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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  2 month owner - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Rich R - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Great ride, lots of room and terrific amenities.

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  My First SUV - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By raycuda - June 7 - 10:00 am

  This has been a troublfree vehicle fr the past 10 months. It is perfect for a family vehicle as well as for hauling the kids and their friends around town. It also comes in handy when you need to transport something large that does not fit in the car. It is a perfect all- around vehicle and I would not hesitate to get another one.

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  i love my pt - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By maggiesimi - June 7 - 10:00 am

  i love my pt

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  PT Cruiser GT Convertible - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Jim from Fort Wayne - June 7 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I love this car. It is the perfect convertible for snow belters. With front wheel drive we can use it year round. The insulation of the soft top is very impressive for this price range as is the ease of operation of the top. We like the fact that lowering the top does not affect the trunk space too.

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  The Mother of all autos - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By SAM Hudhud - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I love every thing about the car drive.

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  fun review - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By ckepler - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I have found this car fun to drive, it has lots of power,quick acceleration,excellent handling and superb braking. It is very comfortable as it has about every seating and steering adjustment imaginable. I highly recommend this car to anyone who wants to put a lot of fun back into driving.

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  Mommas new hemi !!!! - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By PITRDRACER - June 7 - 5:53 am

  I didnt like this car at 1st sight but after driving it and being around it (i had 3 of them in my rental car fleet in the last year but all were base 300s with 6 cylinders) it has more than impressed me. I owned a 1999 and a 2002 300m both of which my wife and i loved. This car is just so different that it took some time to get used to. We really like the interior and gage design they are very easy to see and read. Also chrysler finally lit up the cruise control and radio controls on the steering wheel. That was one thing i didnt like about the 300ms they was hard to use them at night.

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  Gas Mileage not that bad - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Raymond - June 4 - 10:40 pm

  It gets about 21 mpg average combined driving. While certainly not in the same league mileage wise as a Civic, try fitting a 36 inch TV in a Civic.You cant have everything.The PT costs less than an a Accord, fits the same amount of people and cargo as a minivan and has a much better engine than anything in its price class. If you get 15mpg, you probably have never changed the air filter.

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  Best Sedan I have Ever Owned - 2015 Chrysler 200
  By Bodega Bay Bill - June 3 - 11:25 am

  As a point of reference, my wife and I have owned many Nissans over the years, including the Maxima and Murano. Consumer Reports typically gives very high ratings to these two cars yet they hate the 200. Sorry, but I have no idea what they are thinking. The biggest gripes seem to be the transmission and the rear seats. Okay, the transmission has too many gears, although I do get a perverse pleasure out of saying to people, "what, you only have 8 speeds?" I use the paddle shifters, which makes the transmission performed much better. This car is quite fast compared to similar vehicles. The rear seat is not that bad and certainly is comparable to the competition. If you want a roomy back seat buy the 300! I have sat in the back of quite a few cars that get better ratings and there is very little discernible difference. Measurements dont lie. Compare the rear legroom to other cars and you will see that the 200 is right up there with similar vehicles. I love the interior. The 8.4" infotainment system is hands-down one of the best you will find anywhere. Steering wheel controls (paddle shifters!) are intuitive and easy to use. Seats are very supportive without being too snug. I have the heated seats and all-wheel drive and have driven this car in the snow - no problems at all. Our Murano does better but of course it has much larger tires with deeper lugs. The suspension is a little soft, but then this is the "C" and not the "S" model. I personally dont want to be pounded by potholes and the 18" wheels are a good compromise. And despite the 295 HP and all-wheel drive, I can easily achieve 30 to 31 MPG on the highway. Fantastic! This car seems to be rather polarizing but I have no regrets after 15 months of ownership.

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  2003 Electric Blue PT - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By lyman stockman - June 3 - 2:00 am

  This is my second PT. We also have a 2002 model. The 2003 with folding front seat is great. More fun to drive then the 2002.