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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  PT Convertible in Annapolis - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By John K. - January 9 - 7:06 am

  Ive put 30,000 miles on my PT convertible in 18 months and have yet to return to the dealer with problems. Its a fun car, but is very functional for a convertible. Four people can ride in comfort, you can flip the rear seats down for long cargo. The trunk lid is an issue, as you must nearly stand on your head to access the trunk. Love the car!

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  Great Car for the Money! - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By G.K. Severe - January 6 - 8:10 am

  Love my 300C, Great car for the money. Gets lots of looks, has lots of power & get up & go. I had my 300C into the Chrysler dealer in McKinney, Texas for the front tires feathering. The dealer says this is normal. I wonder what happens when the tires wear down bald on the edges? I like other 300C owners cant seem to get the claimed gas mileage, I get 12 city & 21.2 hwy. The Navi system doesnt show as many street names on it & you can not operate it while moving like my Mazda3s system. You must stop & pull over. I am starting to worry about the resale value now. You can get a used 300C right at $30k. I paid over $37k new in June. All in all I love this car!

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  very pleased! - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Greg - January 5 - 1:43 pm

  Im happy to say that weve fell on love with our Pacifica. While my wife actually wanted a Town&Country, shes grown to love her new vehicle- even though it doesnt have an aisle down the middle.I love the safety features and the fact that it has enough power to move it rather effectively. It also has such a wide stance that it gives it a uniquely different look for which I applaud Chrysler for inventing. Overall, I believe weve selected a very good vehicle right down to having one of the best dealerships for any problems we may encounter. I only wish theyd provide free gas for the life of the loan!!!

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  it sure is purple - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By chef joe - January 5 - 2:00 am

  i was lookin at several different vehicles when i came across my pt. it was very, very purple and i never thought i wanted a purple car. i decided to give it a test drive and thats all it took. it was a wonderful experience and i bought it the next day. ive loved it every day since.

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  WOW - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By LarrysCar - January 5 - 2:00 am

  Real Nice. Very good in the snow. I am 6.3 and I fit in the middle row of seats. Not one problem in the first 3 months. Everyone who gets a ride loves it. The only little thing I had is at ten below zero the low tire light comes on, at 5 below it goes off. I have a bad back and this AWD car I can drive for hours. Most SUV after 10 minutes I am hurting.

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  300 C Hemi - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Gary Cook - January 4 - 1:03 pm

  Super fun to drive. Great Gas mileage. Handling is superb. Smooth quiet ride. Best performing sedan Ive ever owned - including Mercedes, BMW and Cadilac.

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  Awesome - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Roberta - January 3 - 9:16 pm

  This is by far the most fun car I have ever driven. The ultimate dream for every child at heart! I am waiting for an opportunity to take it somewhere where I can let it run and not worry about getting a huge speeding ticket. I had a young boy on a bicycle tell me what a sharp car it was----he was willing to trade his bike for the car! One of the local police officers was almost drooling over the car when he saw it.

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  power and style - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Leroy Wilson - January 3 - 4:56 am

  the vehicle is very comfortable, fun and easy to drive. reasonably priced for the number of options available. only dislike is placement of the cruise control lever and the size of the key with remote

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  A winner in most every way - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By HAL POTE - January 2 - 3:46 am

  A real joy to drive, especially in the mountains. The all-wheel drive is sweet and makes cornering a breezing at speed. A bit slow after the one-two shift unless under full throttle. Ample room and interior seating is fully adjustable and folds easily. Cargo space is cavernous and we love it. Expect only about 17-18 mpg in denver commuting or 75mph interstate driving.

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  Loved the car but always in shop - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By akiva96 - December 31 - 6:53 pm

  I loved this car initially but in the less than 3 years I owned it I had to have the front wheel bearings replaced, as well as the front suspension rebuilt and/or replaced (depending on the component) the steering was becoming clunky (maybe a CV joint issue?) and the front speakers failed. I finally got tired of dropping the car off at the dealer every other weekend and traded it in for another car. (Not a Chrysler!!!!)