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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  Happy! - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By Lou - May 2 - 6:26 pm

  Having just come from driving an 8- cylinder Ford Explorer for the past 5 years, I was a little apprehensive about moving to a 4-cylinder vehicle. With gas prices being what they are, it seemed like the thing to do. I purchased a red Fusion (pretty color), SE package, leather seats, 6- changer CD with a Moon & Tune package. Im much happier with the car than I thought I would be. Its roomy, its comfortable and its got plenty of power. Its never going feel like a V8, but its more than I need to get back and forth to work. The Fusion made downsizing bearable without paying the Honda or Accord prices. I got much more for my money than I anticipated.

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  Great 08 GT - 2008 Ford Mustang
  By JGober - May 2 - 10:26 am

  This car is my daily driver and it is a fun to drive car. Torque is awesome it will even squall tires in 2nd with traction control on. Interior is decent although mainly built from plastic. I would advise spending the $460 for the upgrade package. I get 23 mpg everywhere I drive although I do take it kind of easy and I drive a manual. Power from V8 is great hard to keep from flooring it all the time. Shaker 500 really Shakes interior and your eardrums. Exterior looks great. I love the late 60s early 70s throwback style. Exhaust sounds great even stock. Sounds the way a V8 should. The ride is good. Sometimes bumpy on rough roads but hey its a sports car. Handles great really hugs curves well.

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  Another Great Explorer - 2016 Ford Explorer
  By Dennis Sivells - May 2 - 5:13 am

  This is the third Explorer I have owned and is the best so far. I got a Limited which is loaded up and it has not disappointed me in any way. Love it!

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  Wow! This is fun! - 2008 Ford Focus
  By VK - May 2 - 3:36 am

  I swore off small cars for 25 years after driving a Ford Escort in the 80s. I went back after gas prices went up to $3/gallon. After driving a Focus for 2 weeks I discovered this car is a lot of fun to drive. Handling is great, performance good and exhaust is tuned to sound "throaty" when accelerating. SYNC feature, heated leather seats and ambient lighting enhance the experience. After driving a small suv that averaged 16 mpg, filling up the Focus is a lot easier on my wallet. I normally drive 125 miles per week. After the first 2 weeks, I am up to 500 miles because I enjoy the ride so much.

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  The Best Sedan We Ever Bought! - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Brian - May 2 - 12:26 am

  Well, here we are, 10K miles later and we keep marveling at how much we love this great automobile. The fuel mileage is on target, no squeaks or rattles, comfortable as all getup and it goes like stink when needed. The ONLY reason it was returned to the dealer was to reprogram the dealer installed remote starter that includes all the bells and whistles that somehow got a glitch. It has been absolutely trouble free, other than that! This is by far The Best Car we have ever owned, and we trade every 3-4 years. This makes this the 15th personal car we have owned, not counting 10 company vehicles that we have had in a fleet. I have to give Ford a "Dattaboy!" with the 500.

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  Good for only 90,000 - 2001 Ford Windstar
  By mike - May 1 - 9:01 pm

  Do you notice some trends in these reviews. Mine is bad valve blowing oil and coolant everywhere. Expert Tire says it will take $680 to fix and flush refill fluids and clean it all up. Then they say the manifold and also tell me ford doesnt have parts. I will be checking this out. Why fix it? Look at all the review that follow up valve problems with blown transmissions! I have a hard time believing garage didnt see the manifold problem! Look at your price carefully! Consider these vans are great until about 90,000 and then a money pit. Expect tire and ford both rip you off! next time a Honda or Toyota it cant be any worse!

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  Not Economical for an Economy Car - 2002 Ford Focus
  By NB - May 1 - 6:54 am

  If you drive very gently, you can attain 32 mpg hwy/18 mpg city. Ford dealership seems to think this normal for this car. This car is not fuel efficient for its class, and I hope to get rid of it as soon as I pay it off. The second time I brought the car in to be repaired for leaking coolant, I was told that this make/model is prone to problems with the cooling system. In 3 yrs Ive had it leaking large amounts of coolant from two different locations at two different times. If you buy this car, avoid getting the "sporty" wheels (I bought it used, so choice was made for me). They are very expensive to replace.

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  Best Hybrid Vehicle By Far - 2013 Ford Fusion Energi
  By ivurbs - May 1 - 2:24 am

  Its rare to come across a plugin hybrid vehicle that has the three main components to making a great car; looks, fuel efficiency and fun to drive. This car has it all. Ive owned the car for just over a month now, have driven 900 miles and have yet to put in my first tank of gas since the dealership filled it for me at sale. How can you argue with that? I plug it in every night using a standard household outlet and that charge alone gets me to work in the morning and almost all the way home at night. The touch screen display is vibrant and easy to use. The dashboard can be configured to several different looks depending on what information you want to display.

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  Cant go wrong with the Ford Fusion - 2007 Ford Fusion
  By Betz - April 30 - 11:33 pm

  2007 Ford Fusion SEL (4 cyl. 4dr sedan) Ill be honest, I never thought Id own a Ford vehicle that wasnt a Mustang or a truck but the Fusion has changed my mind. My husband and I purchased our 07 in May of this year and weve loved every minute of driving this vehicle. The Red Fire Metallic with the Charcoal Black leather interior turns heads and my Dad who has always driven Audis thinks this car is extremely impressive. We drove it from NJ to KS on our family vacation this year and couldnt believe how comfortable it was. Do yourself a favor and get a Fusion. You wont regret it. We plan on purchasing a second Fusion in Spring of 08 for me.

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  Lots of Miles - 1999 Ford Taurus
  By Keith - April 30 - 3:17 pm

  I bought my 1999 Ford Taurus SE wagon in 2001 as a lease turn in. The car has never failed me. Only tires, brakes,fluids and filters have been replaced. The car bought with 29,000 miles on it for 11 grand, now has 208,000 miles on it. The tailgate is starting to rust. I hate the fact that Ford killed this car off. I would buy another one in a heartbeat, as a matter of fact, I am looking for a 2004 Sable now to replace my Taurus. The car does nothing exceptional, but everything well. It has never broken down, never been on a tow truck. The power locks have just quit on me, but for a car with 208,000 miles on it and no payment for three years, I say thanks very much, Ford Motor Co.