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:

• 

  Nannies van - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By nannieb43 - April 7 - 4:12 pm

  Ive enjoyed driving and hauling with this vehicle for 4 yrs. Because of distance from town and present gas prices, Im looking for a hybrid to replace it. I will miss the roominess and ability to haul almost anything I need.

• 

  Lovin my new car/truck - 2007 Ford Explorer
  By brandi2596 - April 7 - 1:01 pm

  We just purchased our 07 Explorer and we love it. I have done about 1 years worth of research and had narrowed it down to either the Honda Odyssey or the Explorer. We choose the Explorer because we are still very young and wasnt ready to go to the mini-van yet. This Explorer so far has been great, drives smoothly, no sounds, very stylish and lots of extra room which is very important to us with having 2 small children. If you are looking for a new ride with plenty of room for your family, and cargo storage this one is it. Gas mileage is also pretty good, we get around 22 mpg which isn t bad considering that it is an SUV, although there is always room for improvement.

• 

  Doesnt Get Media Attention It Deserves - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By richjoy - April 7 - 5:16 am

  The utility of this crossover is wonderful. It is not as fuel-efficient as the Prius, but is much larger both inside and outside. Guests find the back seat comfortable with good viewing. I like the blue instrument lighting, the center-stack, the lighter interior colors, and tinted windows. It handles extremely well in the city and is large enough on the highway for a sense of safety). The 2.3 engine sometimes seems a bit underpowered and louder than it should be. The workmanship on my vehicle is excellent. I dont regret that I bought a $300 Garmin Nuvi instead of the $2500 built in GPS. In summary: The Escape Hybrid doesnt get the media attention it deserves.

• 

  Never Again!! - 2002 Ford Focus
  By Nick - April 7 - 12:32 am

  Oh boy. Where do I begin with this car. It is by far the WORST car I have ever owned. I bought it for the better gas mileage... ha. My 99 Grand Am with 216K gets better gas mileage and is more reliable. This car has been in the shop for everything it could possibly go for. The motor mounts dont last. Had them replaced 3 times in the past year. New tires like crazy! I was told it is a Focus thing but had 3 sets put on in the past year. The stereo sounds GREAT!!! When it works. The 6 disk has been changed out 4 times. alternator, sway bar, motor mounts, door locks, electrical system, fuel system, you name it. I am sure it has gone wrong. I will NEVER buy a ford again and would NOT recommend it

• 

  3rd Ranger in a row! - 1999 Ford Ranger
  By Wayne D. - April 6 - 10:47 pm

  3rd Ranger in 15 years. This the newest a 99 XLT Extended Cab, SB. Bought used w/ 92K at a local truck dealer. I love this truck, but the 3.0 does lack power and for such a small engine, and for that, the fuel economy stinks. It is built for a small truck however. I put new heavy duty leaf springs from JC Whitney, which lifted the rear and fixed the load droop, fixed up numerous minor wear/tear and tune up stuff (brakes, water pump, tires, plugs, shocks, etc.) At 145K, developed a lifter tick which 2/3 quart Marvel Mystery oil solved. Overall, I love it regartdless and will keep it until it dies, cause its not worth enough to part with anyway!

• 

  love the car but hate the monthly visits - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By mrscal - April 6 - 9:06 pm

  I purchased my 500 brand new and fell in love with it. My husband gave it to me for a Christmas present/baby gift. Car performed well when we had a collision later that year. Then the monthly visits began. The car has had a new blower motor installed, a ton of transmission work, three brake jobs, door repairs, interior repair, and now the radio has died. We also believe there is an electrical problem with the car the dealership has not located as of yet. I am ready to move this car on. Loved the car, but I hate the almost monthly dealership visits. I would not recommend this car nor any Ford product...and this coming from a former Ford fan.

• 

  12 years and still running - 1996 Ford Escort
  By Drew - April 6 - 3:55 pm

  I bought a new, base model April, 1996 with automatic transmission. It did not come with AC, or a radio. I have 118,000 miles on it. Pretty good runner. I put a radio in it. With basic mainatanence it has been pretty dependable. It did have to be towed away the first day I bought it though, but was repaired in two weeks and really, no major problems since. I have put new brake lines, new master cylinder, new catalytic converter, new radiator on the care. Only in the last year or so have the Ohio winters started to cause the body to rust (I didnt have it rust proofed when I bought it).

• 

  If quality is not an issue then buy one - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By Jack - April 6 - 2:43 pm

  Today is a great day as I finally unloaded my Explorer for a new Lexus. I really liked the look of the Explorer however the parts quality is very suspect. Even though mine only had 50,000 miles the drivetrain acted as if it had 150,000 miles. How Ford could build a vehicle with such poor quality interior parts is beyond me. I guess thats why Toyota is eating their lunch.

• 

  Wish I could get another - 2000 Ford Econoline Wagon
  By lindas - April 6 - 10:20 am

  Our E150 is a conversion van. It has 160,000+ miles on it and just started showing some rust. With four kids we had plenty of room and plenty of fun times. Everyone loves being able to see so much when we are driving. With two in college, we need to downsize. I will miss this vehicle.

• 

  LOVE this car! - 2017 Ford Edge
  By CA car lover - April 6 - 7:45 am

  Update 12/7/2017: Still loving this car! A joy to drive although the width can be a pain in urban parking lots where they think everybody has a Prius, LOL. Built-in NAV works very well altho you need to keep the Sirius subscription if you want traffic alerts! Sony sound system inferior to Bose but its okay (believe the 2018 models have dropped the Sony?). Love the quiet, the power, the braking and handling, the comfort (even if seats are still 1.5" too high). Still hate the cupholders, though! Be sure to make the sales rep show you all the hidden storage compartments. One of them we discovered by accident! The Edge Sport is really 2 cars in 1: in everyday driving, its a well-behaved, reasonably nimble SUV that drives smaller than it really is, due to good handling/braking. Great people and cargo hauler. We ordered 401A (Tech) pkg, Adaptive Cruise Control and Cargo Accessory pkg. Our 2010 Ford Fusion was an "almost" Accord beater--so close, but missed in too many small ways that were irritating. The Edge has corrected all those flaws: precision steering, better braking, much better seats, superior center console design (except for those cupholders; what in the world were they thinking?!?!?). Put it into "D" and drive with confidence, right off the bat. MySync 3 is easy to use, even for non-techies. But....slip it into "S" for Sport handling, and WOWIE !! Clark Kent vanishes and Superman takes his place! The moment your foot touches the accelerator, however gently, youll feel the immediate difference. The already good handling tightens up and the car takes off like the proverbial rocket (despite hefty size/weight). We flung it around tight corners on back country roads for an hour and had to seriously restrain ourselves! It handles so precisely, so cleanly; that after a short time you forget you are tossing almost 5000 lb. of tall high SUV around and not a 3400 lb. low-slung roadster. Mind you, its not as amazing as the Mondeo suspension used on the old Ford Contour, but weve driven (and owned) several other SUVs and none of them had this kind of flat-out FUN driveability. This is practicality wrapped around a fine drivers car. There are a few minor flaws: the center console cupholders are in a ridiculous place compared to other Ford models (your elbows run into them while driving). Our car, factory ordered (we did not want a moonroof), has a set of auxiliary headlights not working that the service dept. needs to fix. The cargo cover has an overly complicated close/open design vastly inferior to other mfgs. And.....well, premium gas is recommended, even though it can use regular. But youll get better performance and (according to some advice from someone who is familiar with Ford turbos) in the long run, better gas mileage as well, by using premium. BTW, far more comfortable than the new Lexus 350, whose seats are now thinner and less cushy. Only real flaws: Dumb cupholder position (should be vertically along passenger side, not horizontal where drivers arm runs into it). Front seat is too high, even at lowest point: are all Ford engineers 65" tall with long legs? Fusion had same issue!