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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  Love My Leftovers - 2008 Chrysler Aspen
  By rakcmei - October 23 - 7:30 pm

  Leftover 08! Love this thing. Rides so smooth. Powerful but not too big. Ive only had it a few weeks, but thrilled with it. Took a couple of long-ish trips and kids were very comfortable in the back 2 rows. Have an issue with the aluminum clad wheels clunking, but there is a TSB coming out for it.

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  Crossfire - 2004 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Rajunz - October 22 - 11:20 am

  Ive owned over 50 cars in my life and this car has to be the most dependable car Ive ever owned. Its perfect, I dont see why their values wont hold up, they are fabulous cars and theyre a blast to drive.

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  The perfect combination - 2004 Chrysler Pacifica
  By bjbird2 - October 21 - 2:00 am

  The Pacifica has surpassed all of our expectations, and is a terrific vehicle for our needs.

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  chrysler hemi - 2006 Chrysler 300
  By supernan62 - October 20 - 4:10 am

  this is great car to drive. the finish is very good. the handling is good. the engine is excellent

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  Pacifica rocks!!! - 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
  By Bensonb521 - October 19 - 11:23 pm

  Traded off a 2002 Lexus RX300 and all I can say is WOW!! Daimler-Chrysler has a real winner here! Safety went into everything. Roomy cabin with excellent trim and driver features. Travels through Ice/Snow with ease and makes me feel all "fuzzy" inside. Turns heads and makes me feel good! Nobody has anything over on the Pacifica. Sorry Toyota/Lexus and anyone else trying to compete!

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  Silver Beauty - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By George - October 19 - 1:41 pm

  Two months ago we bought a red LX model of this car with a 4 cylinder engine. We loved it so much that we bought this one. It has more standard features, but is no less fun to drive. Weve had no problems with it, and its powerful, well made, smoothly running car.

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  Going Topless! - 2008 Chrysler Sebring
  By George. - October 19 - 1:15 pm

  We bought this car in red about two months ago. Its FUN to drive and its economical on gas, getting 32 mpg on long trips over the road. Weve had no trouble at all with it, and we love its styling and hideaway top which is always an attention getter! The engine runs smoothly, quietly and seems vibration free. There are no body shakes or rattles or squeaks that one usually expects to find, even in the most expensive of convertibles. Its power wont win any races, but its very adequate for most situations. We liked this car SO MUCH that we bought a silver one for my wife! Hers is the Touring model convertible with the 2.7 liter V6 motor. Pls. see th

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  Beautiful Styling & a Great Ride - 2006 Chrysler Crossfire
  By ShirazRoadster - October 18 - 12:07 pm

  Bought the car last summer on a whim, $14k off the sticker price helps, right? The car is great once you get it out of first gear (they should have combined 1st and 2nd, you have to shift too quickly), has styling that gets a "Nice car!" at least once a day, and has gas mileage that is much better than I was expecting of around 22-24 mpg.

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  Gwams Weview - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By Gwammy - October 17 - 10:00 am

  I liked this car. It has some kick.

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  some machine - 2005 Chrysler Crossfire
  By NYlawyer - October 17 - 10:00 am

  This car is beautiful. Guaranteed to make heads turn. Glad I bought this one and not the Z or the Rx8 or the TT. Like driving a mercedes. lots of power on demand. Stiff ride, like a porsche (been in that one a lot , this feels stiffer, honestly. The car sticks like nothing I ever drove. All in all, a perfect machine.