Overview & Reviews

For more than 100 years now, Ford Motor Company has been selling mass-produced automobiles in the United States and around the globe. Known as one of the Big Three American manufacturers, Ford has attracted millions of loyal customers with a wide range of vehicles that offer considerable value. The automaker's trucks and SUVs have been especially popular. For decades, Ford's F-Series truck has been the best-selling vehicle in America.

The company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903. Ford dreamed of building a car for the masses, and that's precisely what he did, most notably with the immortal Model T of 1908-'27. The latter was bought by 16.5 million Americans during its 20-year lifespan and was affordable enough for Ford's own factory workers to purchase. Ford's early years were also distinguished by its introduction of the moving assembly line. It was the first to utilize this more cost-effective method of production, and its innovation became a mainstay of the manufacturing process.

Ford expanded into the luxury-car market with its purchase of Lincoln Motor Company in 1925. Over the next few years, the company broadened its focus even further by creating the Mercury division to produce mid-priced cars. By the late '30s, Ford had unveiled the stylish Lincoln Zephyr, introduced a low-priced V8 engine and built more than 25 million vehicles.

The 1950s saw the introduction of the legendary Thunderbird. Offering sleek styling and spirited performance wedded to available luxury features like power windows and a signal-seeking radio, the car was a huge hit. Another model of that decade, the Edsel, met with a somewhat less enthusiastic reception. In the wake of abysmal sales, the Edsel was discontinued just a few months into its third model year.

Ford regained its footing in the early 1960s with the introduction of the compact Falcon, a model that was warmly received by the public. By the middle of the decade the automaker had given enthusiasts something to cheer about with the launch of the sporty Mustang, a car that went on to become one of the biggest sellers of its day. Buyers adored the Mustang's low price, available powerful V8 engines and sporty styling. The Mustang even created a brand-new vehicle category: the pony car.

By the 1970s, Ford, like other domestic automakers, was starting to suffer the effects of changing consumer tastes and new government regulations. Many of its cars became shadows of their former selves. But the seeds of rebirth were planted in this decade. In 1979, the company acquired a stake in Mazda; this move would later aid Ford significantly in co-development projects. The company also emerged with a new mindset of global competitiveness.

By the mid-to-late '80s, Ford was showing new strength with its popular Escort and Taurus models while further expanding its empire with the purchase of the Aston Martin and Jaguar brands. Meanwhile, its full-size LTD sedan (later renamed the Crown Victoria) remained a staple of taxi companies and police forces throughout America.

Ford rode a wave of popularity in the 1990s, thanks in part to the huge success of its Explorer midsize SUV. The truck played a huge role in ushering in the era of the SUV. In 1999, Ford expanded its family yet again with the purchase of Volvo's car division, and, in 2000, it acquired Land Rover. For awhile, there was talk of Ford even taking General Motors' spot as the No. 1 automaker in the world.

But the new millennium initially saw a downturn for Ford. Increased competition, a continuing operating loss for Jaguar, legacy costs and a reliance on SUVs for profit took their toll. To compensate, the company sold Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo and introduced a wave of successful new products. Models like the F-150, Fusion, Fiesta, Focus, Flex and Mustang have allowed Ford to regain its health and standing as a very competitive manufacturer.

User Reviews:

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  Perfect Compromise - 2003 Ford F-150
  By sakurama - May 27 - 2:00 am

  This truck is wonderful. While I havent had it for much more than 3 months I can say its better than I expected and I had high expectations. I got the 5.4 Lariat FX4 and the power is fantastic, the offroad abilities are surprisingly good and the comfort is fantastic. The truck is quiet and solid.

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  Cool... - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Arvissers - May 27 - 2:00 am

  Have had many people very interested in vehicle after purchase. Fits my dad with headroom to spare and he is 6- 4"... The only bad things about it is the fuel economy - to be expected - and wouldnt mind a small V-8 in the engine bay. Really make this baby hum. Other than that, I love it. Great SUV/Truck.

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  Tough - 2002 Ford F-150
  By Ligwi2332 - May 27 - 2:00 am

  Best truck i ever drove !!!!

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  I love my Focus - 2001 Ford Focus
  By Josh - May 27 - 1:36 am

  I am 350lbs and I am totally comfortable in this car. Great mileage and fun to drive. One of the most powerful 4cyl, 120ish horsepower engines ever made. Total thumbs up for me.

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  Pleasantly suprised and relieved ! - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By A. Bowen - May 26 - 11:03 pm

  I reluctantly parked my F150 5.4 V8, like many others, and chose the Fusion to benefit from fuel mileage. I managed to lower my monthly payment and figure to save approximately $200 a month in gas. I had driven the Fusion a couple other times and was not really that impressed. But, I gave it another chance and ended up buying it with a great Ford financing deal. This car is a very pleasant surprise! There is almost nothing negative to say about it. The 4 cyl is adequate with 5 sp manual, but would be much better with more HP. The best part is the Sport Appearance Package - handles like a dream! Buy this car - you wont be disappointed.

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  06 Focus S Sedan - 2006 Ford Focus
  By sk69 - May 26 - 7:24 pm

  Have a Focus S Sedan (auto, a/c) since early 2006. Car is lots of fun to drive due to great handling and responsive engine. Had it at the dealership once for squeaking noise (parking brake cables), which got fixed on warranty. Fuel economy is bad for a car this size (approx. 60% city/40% hwy in New England: get 19-20 mpg in winter, 22-24 mpg in summer). Car is starting to rust now (many small spots doors, door frames).

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  302k miles and no problems - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By veblenesque - May 26 - 6:41 pm

  This SUV is amazing. It is amazingly big, tall, fuel inefficient, and difficult to maneuver. But Ive got 302,000 miles on the original 5.4l engine and transmission (which works out to 20,000 gallons, or $80,000, of gas). This is a serious SUV that should only be used by those who need it. Even with a V8, it is surprisingly slow. You need to pay attention when youre driving it, and a long trip can be stressful. But it holds a lot and is surprisingly competent offroad.

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  Great vehicle - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Robert Stiskin - May 26 - 5:40 pm

  The only drawback is the slow pick-up on a highway entrance ramp. Other than that the vehicle is great. Might be too small for a family but for a couple or single person its more than enough room. With the cruise control on at highway speeds I get about 35 miles to the gallon. The traffic lights in my hometown are not synchronized so there is a lot of stop and start. And I average 26 mpg around town. Cold weather impacts the mileage too. The Escape Hybrid performs better in the warmer weather. Highly recommended.

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  Good value - 2003 Ford Taurus
  By K Rohrer - May 26 - 4:36 pm

  We bought this to be our main family car (now that the kids are all gone). Had 28k on at time of purchase, 84k now. Had a few mechanical challenges, nothing unusual except the trans torque converter about 80k. No fireworks but is not unattractive. And, I can count on it. My mileage is better than most reviewers: 24 around town, up to 37 on a trip (yeah, you read that right!). In fact I just returned from a 400 mile trip and got 37.8. Double checked the math etc.! Just made a 04 Explorer our main car. Was going to replace Taurus with "fuel efficient car" but why bother?

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  Im happy with my choice - 2001 Ford Mustang
  By the real deal - May 26 - 4:17 pm

  I had been shopping around for convertibles and one day I happened to stumble upon this one. Im glad I went with this car because it was probably the best convertible with a decent amount of performance Ive come across for my price range. I have an automatic model and prefer a manual transmission but because this car is so much fun to drive and its my daily driver, I dont mind not having control of the gears. Ive only had the car for less than a week and bought it with 86000 miles so I cant say much about reliability. It eats gas up in the city but you have to kind of expect that from a V8.