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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  wost car ever made - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Candice - July 25 - 10:51 am

  Brought this vehicle used with 130k after 5 months replaced engine and catalytic converter car still drive and perform horribly. Brakes suck suspension suck seats suck only good thing is the radio i literally HATE this car with a passion

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  If I could only go back in time.... - 1995 Chrysler Cirrus
  By jayfredo - June 15 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car used, but it only had 20k miles on it. Thankfully, I had the foresight to buy an extended warranty on this car when I bought it, because I got more than my moneys worth out of it. In the first 3 years I owned this car, I put as much money (actually, the warranty company did) into repairs as I paid to purchase it. After the warranty ran out, I have averaged $1500 a year in repairs. Note that these are mechanical repairs, not upgrades or cosmetic items. I hate to break it to the folks at Chrysler, but if this is the best they can do, I think Ill spend my money elsewhere.

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  I wish bought a Honda - 2000 Chrysler Sebring
  By smithster - May 25 - 2:00 am

  The car has been persistently in the shop for one problem or another...even the mechanic told me this particular model has multiple little problems that all put together make for an unhappy owner.

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  Test drove Limited edition - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By drramesh28@yahoo.com - May 24 - 6:08 pm

  I have 2011 Toyota Sienna, its 5.5 years old and has done 68000 miles, so I decided to buy another mini van, since Toyota sienna has planned to release their next model in spring 2017 and Odyssey is planning to release their next model by the end of this year, I decided the new Pacifica limited edition because of the hype that I have seen in the ads. This van looks good from front and kind of OK from rear ( rear is little bit shorter looking). The interior has a good speedometer display and I liked the in seat built entertainment system ( has 1 behind the diver seat and 1 behind the passenger seat). The second/third row seats are thin when compared to front seats and that over all looks weird. The storage cabinet between the diver seat and passenger seat are poorly made of cheap plastic and does not compare to the quality and storage capacity of sienna. The drive it self was very average when compared to my 5 year old seinna. We were waiting for a green signal , when the engine vibration was passed on to the van and the entire van started vibrating, my wife and I thought that the sales rep was shaking his leg but he wasnt. This van is no match for the quality of Toyota or Hondas. Consumer report even doubts the reliability of Chrysler brands and I completely agree with them. Other tactics these dealers use is, they will advertise a very low priced deal ( saying "get your internet price", this vehicle was $48000 and was listed for $41650), I went to the dealer in schaumburg, IL and asked about it and they said that vehicle was sold out??? Sold out in middle of the night? Beware buyers. Quality absolutely sucks. It all looks good on TV, but test drive it for at least a few miles before you commit to buy.

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  What Was I Thinking - 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By ddust - December 13 - 9:12 am

  Biggest mistake of my life.....and that includes 2 ex wives. My 1973, lime green Chevy Pinto was better than this car.

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  Worst car in my 45 years of owning cars - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Peter - November 11 - 1:11 pm

  This car is more unreliable than my 1995 Malibu, which I thought at the time could never be topped as the worst, most unreliable car ever. Don’t be fooled. I’ve owned my limited pacific for less than 6 months and I have a list of at least 15 things that have broken already. I woke up this morning with a non existent uconnect computer on top of everything else, which means you can’t run the heat apparently. Honestly, I am not going to waste my time listing all of the other major problems including the transmission already?! Bad job Chrysler. Worst car I’ve ever owned. Good thing I have the unlimited warranty. You will pay for all my trouble and inconvenience. Horrible

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  Electronics are Worthless - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Disappointed - April 14 - 11:15 am

  Save your money. The fancy video screens in the back are nothing more than electronic checker boards. Cannot get videos to stream to the back screens. Will not stream video from anything other than a hard drive. Netflix and any other video streaming service will not play (no matter what the dealer said).

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  great - 2016 Chrysler 200
  By shana - March 11 - 4:29 am

  Great car

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  Too new! Too many issues!!! - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Keila savage - March 7 - 9:27 pm

  I have had my 2017 Pacifica for 40 days and 15 of it, the car has been in the shop. The 3rd row which is imparitive to my family of 5 is stuck.(and after looking at reviews I see this is common) The dealership (tacoma dodge) has been a nightmare of unorganized and uneducated people attempting to fix it. Chrysler has been a bit non emergent or worried about my issue. I would never spend this type of money on a Dodge/Chrysler or Jeep again. Such a huge disappointment.

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  This car sucks - 2012 Chrysler 200
  By Chandler - February 9 - 7:50 pm

  Bought the car certified used with 14,000 miles on it. Was fine until we got about 34,000 miles on and noticed jerking from the transmission. Took it to the dealer couldnt recreate the jerking they said let check the grand fluid it may be the problem it was about a quart and a half short. It still did the jerking after many transmission shops and talking with the dealer it took about 6 months to a year before the would believe me so they had me bring it in after about 6 hours they called and the bearing in the transmission had failed. Would have thought that they would put a new transmission to my surprise repared new parts a year later the same jerking and sluggishness when driving and yes I called the company and no help the dealer (galeana Chrysler of Columbia South Carolina was no help sales men said it was my moms fault for signing the paperwork. No one give me an answer for why the transmission so that low on fluid and the company was no help at all WILL NEVER E VER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER OR FROM THEAT DEALERSHIP AGAIN OR ANY DEALER THEY OWN