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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  Ford customer service is the worst part - 2013 Ford C-Max Energi
  By slant33 - March 28 - 12:59 am

  Fords MyTouch (Nav & entertain system) is truly a lesson in anger management. Tho the car can be equipped with many features, the quality or operation is low compared to the price of the car. But woe to you should you need assist from Ford HQ resolving any issues. Their customer service rates a zero and would test the patience of any preacher.

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  Great little SUV - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Bz - March 28 - 12:16 am

  It runs down the road very well: it is comfortable and handles well. It takes a while to get accustomed to using the electric side of the power equation. It makes one very aware of the energy cost of driving at high rates of speed. By using the data provided by the car one can achieve maximum mileage per gallon of gas.

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  I love my car! - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Hillary - March 27 - 10:13 pm

  I have had several SUVs but missed the comfort of a car. The 500 is the best possible choice. I bought it right before 2 huge snow storms and it went right through everything. I LOVE MY CAR!

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  Sturdy, Strong, Roomy, Great - 1998 Ford Escort
  By Andrew - March 27 - 9:14 pm

  I bought this car two years ago and although had some mainenence done on it, it has not let me down once. I changed the timing belt, water pump and an O2 sensor. Engine at 143k going strong, with a lot of life left in it. An air filter was missing and a bug got caugth in the idle air flow solenoid. I drove from Grand Canyon to Las Vegas with idle at 4000 rpm. Engine is still going strong without a problem. These ZTEC engines are fantastic. Team Ford at Las Vegas did rip me off with a 1000 dollars to change the solenoid! Never go to the dealers! This car is fun to drive, I hauled our whole house with it, big cargo, nice space in the trunk. Very fun to drive the manual!

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  America is getting back in the game! - 2008 Ford Edge
  By NAFAS - March 27 - 8:59 pm

  Ive owned many new cars, mostly foreign over the years. I was afraid to commit to American, because their track record was not the greatest. I decided to check out the Ford Edge since I was in the market for a new CUV mainly for my wife. I looked at all the competition, and we already own a 2007 Santa Fe. I have to take my hat off to Ford. Their business plan is working, because this car is absolutely amazing! Excellent feature set, great design, fantastic build quality, what more can you ask for. Compared to the competition, I believe they truly have an "edge." Im happy to support the American economy, now that Ford has a solid product! Fuel economy is on par with all other CUVs.

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  Good Buy! - 2008 Ford Ranger
  By 3ABirdMan - March 27 - 4:34 pm

  I traded in a 03 F150 FX4 SuperCrew Lariat (14.4 MPG). I didnt need 4 doors anymore, and needed better fuel economy. I looked at the Chevy/GMC and Toyota before deciding on the Ranger. I am very satisfied. At 63" & 255 lbs, I couldnt fit in the Chevy/GM due to lack of leg/knee room (I have no problem in the Ranger because of dash and console design!) and the Tacoma was too much money. I love the "feel" of the seat - it is firm and comfortable, with a good ride. The 2.3L 4-cyl engine is great for economy, but lacks power IF you have to haul alot of cargo or pull a small trailer with the A/C on! Empty, acceleration and power are fine. I really like the Ranger, despite the small size!

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  Ford finally gets it - 2007 Ford Edge
  By usafastaners - March 27 - 4:25 pm

  I was shopping for an SUV for 10 months. My choices were down to Lexus RX400, Mazda CX9, Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX. For the price the Ford Edge was the winner by far. It handles very well with quick cornering response. The 263hp V-6 is a hot engine. I hear Ford is already thinking of dumping it. Dont do it! I love the Vista Roof. Its like driving a convertible SUV. I have to agree with a previous review. The navigation system is wonderful but no free updates. That stinks for a $1200 option. All in all I love this vehicle and recommend it to anyone looking for a car.

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  Awful - 2003 Ford Focus
  By Richard - March 27 - 12:26 pm

  Picked this up just over a year ago with 38,000 miles on it & over a year of original powertrain warranty left. Since then, its been into the shop many times. Ive spent over $3,000 repairing this vehicle, replacing the a/c compressor, the a/c condenser, the alternator, the tensioner pulley, & the front sway bars amongst other things. None of the repairs were covered by the warranty. The car now has 47,300 miles on it, & I cant wait to trade it in. In my opinion, I think that overall, its a good idea poorly executed, put together with poor quality parts.

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  Great on gas, bad in snow. - 2002 Ford Focus
  By ScottK. - March 27 - 11:45 am

  I had my Focus for one year and put on 15k. I didnt have any mechanical issues at all. The car was great on gas, about 25-36mph, city/highway. The car was unstable at highway speeds in snow even though it had traction control. I crashed the car in snowy conditions and was able to walk away with only 2 small scratches. Id get another one, but wouldnt drive it long distances in poor winter weather.

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  Very happy with 2014 Explorer - 2014 Ford Explorer
  By WestMich - March 27 - 11:38 am

  This 2014 Explorer Limited is my second in a row. Company cars. I have around 60k miles on her and she has been a workhorse at over 30k miles per year. When you drive this much and spend so much time in the car you learn what you like and do not like about a car quickly for everyday use. Pros: Comfy seating, heated seats in front and back, cooled front seats, HEATED STEERING WHEEL (not an option in any Subaru and many other winter-built cars which blows my mind), large capacity rear storage and very functional, push-button rear seat/storage configurations, adequate acceleration, adequate GPS. Great back-up camera and love the audio back-up notification if something is in the way. Confy ride on the road. Has given me no mechanical trouble since day 1, which may be my favorite thing about it. Cons: The infotainment system is a total fail--complicated interface, controls stink and voice recognition is infuriatingly horrible. Those designers need to be reassigned to shipping and receiving. Randomly freezes and re-boots. Second row of seats has poor leg room for an SUV this size. AWD system selection that adjusts torque/gear ratios based on selection is not my favorite. Had to get snow tires for decent snow traction, and ground clearance could be better--I have been stuck in 6-8 inches of snow. Nit-picky things: The front console storage is poorly designed in my opinion: just a huge cavity--how can this be practical? Anything that goes in on the bottom is necessarily inaccessible if you put anything else in there. Also, the storage under the touch screen is just as bad--had to access the USB ports and it is just a cavern where things are jumbled together.