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 marlonm - April 3 - 6:24 am

  I have 121,000 miles on my 300C and still love the car. In general, it has been reasonably reliable and is certainly fun to drive. I would buy one again.

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  My Chrystler Pacifica - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Emily - April 1 - 5:32 pm

  I purchased my first Pacifica in the summer of 2004 and in two weeks time it had broken down, almost got me hit on the 4-lane, and was towed back to the dealership. I then got a slightly used Pacifica-same type, different color, and after about a year it started having engine lights come on for no reason, it had transmission lights flash constantly, then the skipping started after about 2 years. It has skipped and jumped, especially when the cruise is on ever since about 2007. Then just this last week, I was driving to work and the car just quit going down the road. The steering went out, it wouldnt do a thing. By the way,I have serviced it every 3,000 mi.

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  Still Love It - 2000 Chrysler 300M
  By Carloskid - March 28 - 7:54 am

  After 10 years of loving attention, my 2000 M still turns heads. With factory chrome wheels and slightly fatter tires on the 17" wheels, it looks very contemporary. Most newer cars still retain the look the 330M pioneered in 1999. No significant problems - Except for tires, all original equipment. (Almost all highway driving). Id buy it again.

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  Gorgeous Car - 2006 Chrysler Sebring
  By katie1nel - March 26 - 4:55 am

  I love my Sebring! Ive had her for over 2 years now and have never had any trouble with her. The interior is roomy, Im 510" tall and have no problems hitting my head. It came with Eagle LS tires and I switched to Michelin Destiny. It reduced the road noise dramatically! Truck is nice and big, the back seat is roomy and I like having the option to put the seat down in the back. I get compliments on my car all the time! Glad I got the 2006 model, the 2007 and later model isnt all that attractive to me. Thrilled with it!!

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  Not Too Bad - 1996 Chrysler Concorde
  By richie91 - March 25 - 4:09 pm

  Recently purchased this 96 Concorde from a friend. His mother went into a nursing home and the car had only had 3722 miles on it. hard to pass up right? first two months of owning the car went pretty well. changed the oil in the third month. (it was pretty much sludge) websites like edmunds and fuel economy.gov say Im supposed to be getting around 21 mpg. WRONG. i have the 3.3 V6 and Im averaging about 12 mpg. Still love the car though. Only complaints are the poorly made cupholders.

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  HORRIBLE - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By Kristina - March 25 - 3:26 pm

  My sister and I both bought our Sebrings the same day. The worst decision ever. Between the two of us we have had just about every problem listed in this forum. Its awful to save up for months for your upcoming wedding and have your engine blow (happened to both of us). This car should come with a box of Kleenex for all the heart break it causes and a free savings acct. so you can get a little jump on the repair bills.

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  I love it so far! - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By R. Hollywood Wright - March 24 - 9:27 pm

  So far so good I love the interior, the audio system/dvd etc. And who doesnt love all the power options and the heated seats :) this is one classy so called mini van I have that pretty gold with chrome rims 19s Im just gone hate when I gotta buy tires at almost $200 a piece but oh well, I look good and it looks good when its cleaned up and looking pretty, I have gotten nothing but compliments on it every since I bought it, I dont drive it every day though, its my Cadillac it stays in the garage and looks pretty until a family outing or I go out to the club or a spacial occasion, I bought it used and it already had 86,000 highway miles. On it so I want to preserve it for road trips, go buy one!

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  Im a Sucker - 2005 Chrysler Sebring
  By you got to be kiddin - March 24 - 1:26 pm

  I bought this car new in 2006. The day I brought it home the computer board was shot and had to bring it back next day. Since then nothing but trouble. Car came back with scratches all over the dash and again had to be replaced. I have since paid for two sensors to be replaced had two seals and two belts replaced still not working had it done again and is now sitting in a pubble of oil outside my work. I have had to replace brakes twice new tires and makes a constant noise I only have 39,000 miles on the car. Worst day ever the day I brought home this piece of crap. Too low to the ground, noisy and unreliable. Even the sun roof leaks.

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  Great Value for Money - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Sean - March 23 - 9:17 pm

  I bought my 2005 touring model last year (2009). Although 4 years old when I got it with 79k on the odometer, bless the previous owner who obviously loved this car. In addition to the luxurious interior, comfort, quiet ride, great styling & road presence, I git it at a great price at $11,000 with 21,000 km left on the warranty. I purchased an additional bumper to bumper warranty for 2 years and never had to use it, thank God, based on some of the horror stories Ive read here. The fact that Mercedes Benz had a key role in design and building this beauty is apparent in road handling and styling. Overall, I am very happy with my Pacifica or Fica as my 5 year-old daughter lovingly calls it!

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  Great car - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By Dezines47 - March 23 - 1:00 pm

  Purchased car as a replacement for my 2000 jxi limited and LOVE IT. A convertible that can take my family of 4 to the beach for a long weekend w/ plenty of room. I read a lot about it before purchasing and ran it through its paces before settling on it. the 3.5 has lots of power and gets over 30mpg on the highway with the top down. Although it does get squirrely with the hard top down. My impressions of this car is with the top up it feels like your driving a luxury car. With the top down, pure sun worship. The biggest surprise was with the hard top up and windows down, I am reminded of the feeling of driving my 1976 Camaro around in the nice weather.