continue to own, since new, a 1989 Cadillac DeVille with 125k miles on the odometer. Id buy another Cadillac but they priced them out of my reach. I can only hope that my new Concorde will hold up over the next several years.

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  dont buy it - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By big pig iron - May 2 - 10:00 am

  purchased as a certified used car at 39000, tie rods went bad at 42000, a/c broke at 47000, transmission failed at 57000, car was serviced regularly and adult driven on highway for work purposes only. car continually had problems and was traded at an exceptional loss just to escape the ongoing agony. never buy another american car again.

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  I Switched - 1999 Chrysler Concorde
  By John Doe - May 2 - 2:00 am

  Recently purchased a used Chrysler Concorde LXI. This car has all the bells and whistles anyone could imagine. Ive never been a real Chrysler fan, with their past history of transmission problem. However, after taking this car for a ride I soon changed my mind. It seems like a very solid car that rides well. I am a 41 year old male with a wife and 4 young daughters. I am also 6 4" tall and weigh 260 pounds. Plenty of room up front and back. The only problem that I had was a very small oil leak underneath. Took it to the garage several times and I still find fresh oil underneath the car. Overall, after driving this car for several months I believe I made a wise purchase.

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  Excellent Car - 2000 Chrysler 300M
  By Tom_ - May 2 - 2:00 am

  This car has not given me one problem in over 30,000 miles so far. I cant believe how great it is.

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  My Crusier - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By maci93 - May 1 - 3:50 am

  Love to drive it. Only get around 18 miles to the gallon. Doesnt turn well in close quarters. Doubt I will keep it.