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 CAR - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By B.G. - September 3 - 6:51 pm

  I have this car since 2007 & it is one of the best cars i have had in the last 30 years !!!!!!!!!

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  Love my 200C - 2015 Chrysler 200
  By Hugo - September 2 - 9:15 pm

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  great car - 2015 Chrysler 200
  By allie murray - September 2 - 8:13 am

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  A Beautiful reliable car - 2001 Chrysler 300M
  By Lavon Palmer - August 30 - 9:49 pm

  I bought my car new in 2001 had it until 2012 put a hundred eighty thousand miles on it replace the engine twice because I loved it so much... I was in three car accidents and I never got hurt! Trusted it so much I gave it to my child.

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  Never again - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By Sarah - August 30 - 2:01 pm

  This car was a nice looking car but that was probably the only up side of it. It is a gas hog and when I got hit it took off the entire front of the car and the airbags did not go off. I would never get this car again.

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  #1 ALLSTAR - 2015 Chrysler 300
  By John OConnor - August 29 - 8:23 pm

  Took delivery of my 300S AWD last week. Having retired from Jeep I always drove one (Jeep).Thinking of trading for another 4x4,the salesman suggested I test a 300S AWD...I never looked back! Everything about this car is quality. Thanks Chrysler for a job well done!

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  So Many Problems - 2007 Chrysler 300
  By Kendra - August 28 - 10:12 pm

  My 2007 Chrysler has a lot of electrical issues. The radio has blown out twice with no lights, the air barely blows although freon is full, the temperature control lights have gone out, the gear shift rod is now broke and my passenger door no longer auto locks/unlocks!!!! I am so disappointed and I cant believe there is no recall on this electrical issues with this car.

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  Impressed with the V6!! Not so impressed with tran - 2015 Chrysler 200
  By Ryan - August 27 - 2:26 pm

  Overall I am satisfied with my Chrysler 200, its my first chrysler product, I love the styling of my car, its worth the extra money for a V6 and the black/grey rim option upgrade like I chose. However my only complaints is the transmission shifting, its mostly rough 2nd to 3rd gear often, also when i have my iphone plugged in to the entertainment system, the music played through my speakers is very static, bluetooth audio playback is fine, also there are misc noises rattles from sunglasses holder and center console that I shouldnt hear at 5600 miles, but I have to take it in for recall anyway. Other than that the engine is great, lots of power and looks like a nice car, I have 3 year lease, so awhile to go!! but I love it!!

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  Best Car Ive ever Purchased - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Demetries - August 25 - 11:34 am

  First off this is 2015 I just bought a 06 Pacifica that just hit 100k miles, the car is a dream, drives with no issue. I would expect a truck to ride rough have a lot of blind spots but it is a dream. one thing that definitely wins me is the space! I am 6"1 I have long legs and it always has been a issue with me driving or sitting in the back. the car is wonderful! I am ready to fill it up with some kids of my own for the 4 seats in the back. only issue is have is there really isnt much storage space in arm or eye reach. i am use to storing stuff in different places that is reachable when i am driving. not good on gas but I am coming from having Cars for over 10 years into the truck world, but its good on gas on the highway.

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  Far better than ever expected - 2015 Chrysler 300
  By Steve - August 24 - 2:23 am

  I was in the market for a German Midsize Sedan. I test drove the BMW 328i, Audi A4, and the Mercedes CLA250 and C250. My wife asked me if I had any other cars on my list and I said "yeah, the Chrysler 300 but I dont think itll hold up against the other 3 we drove". My wife convinced me to go drive it since it was on the list. We didnt even get 1/4 mile and we both were simply blown away! The Chrysler 300 for some strange reason is compared to other American sedans and a Japanese sedan or two, but for some reason they are rarely compared to the 3 Euro models I listed above. Why? I have no clue other than it might be political because the 300 puts them to shame. Yeah, the others have a couple interior things that look a bit better (not by much and prob not noticeable by most people) but when you compare the engine, the ride, the bang for your buck its not even a comparison. Once we were done test driving the 300 it was a easy decision, we werent going to spend $5k-$10k more just to have the BMW, Audi, or Mercedes name on our car.....we wanted the best riding, most spacious, and most upgrades we could get and save $5k-$10k! We ended up getting the 2015 300S in Black and absolutely LOVING IT!!!