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 little car - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By bob - March 1 - 12:33 am

  I had a BMW Z3 and VW Cabrio and I like this one better. It has a power top and it can fit four adults for a all day trip.In Tampa it is perfect car for fun!!!

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  93 Concorde Okay - 1993 Chrysler Concorde
  By LH Driver in Atl. - February 28 - 6:39 pm

  Good design and pleasent car to drive. Handles very well for a largeer car. Interier is spacious, feels roomy. Road noise is somewhat of an issue. Only major mechnanical problems have been elelctrical in nature. None were expensive to repair but were elusive to determine. 3.5 litre provides plenty of power and decent gas mileage. Good ac/heat controls.

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  A car to avoid. - 1994 Chrysler LHS
  By Steve Routh - February 28 - 9:22 am

  -Poor crash tests -Unresponsive braking -Transmission rebuilt -Transmission shudder (even after rebuild) -AC fixed, broke, fixed, still broke. -At least 5 recalls -radiator fan turns on and stays on -front hub bearing replaced -noisy passenger cabin -everything rattles -trunk lid spring broken -water leakage in trunk compartment

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  rated - 1999 Chrysler LHS
  By bootsy - February 28 - 1:33 am

  Good Looking, Comfortable, smooth ride, handles good, fast...

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  My Sebring Experience by JW - 1998 Chrysler Sebring
  By JW - February 27 - 6:57 pm

  Main issue was reliability. Two top motors. Then rear window defogger kept coming off (7 times). Then steering column locked. Had to have it towed. Final straw was the transmission started shifting erratically. Dealer replaced mounts. Few days later no transmission. New torque converter, no credit for mounts. Two weeks later transmission starts to slip (had 70K miles on it at this point). Am 56 years old, take care of my cars.

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  300C car of the year - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By HATHER_65 - February 26 - 9:33 pm

  When i bought 300 limited, it was like love in first sight. I was waiting for the Avalon though, but when i heard the horrible problems of the Avalon, i decided to go buy the 300. The 300 looks very superior in looks and luxury to the avalon. I hope all of you buy the 300.

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  Real Wheel Drive - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By JoLu Timblin - February 25 - 12:40 am

  The only hesitation I had and basically still have is the fact that it is real wheel drive. I had much more confidence in front wheel drive in the winter. I have not put this vehicle thru the paces trying to navigate really snowy roads yet but I am hoping it will not fail me.

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  hot number - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By T. Gordon - February 23 - 11:43 pm

  This car is truly a good performance car...good acceleration, excellent handling and a favorite of the CHP I am certain...

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  Pac-Man - 2007 Chrysler Pacifica
  By LovMyPac - February 23 - 9:33 am

  I was excited to move away from a mini- van and get into something more sporty. The styling is great and the new engine is smooth and fast. Ive never driven the older model so I can only imagine how that engine was. Roomy and comfortable, I also like the standard safety equipment, traction control, and ESP. Blind spots are there but the big mirrors help. So far no issues with my 2007 Pac.

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  Really like it but!!!! - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By David Large - February 23 - 2:00 am

  Basically I am very pleased with the Pacifica except for one very disappointing imperfection. The suspension is noisy. Minor imperfections in the road, parking lots etc. produce near continuous background knocking or "thunking" noise from the suspension. As roughness in the road increases so does the noise to where a moderate bump can, but not always, produce loud "thunks" for lack of a better word. Only on the smoothest roads is the suspension quiet. Do others note this condition???