Originally, Chrysler was founded by Walter Chrysler with the remains of the Maxwell Motor Company in 1925. One of the Detroit Big Three, it was acquired by Daimler-Benz in 1998. In 2007, Daimler divested Chrysler and it became Chrysler LLC till 2009. From 2009 it was known as Chrysler Group LLC, till the time Fiat S.p.A merged with it. Since 2014 Chrysler has been a subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Officially known as FCA US LLC, the group also owns Dodge, Ram, Jeep, Mopar as well as SRT.
From “Imported from Detroit” to “Let’s Refuel America” – Chrysler’s branding, as well as its premium cars, has found a place in many an American heart. Sales of Chrysler automobiles saw an 8.5% rise in 2018, and hopefully, 2019 will end on another good note for them. Till then, here are the top 15 Chrysler cars ever, ranked in order of good to the best.
15 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen
Not to be confused with the rust-bucket that was the Dodge Aspen, the Chrysler Aspen was a full-size SUV based on the Dodge Durango. The idea was to take a hardy SUV and add every luxurious trim to it. Sadly, despite the plush concept, the prices were high and the sales were low. In 2009 it made a quiet exit.
14 1995-2000 Chrysler Cirrus
For some reason in the ‘90s, Chrysler was gung-ho on meteorological-sourced nameplates. Thus the Chrysler Cirrus, the Dodge Stratus, and the Plymouth Breeze. All three cars were siblings, with the Breeze being the lowest price variant and the Chrysler Cirrus being the priciest ones. The sales of all three for the five years was about 233,000.
13 2017-Onwards Chrysler Pacifica
While this one is a baby in this group, having been introduced only in 2017, people seem to be eagerly lapping it up. A 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower makes it a powerful choice, and the hybrid model can go 30 miles on electric power alone. Advanced security and safety features also make it a good buy.
12 2010-2016 Chrysler 200
The Chrysler 200 was a midsize five-passenger sedan that was good but came with a short lifespan. According to FCA, this was not a good investment for the company, though sales remained okay all through. Frankly, this was a good vehicle among other good vehicles and died a gradual death. The people who bought it, still love it.
11 1994-1997 Chrysler LHS
The Chrysler LHS was the most expensive of the LH platform cars and co-existed with the New Yorker for its time. Motoring journalist Jeremy Clarkson gave this one a ten on ten, and described it as “by global standards, right up there with the best”. The LHS ended in 1997, but the legacy continued with the Concorde Limited.
10 1975-1983 Chrysler Cordoba
Known as the Doba to its fans, the Cordoba was a personal luxury coupe and the first Chrysler vehicle that wasn’t as full-size as Chryslers normally were. They did appear in NASCAR, though with no aerodynamics it did not go higher than a 15th rank in any race. That said, many of the earlier models are now considered collectibles.
9 2007-2009 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
Forget the earlier Sebrings, in 2008, the Chrysler Sebring convertible ranked number two in sales as a four-seat convertible, behind only the Ford Mustang open top. While the car resembled the Chrysler Crossfire a little, this was a sporty ride that people loved - till it too lived its course and was taken off the market shelves.
8 1987-1995 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible
Compared to the earlier generations, the third generation LeBaron debuted in 1987 with a decidedly aerodynamic body. A far cry from its earlier boxy design. It may not have made NASCAR, but it made ARCA and won several races from 1988 to 1998 – built by many different racing teams. The LeBaron was later replaced by Chrysler’s cloud car, Cirrus.
7 2005 Onwards Chrysler 300
Unlike its smaller sibling the Chrysler 200, the Chrysler 300 is still alive and well. And Chrysler wants to keep the 300 around for much longer. One reason is, of course, its level of popularity, with over 140,000 units sold in 2006. The powerful engine and the better ride make this a luxurious, if pricey, purchase.
6 1960-1981 Chrysler Newport
The Newport was an existing nameplate – having been a dual-cowl phaeton in the ‘40s and as part of the New Yorker in the ‘50s. The ‘60s saw it break off and become a de-trimmed economy car by Chrysler – existing as a sedan, hardtop, convertible, and a station wagon. Far cheaper than the other Chryslers, it still offered a silky-smooth ride.
5 1992-2004 Chrysler Concorde
The Concorde carried on where the New Yorker and the LHS stopped – and became the mid-size flagship for Chrysler. The aerodynamic nose gave the Concorde a low-drag coefficient which was years ahead of its time. This was a nippy, nifty drive and a popular buy in the ‘90s. Probably why it was named after a plane.
4 1939-1961 Chrysler Windsor
The Windsor began its life as a junior to the existing New Yorker. Following a production stop during WWII, the Windsor came back in 1946. From 1946 to 1948, its sales made more than 62% of all Chrysler sales, making it the king of the profit for Chrysler. By 1961, it was time to move on and so the Windsor retired on a high note, as always.
3 2008-2016 Chrysler Town & Country
Once upon a time the Chrysler Town & Country was a very different car, till it saw a new minivan avatar beginning 2000. The 2008 Town & Country entered its third generation and remained a useful and popular minivan for its time. Sales averaged 100,000 a year till finally it was replaced in 2017 by the Pacifica. All good things must come to an end.
2 1926-1993 Chrysler Imperial
The Chrysler Imperial was a top-of-the-line luxury car, enough to separate it as a marque minus Chrysler branding from 1955 to 1983. It was in 1956 that the Imperial carried the world’s first all-transistor radio at a grand cost of $150. Luxury has a price, and it isn’t cheap. Its later years saw lessening sales so it was finally retired.
1 1940-1996 Chrysler New Yorker
One of the longest-running Chrysler nameplates, the New Yorker managed to survive WWII even though there was a lull in production. It lasted a solid 56 years and wore different avatars including that classic harmonica grill. There were years of it being a bestseller and years of it selling badly, but a car that lasts more than 50 years has to be something special.