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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  new Pacifica - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By pacifica 2005 - April 13 - 10:00 am

  piked up my 2005 Pacifica on July 1 checked over the car and found it to be in excellent condition,fit finish ect was very good was very inpressed with the quaility of the exterior finish,the interior was good but I found that the materials were somewhat cheap looking for a ar of this price range. The engine could use more power still too early to tell what kind of fuel mileage but it seems to be fairly good. Outside mirrors should be larger and there are no conoring lights,HID lights could not be ordered for 2005,I was also not impressed with the upgraded audio system,only problem that I found was a loose button on the radio.

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  I adore my Pacifica - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By FishOhio - April 13 - 10:00 am

  This is the most comfortable vehicle I have experienced in my 60+ years. It is a joy to drive and a pleasure to ride in. Much to my dismay it was broadsided - at 30-35 mph- other party did not apply brakes. The safety of this vehicle is amazing. The reinforcement bars protected people from injury and the interior of the vehicle. Crash rating should be 5 stars. I love this vehicle and hope to have it for a long time

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  PT 2 FUN - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By roscoe1964 - April 13 - 10:00 am

  Never regretted buying the PT. My wife absolutely loves it. The only drawback is the turning radius. Everything else is fantastic. It would be nice to get better gas mileage but with the 220 Turbo it is still good.

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  Fun, Again - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Jeff Richards - April 13 - 10:00 am

  This car has all the features of a luxury car, but the performance of a sports car. It has a much smoother ride than the 300m, and the engine response is powerful. There is a very slight hesitation when you push the accelerator hard to the floor, but it is worth the wait when the Hemi leaps forward, and you feel yourself pushed back into the seat. Thank you Chrysler for making driving a fun experience again.

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  Best Car Ever - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Paul McSkimming - April 13 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car Ive EVER driven!!! That is including ANY Mercedes E-Class!!!! Least Expensive car for the money. Were lucky their not charging any more for this vehicle!!

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  chrysler 300c - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By wkenn - April 13 - 10:00 am

  this seems to be a great car. I traded a bmw 530i to this car and it is equal or superior in every aspect.

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  Great Car - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Kimmy5 - April 13 - 10:00 am

  Best car and luxury for the price!!

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  great ride - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By rvpoppy - April 13 - 10:00 am

  The Chrysler 300 c is a fun ride. Very smooth up to over 100mph. The car is so quiet, you feel like you truly are in the lap of luxury. It has the look of a very expensive sedan.. The nav system is easy to work, I could never be without one again. I enjoy having the power I need when called on. This baby will not let you down. When you stand up on the pedal, that Hemi will set you back in the seat. We are totally elated with our new Chrysler 300 C.

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  Dream Car - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By OhioGolfer - April 13 - 10:00 am

  Unbelievable car for the price. Elegant and aggressive lines, quiet, good power, nice handling, spacious. Only car I have ever owned where I repeatedly get stopped or approached by people wanting to know what it is. A great blend of large car luxury and comfort with muscle car power and performance. Instrumentation and interior design are logical and elegant, without being gaudy. Handles extremely well for a car its size. Huge luggage capacity. In short, it is a tremendous driving and ownership experience.

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  love it!! - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By vsv - April 13 - 10:00 am

  This car is fantastic!. Ive driven mercedes for the last 15 years and this car is as good as any benz for about 40 grand less than the S-class. You cant drive this car without people looking and giving you the thumbs up sign.