2009 Chrysler Aspen

One of the most storied brands in American automotive history has been reduced to a single model—a minivan that is sold as both the Pacifica and the Voyager. Before that, Walter Chrysler’s car company was one of the “Big Three” automakers in the U.S., responsible for such legendary nameplates as the 300, Airflow, Imperial, and New Yorker. Today, Chrysler is part of Stellantis, a Netherlands-based automotive conglomerate that also owns Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Dodge, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, and Vauxhall. The future of Chrysler remains to be seen. But those in the market for a Pacifica should know that it lags behind other minivans in Consumer Reports’ road tests and reliability scores. The plug-in hybrid Pacifica has below-average reliability. Used car shoppers in the market for a traditional American luxury sedan may be interested in the Chrysler 300, which was largely unchanged between 2011 and 2023—but should be aware that Chrysler sits at the bottom of our used car reliability rankings.

This twin of the Dodge Durango performs similarly in key areas. Handling is clumsy but secure and the ride is just OK. Wood trim and an analog clock set the Aspen's interior apart from the Dodge's. It seats eight and has electronic stability control with roll mitigation, and three-row side-curtain air bags. The base engine is an updated 4.7-liter V8. A 335-hp, 5.7-liter Hemi V8 is optional. But in our testing of the Durango with that engine it returned just 13 mpg overall. Available options include a navigation system, heated front- and second-row seats, and a DVD entertainment system. The Aspen was discontinued after 2009.