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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  Too Many Electrical Problems - 1999 Chrysler Sebring
  By Erin - November 11 - 11:16 am

  143K on my sebring Top and windows no longer go down. Gauges go in and out. Sometimes I will start the car and none of the electrical will go on-lights, radio, heat, headlights. ( Which is usually fixed by turning the car off and turning it back on) The only benefits of the Sebring are that they are cheap larger convertibles that are good for local driving or high school and college students. Not many problem with the engine and they get decent gas mileage about 20 MPG. Power steering makes noises even though fluid is not needed. If you are buying one I suggest getting the lowest mileage as possible because they really start going down hill around 120K.

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  Fun Car - 2004 Chrysler Sebring
  By LenMayer - November 11 - 10:00 am

  I use it for pleasure only. All my friends like to take a ride with me with the top down. Its a real fun car and a looker.

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  Cruiser Convertuble - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
  By RayF - November 11 - 10:00 am

  Had the car for a month and it is really a head turner to say the least. Top is very easy to use and stores out of the way for rear visibility. Have the touring edition Turbo which runs on regular gas. Fund to drive and a classy ride. Other than the dark grey interior which is really too dark for my tastes, but Im working on that, it is a great ride., Gaslonie Mileage is improving as it breaks in.

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  ITS HEMI - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By J Schoenecker - November 11 - 10:00 am

  Im very happy with my 300C. Only 700 miles on it and it has me reliving my 1968 1/2 Plymouth RoadRunner, HT days, even my wife(who paid my 1st car payment for the RR) loves it. The MDS is excellent new technology and will spread once folks understand they can have both worlds (Power & Economy)

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  Love My "C" - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By DPahl - November 11 - 10:00 am

  I have only had it for four weeks and 3,000 miles, but I love this car! From the neck-snapping acceleration to the head-turning style, I think it is the best value on the road. I bought the magnesium color and I am amazed at the slack-jawed looks I am getting from BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus drivers who paid much more for their vehicles than I did.

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  Worth the wait - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By Road warrior - November 11 - 10:00 am

  This new automobile from Chrysler is definitely worth the long wait I experienced when I first went to my dealership wanting more information on the 300C which I had read and seen on TV from February. I made the decision to purchase in March and took delivery of the first 300C in this market in May! What a smooth, powerful and responsive driving machine! It is absolutely the best automobile I have ever owned (and there have been many!)

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  very happy - 2007 Chrysler Sebring
  By Jim Ech - November 9 - 8:31 pm

  Very happy with car after two years. I purchased the 4cyl w/Touring pkg. 34 hwy and 24 city. Plenty of pick up for 4 cyl and would buy another without hesitation. Only problem brake rotors are to small for the car, and warp quickly. Had to be replaced under warranty after 12,000 miles.

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  Cant Find Parts - 2002 Chrysler Sebring
  By sarasotagene - November 9 - 12:03 pm

  Great car but when it breaks you may have problems getting parts. I had to work hard to find after market lifters for the top because Chrysler was not making them. Cant have a convertible with the top not going up

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  lousy tires - 2005 Chrysler 300
  By DURANGOGREEN - November 7 - 5:13 pm

  I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT A GOOD CAR LIKE THE 300 HASTHE WORSE TIRES ON THE MARKET. A $65 TIRE! CHRYSLER SHOULD BE ASHAMED. IVE TRIED TO EXCHANGE THE TIRES AND NOBODY WANTS THEM. EVERYONE SAYS THEYRE THE WORST TIRES ON THE MARKET.

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  mmm...Ill pass. But thank you!! - 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Wallace Greemiel - November 5 - 12:05 pm

  An OK vehicle. I just cannot see myself using it as a daily driver, particularly with the dismal black seating. It may have been tweaked, but it screams "suburb soccer mom".