Chrysler has been through the wringer ever since Lee Iacocca came and left.

They’ve been owned by American investors, German/American investors, and now back to all American investors and they still seem to be able to provide some really good cars in both economy and sedan models.

Chrysler may try to do some recycling at their plants in the US, and after many years of calling for one, they finally have the 2009 Aspen SUV hybrid—about time! A Chrysler spokesperson said once that their diesels were their hybrids—okay?

In any event, we took a look at two family sedans and whichever one you choose, don’t forget to buy a Chrysler extended warranty to help your resale or trade-in values or for those needed repairs once your 3 year warranty runs out.

The 2009 Chrysler 300 – The Best

US car makers get a bad rap on safety no matter if it’s Chrysler, GM or Ford, but the 2009 Chrysler 300 delivers as a quality family sedan that is luxurious to drive and comes in the base LX to the C-Hemi to the SRT-8.

The LX models have 2.7 liter, 6 cylinder engines and the Touring models have 3.5 liter, 6 cylinder engines, both of these models come in rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Limited models also have a 3.5 liter, 6 cylinder engine and the C-Hemi has a powerful 5.7 liter, 8 cylinder engine.

Finally, you can’t beat the power of the 300 SRT-8 with a 6.1 liter, 8 cylinder engine. They range in price from $25,150 to the SRT-8 at $42,405 and offer up 15 to 21 miles per gallon depending on model. There is no noise when you drive this car and it rides very smooth. You’ll pass up the cops with the SRT-8, but we don’t recommend that!

We liked what Chrysler has done with this 300 and the exterior has that look of, “Yeah, I’m that good.”

The 2009 Chrysler Sebring – The Worst

Whatever Chrysler was thinking when they redesigned the Sebring, they should have left it alone.

It comes in regular and convertible options and models range from the LX to the Touring to the Limited. The LX comes with a 2.4 liter, 4 cylinder engine and both the Touring and Limited models have both the 2.4, 4 cylinder and the 2.7 liter, 6 cylinder engine.

The fuel efficiency for the Sebring is high at 24 miles per gallon and prices on the sedan models range from $20,500 to $25,900—you’ll pay more for the top of the line convertible at $34,700.

Consumers don’t like the redesigned Sebring as much as prior model years and from the number of dealer sales, that’s clear. Even the experts call this sedan, adequate, not even “good.”

Summing Up Chrysler

Like we said, Chrysler has been through quite a bit, but their 2009 Aspen SUV will have a hybrid option in 2009, but it’s pricy at $45,000+.

We would like to see Chrysler be more responsible for our environment, especially since they are one of the Big Three and we need some big corporations in the US to start being responsible instead of relying on all the Europeans and Japanese to do it for us.

With new leadership again at the helm in Detroit, we’ll see if Chrysler changes their concepts and starts turning “green” anytime soon.

We did love the Chrysler 300 and when you purchase yours, don’t forget to pick up a Chrysler extended warranty to help your resale value, trade-in value and to help you with repairs beyond the Big Three’s same old, same old warranty – 36,000 miles.

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