What It Is
The Chrysler Airflow is a compact crossover that is set to arrive for the 2028 model year, bringing the largely dormant American brand into one of the most popular and competitive segments in the United States. While Chrysler had previously shown an Airflow concept in 2022, the automaker’s plans have shifted substantially, and the production Airflow will ditch the concept’s seaglass-smooth styling for a boxier look with pronounced creases across the body. The Airflow will be built on a new flexible platform that will be capable of handling everything from gas powertrains to fully electric setups, although it will likely arrive first with gas and hybrid models.
Why It Matters
Chrysler had been trudging along with a small lineup for over a decade, and with the departure of the 300 sedan after the 2023 model year, Chrysler only had one model left: the Pacifica minivan. The Airflow will bring a much-needed SUV to Chrysler’s arsenal, something the brand hasn’t had since 2009, when the full-size Aspen died. The Airflow will also be joined by two even smaller crossovers, the Arrow and Arrow Cross, which will start at under $30,000 and essentially be rebadged versions of the Fiat Grizzly that launches soon in Europe. Together with the Arrow and Arrow Cross, the Airflow will hope to usher in a new age for the once-great brand and bring it back to relevance.
Platform
The Airflow will ride on the new STLA One platform, a modular, scalable architecture which is also set to underpin the Dodge GLH and a slew of vehicles in Europe. Along with providing powertrain flexibility, the STLA One platform will incorporate STLA Brain, a new scalable central compute and software architecture, and a new infotainment setup called STLA SmartCockpit. Electric models based on the STLA One platform will use lithium-iron-phosphate batteries to keep prices reasonable.
Powertrain
STLA One is designed to be able to accommodate a variety of powertrains, from pure gas setups to hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and even EVs with an 800-volt architecture. The Airflow will almost definitely show up at first with a hybrid setup, and we wouldn’t be shocked to see it borrow the powertrain from the Jeep Cherokee, which pairs a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with two electric motors for 210 hp.
The Airflow will also most likely offer a gas-only option. On its own, the Cherokee’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder produces 177 hp, which would make it among the least powerful nonhybrid compact SUVs. Both hybrid and nonhybrid models will likely come standard with front-wheel drive but should be available with all-wheel drive.
Chrysler could possibly fit the new 324-hp Hurricane 4 turbocharged engine under the Airflow’s hood, but we think Stellantis may keep that punchier powertrain restricted to the Airflow’s more performance-focused Dodge GLH sibling. Alternately, the 2.0-liter turbo could be detuned for duty in the Airflow, and perhaps paired with electric motors to create a new hybrid setup.
Chrysler could also offer a plug-in hybrid, although these more complex powertrains have proved to be less popular in the compact SUV segment than traditional hybrids. It’s also possible that Chrysler could add an electric Airflow down the line, but we don’t expect to see an EV variant until well after the other versions launch, given how the elimination of the federal EV tax credit has decimated Stellantis’s EV sales in the U.S.
Competition
The Airflow will challenge bestsellers such as the Toyota RAV4, which now comes exclusively as a hybrid; the Honda CR-V; and the Nissan Rogue. The Airflow will be positioned with a focus on road comfort to help differentiate it from the off-road-oriented Jeep Cherokee.
What Might Go Wrong
Unless you’re in the market for a minivan, it’s easy to forget Chrysler even still exists, and years of neglect may mean that a new Chrysler SUV won’t make much of an impression in an already crowded segment. Getting customers back in Chrysler showrooms will require a committed marketing campaign, and Chrysler will need to make sure the Airflow is competitive on price and comfort features in order to pull customers away from the established players.
Estimated Arrival and Price
The Airflow should go on sale in late 2027 for the 2028 model year. Chrysler is targeting a starting price of less than $40,000, and a base model could start as low as $31,000, with top trims coming in around the low-$40,000 range.
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Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.