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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  Best Car Ever: Chrysler Comes of Age - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Paul Thomas - April 25 - 10:00 am

  I drove this car almost straight out of the showroom across the country and back. This is certainly the peppiest car Ive ever driven, and it handles extremely well. I still have a 93 Dodge Intrepid which is a much noisier car. I have a fairly new Volvo Estate which also compares much less favorably in terms of road noise. So Chrysler has learned something about insulating out road noise since 1993! The cut-out from eight cylinders to four at speed works wonderfully well. In a 6,000 mile trip across country and then back and forth from Utah to Colorado right afterward, I found that the advertised 25 miles per gallon is just what I got. The return to chair-high seats is great!

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  Excellent Value And Performance - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Joe Q - April 25 - 10:00 am

  This car fulfills the objective of its designers. It is a tremendous value for the dollar. No other American car provides the luxury and performance for the dollar. It is unrivaled within the space that it occupies. European competitors meet and/or exceed it in luxury and performance with certain models, but command a much higher price. I am an avid auto enthusiast who is very hard to please. This car exceeds my expectations. It is very responsive, handles exceptionally, is exceptionally quiet, and has many fine features. What I like most about the car is its uniqueness. Chryler has carved out a niche product that no doubt will redefine the American sports sedan.

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  I love my Chrysler 300 Limited - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Ted - April 25 - 4:06 am

  Handles, rides and acts like a car should. Quiet, has plenty of power. No problems

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  Great car! - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Trina - April 24 - 8:16 am

  We just bought this car in June 2006, its a 2006 and it is a great car. Handling is excellent, engine has real power and interior is beautifully designed. Anyone looking for comfort in a car, this is it.

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  A fun car seats 4 comfortable adults just on time - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Sandra Bell - April 24 - 2:43 am

  Its FUN

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  What a Surprise!! - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By Tomas - April 21 - 4:36 pm

  This is my first American Brand car and what an exiting surprise it has been!! I started to drive in the late 70s when the quality of American cars began its decline, which steadily continued throughout the 80s and 90s. Ive owned 3 Japanese and 3 German cars and I never seriously considered any American cars until this one came out and I didnt think twice about getting it.

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By richard Harrington - April 20 - 9:06 pm

  I traded a 2001 LHS for the 2005 300C. I am absolutely thrilled with the comfort, performance and reliability. I am a Chrysler owner for life. There may be faster sedans, but not at the price or size. Thank you for a job well done. On a recent trip from florida to Massachusetts, I averaged 25.4 mpg going approximately 70-75mph.

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  Fun Car - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By M. Elizabeth Crum - April 19 - 5:30 pm

  Love the car. Lots of compliments. Rear vision is limited and a problem. Needs to have handles in roof of front riders side. very comfortable ride and big usable trunk. Great leg room in rear seat.

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  Super 300 - 2014 Chrysler 300
  By Tim Gracey - April 19 - 1:42 pm

  Good value in the size category.

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  So far, so good - 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By Hunter - April 19 - 8:10 am

  We have had our PT Cruiser for three months now, completely without incident or complaint. The Cruiser was not my first choice, but it appears to be the correct one. For a car that I assumed to be a "fad" vehicle, the fit and finish inside and out is quite good. It handles capably and is quite fun to drive. Not exactly overpowered, but adequate for a second vehicle. The ride is exceptionally good for a small vehicle of this type; it is a comfortable vehicle with more room than I expected.