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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  pt cruiser - 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By dckusnick - June 3 - 2:00 am

  i have had a blast with my new pt/gt! the gas mileage for something this fun is what i expected if not better. it sure turns alot of heads going down the road, especially when you get on it.

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  Mr Ts PT - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Mikey - June 2 - 10:10 am

  Ive had my PT Touring Edition for 5.5 years. For the most part it has been a very reliable, consistent performer. Im a big 63" guy and I test drove a lot of small SUV-type vehicles. The Cruiser was one of the few that gave me plenty of leg room without banging mt right knee into a center dashboard console. I kept to the maintenance schedule and after 71,000 miles, other than front brakes, tires and a leaking valve cover gasket I havent had to put any money into it. Now for the bad news - it has a very wide turning circle which is very annoying trying to park in tight spots. The mpg is not that great for 2.4 4 liter engine and the engine is dog while running the AC.

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  Practical and reliable around-towner - 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By roro - June 2 - 3:23 am

  Ive had great experience with this car, now nearing its end. The car has always run well and trouble-free, except for a cat converter replacement at about 110,000 miles. It drives well for a tall car, and with a stick shift it is fast enough. Loads of room to haul stuff. (I can get a couple of mopeds in the back.) I think it has been much underrated for practicality and utility. People think only of style when they think PTs, but that is hardly the whole story.

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  More Blues from Chrysler - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By garcande - June 1 - 12:02 pm

  Well folks, Im still waiting for the convertible top motor. I had to pay $762.00 back in June before they would order the part and they still cant say when it will come in. Its missed two due dates and now theyre saying December, maybe. They cant give me an explanation, either. Other than that the car has been running fine, though I only drive 10 miles a day to and from work. Thats all for now.

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  300C - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Warren - June 1 - 4:00 am

  Great performance. Great car. Vast improvement over Chryslers of the past. The only problem that I have (a minor one) is that when you stomp on the gas pedal, the engine almost red lines before the transmission shifts.

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  Love the PT - 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Mark - May 31 - 8:56 am

  This is my third PT. My first of the Limited and I wished it had a little more power and better handling. In 2004, I traded it in for the GT and Ive loved it ever since. But Ive always wanted a convertible so I just traded it in for a Vanilla one with the turbo. I couldnt be happier. Ive read some comments about discontinuing the PT and I hope its not true because Ill want another one in a few years.

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  Most Fun Car Ever - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Sherry Nuijten - May 31 - 2:06 am

  Wife loves this car. Traded in Saab Turbo Convertable for this Loaded PT Cruiser. Great riding car on the highway. 28 mpg on highway and 19 in town.

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  Great car - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Mike - May 28 - 4:03 am

  Great riding car however it feels slightly underpowered even though it has a 250hp engine. Fuel economy is not great but not that bad for the size engine. With the addition of the auto-on headlights and memory seats the car would be perfect.

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  fun, fun, fun - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By ed - May 27 - 11:23 am

  Going thru second childhood could not be more fun thanks to my crossfire. Every time I stop at the supermarket, gas station etc.. I get people coming up and talking to me about my car and that is very enjoyable for a retired guy.

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  Bill & Marlie - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Bill Garlati - May 26 - 5:30 am

  We have owned to Mercedes 500 SEL and this is as good a car at 1/3 of the price.