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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  GT is out of sight!! - 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By lubbie1 - November 23 - 2:00 am

  Only had the car a few months. No problems to report what so ever. GT turbo is awsome. Acceleration is great. Handles like a sports car. Interior controls take awhile to get used to. Gas mileage seems to be around 20 mpg on the highway. High output Turbo requires Premium gas. Gas mileage would be better if lead foot is left at home.

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  Fun Car - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By moddog - November 22 - 3:16 pm

  Love this car. the ride is excellent and the power is a blast. nice and quiet too

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  Lots of fun!! - 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Frankie - November 21 - 2:33 pm

  I have only had my PT Cruiser for a month but a week after we got it we went on vacation to the Great Smokey Mountains. It was wonderful riding through the mountains with the top down. The transmission was great going up and down the mountains. We didnt use the brakes much. I love the get up and go and the sound of the turbo. The trunk held all of our luggage, plus. You just have to bend over more to get to the trunk but that was fine. I traded a Lincoln Aviator for this car and it was the best thing I have done in a long time. No regrets!!

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  Never too old.... - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By ginna york - November 18 - 5:04 pm

  for a sporty convertible. My 2004 Sebring is my retirement baby to travel the countryside. Im 63, always wanted one, finally have one and loving it. Sporty Granny.

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  Avoid all PTs regardless of year - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By wolff - November 18 - 10:00 am

  This car has great body lines, turns a lot of heads, and at times can be fun to drive. My PT is 3 years old and is worth only $2000 more than what I sold my 1997 Neon for. It does not hold its value and all Chrysler dealerships are EXTREMELY UNPLEASANT to work with when dealing with problems (Ive been to 3 different ones and had to embarass the manager in front of other customers to get the car fixed - and it was a SAFETY ISSUE). This is the last chrysler product I will ever buy and wouldnt recommend their products to any one...EVER.

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  Ladyrae loves her Pacifica - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Ladyrae - November 18 - 10:00 am

  This is the most comfortable vehicle Ive ever driven! The interior is wonderfully roomy. Love the dash styling! rides like a dream!

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  300c - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By slojoh - November 18 - 10:00 am

  2nd day owned took it on a road trip to laughlin nv. two lane windy roads car handles very well with lots of power. mileage estimates seem to be good as it was 225 miles to destination and fill up took 9.2 gallons. people approach me in parking lots to ask me what it is. love the car and the styling.

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  Better than old Lexus - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Ken - November 16 - 12:00 pm

  I love my 300! I had a Lexus that was giving me reliability problems. well that is putting it mildly. The Lexus engine seized up at 27,000 miles. Toyotas famous problem with thier engines I guess. I know of six other people this happend to. But now the good news. This Chrysler is almost too good! I love the way it handles and the way it is assembled. A lot better than any of my Toyota based cars Ive owned. It commmands more respect on the road and at the valet stand. No one writes Toyota Tercel in referring to my 300, unlike when I drove my ES 330.

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  Me! Me! Me! - 2003 Chrysler Sebring
  By Bob JOnes - November 16 - 10:00 am

  A very cool and good looking car!

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  AWESOME.... - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By 1st Sportscar - November 14 - 6:20 pm

  Ive wanted this car for the longest time since I saw it and test drove it. It turns on a dime and stops on a dime. The way people gawk and stare at the car makes me feel like im driving a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. This is my first sportscar and it was a great choice in my book!