6 of the Most Popular and Well-Loved Chrysler Car Models
Stellantis North America, popularly known as Chrysler, is one of the “Big Three” car makers in the United States. Many of their nameplates are sold worldwide, including Jeep, Dodge, and (of course) Chrysler. The company was founded in 1925 in Detroit, Michigan by Walter Chrysler, who was hired to overhaul the languishing Maxwell Motor Company.
Since then, the company has been acquired by Daimler-Benz and Fiat S.p.A., producing more than 70 car models to date under the Chrysler brand. Many of them remain popular to this day, especially those produced in the late 1990s to the early 2000s.
Aside from their unique style and reliable performance, many Chrysler models are also rather simple to maintain. In fact, you can easily find reliable auto parts suppliers to keep your car in good shape. All of these contribute to the long-lasting appeal of these vehicles.
That said, here are some of the most popular and beloved Chrysler car models. Many of these are still being used today, with some being veritable classics.
The PT Cruiser
The PT Cruiser was first launched in 2001, bringing a fun, fresh look to Chrysler’s lineup at the time. It was actually intended to be a Plymouth model (PT stands for Plymouth Truck), but the company eventually decided to brand it as a Chrysler. The choice paid off, particularly when the model won Car of the Year in Motor Trend’s annual awards.
The hatchback design of the PT Cruiser also proved to be wildly popular with the masses. In fact, Chrysler managed to sell more than 1.3 million units of the PT Cruiser before it got discontinued in 2010. It’s still quite a popular used car these days, particularly for families looking for a more spacious vehicle.
The 300 Series
The Chrysler 300 Series includes the 300C, a high-performance luxury coupe and another popular model for Chrysler. With its distinct egg-crate grille and crisp creases on the hood, this car looked downright sturdy and aggressive.
The same can be said about the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine under the hood, which can produce up to 340 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. It also featured cylinder deactivation technology, allowing the vehicle to use only four cylinders to drastically improve fuel economy.
There’s also the limited edition 300C SRT-8. It has a 6.1-litre V8 engine that can jet up to 425 horsepower to push the car from 0 to 60 in under 5 seconds.
The Chrysler 300 Series is still in production up to this day, a testament to its popularity and reliability. There are plenty of special editions as well, including another SRT version and a Motown edition, a tribute to the Motown music genre.
The Town and Country
Minivans are kind of divisive—some people think they look a little too frumpy, while others care more about their reliability. The Chrysler Town and Country aimed to settle the debate. It embodied the dependability minivans are known for, while still managing to look sleek and stylish.
The Town and Country is particularly renowned for its luxury and comfort compared to minivans from other car brands. The “Stow’n Go” seating also gives you even more storage space, sometimes even more than SUVs!
From 2008 to 2011, Chrysler also had the “Swivel ’n Go” seating that allowed the second-row seats to swivel and face the third row. There’s also a detachable table, which can be placed between the second and third rows. This cemented the Town and Country’s place as a truly family-friendly vehicle.
The Pacifica
After the Town and Country’s popularity waned by mid to late 2010s, Chrysler introduced the Pacifica as a replacement. It has an airier and more comfortable interior, not to mention a more generous cargo area.
The Pacifica also featured a more powerful V6 engine, better fuel economy, and loads of infotainment features. The 2021 edition sports the Android-based Uconnect system, with a 10.1-inch high-resolution touchscreen display. It also has smartphone integration and high speed data connectivity, among many other features.
The Sebring and the Sebring Convertible
The Sebring was one of the more popular Chrysler sedans. It was introduced in 1995, designed as the replacement of the LeBaron coupe. With its sleek looks and 5-star safety rating, the first-generation Sebring coupe garnered quite a bit of attention.
The Sebring Convertible was even more popular. In fact, in the United States, it gave the Ford Mustang open-top a run for its money in the category in 2008. Combining powerful performance with a stylish appearance, the Chrysler Sebring Convertible is definitely a memorable car.
The New Yorker
The Chrysler New Yorker was first introduced in 1940 and managed to stay in production for more than five decades—even through the WWII lull. It served as Chrysler’s flagship model during most of those 56 years, undergoing various design changes until its 14th and final generation launched in 1994.
The New Yorker helped establish Chrysler as a maker of upscale cars, going toe-to-toe with models produced by Buick, Oldsmobile, and Mercury.
With such a storied journey since its inception, it’s no surprise that Chrysler has produced some iconic car models. These six are just a few examples, solidifying Chrysler’s place in automobile history all over the world.