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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  First class car. - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By lee miller - August 2 - 9:43 pm

  THIS car is the most beautiful car on the road. I have the Heritage Edition this car is an eye catcher. I have several luxury cars this is the finest of them all. chrysler keep up this style this a great car.

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  Everyone Loves It! - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By lilbitaluc - July 30 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned my Sebring Limited Convertible for ~16 months. Its a joy to drive, my friends love it and always want rides with the top down. I personally feel like a teenager again when I get behind the wheel! Mine is White w/Navy blue rag top, only seen one other this color. Its great in the snow, good gas mileage, I just love it! When she gets old, Ill upgrade to another I think!

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  liking my pacifica - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By smarch - July 30 - 10:00 am

  We have the best of both worlds...room enough for 6, but not the hugeness of a minivan or suv. Incredibly safe which was important for us. Lots of get up and go.

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  American best buy - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Bostonians - July 30 - 10:00 am

  Lokks like we do have a winner here! Thank you Chrysler, keep up the good Work, great handling, excellent performance

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  Its a Great Car, but... - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By ONeill - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I have owned the PT Cruiser for eighteen months and it has been a lot of fun. I have had zero problems with the car and it has never been back to the shop. The downside is that it gets around 17 mpg city and 21 highway. I called my service manager to see if there was a problem and he confirmed the mileage was common for the car.

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  A Beautiful Car - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Ayladragonfly - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I love the style of the PT Cruiser. Sometimes it may not have that "get up and go" when the air conditioning is on, but it will still "go" if given time. It has lots of leg room for a growing grandson. It is wonderful to pack up for a picnic. Everything can be at your fingertips. The interior should be in more colors. But all in all, I just love my PT. I hope they continue to make them. I would buy another one in about five years.

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  2005 Chrysler Pt Cruiser GT 2.4Lturboho - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By ddillard - July 30 - 2:53 am

  This is a great car, its my moms but I drive it most of the time because my car (1985 for ltd Crown Vic) is not reliable and has terrible gas mileage the worst. It is very fun to drive and my mom loves the car, but I keep it up. It is a very easy car to wash and wax untill you get to the lower grill in front. The engine that it has is only in 3% of pt cruisers so its cool. The tires for the 18 inch wheels are expensive but look soooo amazing.

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  My New Ride - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By LJ Willoughby - July 30 - 12:10 am

  I own an area rug store and had to have a large enough vehicle to make home deliveries when the van was out. Wow, I can get a 10x 13 rug in with no problem. The Pacifica offers more room & comfort as well as it handles and rides better than any vans or SUVs I have driven. Another plus is the body design, it can even make those of us in "40 something" age group still look good.

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  Miyas Cruiser - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Mike T - July 29 - 10:36 am

  Too wide of a turning radius. Underpowered. Hard acceleration into traffic hurts mileage. Cant carry much with back seats in use. Otherwise I like it!

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  Fun in the Sun - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Danny - July 27 - 12:13 pm

  Wow, this car is hot....Black Pearl Paint. The Hemi Engine..All of the features;Radio, GPS, Reverse Sensors...