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 Compromise - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Go Blue 74 - March 12 - 2:00 am

  We had 2 mercedes: the E-320 and the ML-320 (plus a pickup). We wanted to simplify our life by replacing the 2 mercedes with one car. We wanted a car-like luxury SUV. The Pacifica fills the bill very well. Overall quality is better than the ML and less than the E. Our son (with advanced degrees in art and design) says this is the best looking car we have every bought. I agree.

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  Happy Birthday To Me--My New Pacifica - 2006 Chrysler Pacifica
  By MsBhaven1 - March 11 - 7:20 pm

  I love this car. I have had it for 1 week and have done both city driving and highway driving and it handles beautifully and rides so smoothly I feel like Im on a magic carpet ride. The features on this car are well laid out. At first I was put off by the location of the remote stereo/audio controls (they are located behind the steering wheel--but after using them I realized that it makes most sense to put them there since your fingers are natually wrapped around the wheel. The bass with the Infinity Intermezzo surround sound is kicking. And the 19" wheels hug the road like a sports car. I feel like a 16 year old again--I go out and just sit in this car to get away from it all.

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

  Great car

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  Show-stopper/Head-turner - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Anna - March 10 - 7:10 pm

  Although it is not the Hemi, I feel that it still has enough power to get you where you need to go and in good timing. It has been one of the better looking vehicle I have ever purchased. I am a Chrysler fan, being that this is the 6th one since 1980. This car is very roomy and the design is one of the best. Handles the road well.

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  200s 6 cyl loaded. I Love This Car! - 2016 Chrysler 200
  By Mike F - March 8 - 9:47 pm

  This is a great car. I have 23,000 miles on a 2016 model. Plenty of power. Interior with leather looks great. No mechanical problems at all. The only time I notice the CVT transmission are when starting cold and just the first shifts from park. Performance on the road is excellent. You can accelerate out of any situation and it sounds great doing so. I would have gotten the all wheel drive for the added performance and because the car is worth the investment.

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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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  Owned only a month - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Joseph Boyle - March 7 - 3:11 pm

  Very little storage space. Youll need a box to hold emergency items like jumper cables, flares, ice scraper, etc.

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  Beautiful Car - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By buck parrish - March 7 - 12:36 pm

  I have had my 300c for six months now and love it. I have not seen any other car on the road that I would rather be driving (In the $40,000 price range). The hemi offers power and the exterior design is a thing of beauty. It has a roomy interior for people that are tall and/or have big bones. The navigation system and wood grain options are both big pluses. Passengers are treated with a roomy back seat. As long as I do not have mechanical problems I can see myself driving this car for a very long time. Overall this car is a hoot to drive and with the bold design expect to turn a few heads, especially if you pimp it out after market.

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  Best Vehicle Ever Purchased! - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By martyleo - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Chrysler hit the nail on the head with this crossover vehicle. It is absolutely the quietest and smoothest vehicle I have ever owned. It had responsive steering, wonderfully adequate a/c, killer electronics: i.e. put in the key and the memory puts the radio stations, mirrors, pedals, and seat where you had it...it does it for two people! Fit and finish are incredible. The rear seats are adjustable just like the front buckets. The rear gate opens electronically, a/c vents for all THREE rows of seats. Guess what? were pulling our boat with it.

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  Good looks - Poor Quality - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Steve Libson - March 7 - 2:00 am

  Dont let the good looks of this car influence you into buying one. The quality of this automobile is as poor as any car I have owned in the past 30 years. Ive owned this car 6 months now, have 7000 miles on it and have had it in the shop 6 different times for a total of 13 days for various problems - mostly with the drive train and steering.