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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  I LOVE this car! - 2011 Ford Focus
  By juschia - March 23 - 2:34 pm

  This is my first car I bought on my own. Im 21. My dad of course came with me who has plenty of knowledge with this stuff. I wanted something affordable, good and gas, and of course, cute. This car has it all. The car is absolutely perfect. Everytime I get in it I am glad I chose a ford. Both my parents drive Fords and I love their vehicles as well. Ford has done a great job with themselves.

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  2011 Fiesta SE manual - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By broomball531 - March 22 - 1:33 pm

  I think its the best looking vehicle on the market. Im getting around 40 mpg. The Sync app takes some getting used to, but its cool being able to make phone calls hands free, you simply press one button, it plays your smart phone MP3s the same way. It has a really tight, solid feel. You can barely feel any bumps or pot holes in the road. Driving is fun, the engine is responsive and quick. The radio controls are kind of hard to reach in the middle console. Not much leg room in back seats. Best car I have ever owned.

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  2011 Ford Escape AWD V6 - 2011 Ford Escape
  By laurel2011 - March 21 - 11:28 pm

  So far, so good. I love my Escape! It is a pleasure to drive and has lots of fun (and functional) features. I spend an hour a day on the road (mostly highway) and find the Escape to be comfortable, with excellent handling and a nice amount of "umph" when merging. I am a little bit nervous after reading about all of the reliability issues other owners have experienced but personally I havent found the Escape to be noisy or had issues with brake quality (knock wood). No, this is not a Lexus but it isnt meant to be. It is a reasonably priced old school SUV with enough high-tech features that it doesnt feel outdated.

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  Great Explorer !! - 2011 Ford Explorer
  By maxirwin - March 21 - 11:03 pm

  This is the best Explorer ever!! I spent 16 years working at a Ford Dealership and have had several Explorers as demos. This is GREAT vehicle. The fit and finish is outstanding, a well thought out vehicle. It will take you a couple of weeks to understand the dept of the options and how they work, Im still learning. The handling is great for a SUV. We also have a Lincoln MKX and we love it, but the Explorer suspension is superior!! I have a Limited loaded. The only thing I wish they offered is the 3.5 SHO turbo motor. It is offered in the Flex and the Taurus, it could use more touque off the line. I guess it will happen as a sport model in a couple of years. Geart Job Ford!!

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  Awesome Car! - 2011 Ford Fusion
  By mdh2003 - March 21 - 3:53 pm

  We bought a 2011 black with black leather Sport. Love it! The engine is really smooth and definitely has some get up. The transmission shifts very smoothly. Havent driven much at all in manual mode. Seats are really supportive and comfortable. Great finish and quality with the interior. Love the leather trim on doors. Car gets lots of looks. We parked next to a 3 Series the other day. In the reflection, the Fusion by far looked better than the BMW. Looked much more expensive. Overall, its been a great experience with this car so far. Hopefully many miles to come!!!

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  My baby is about to come of age - 1993 Ford F-150
  By taffiecat - March 20 - 11:02 pm

  Well, 17 years ago I bought my little F150 stepside. It now has 90,000 miles and still drives like new. It has the original everything, clutch, glass, everything except tires, brakes, and automatic window gizmos. The truck starts up and gets me everywhere I need to go. It still pulls the trailer when needed with no problem. As for looks, she turns heads pretty much everywhere I go. The ride is smooth all the time, but put a load in the back and it is like sitting in a rocking chair. This is the best purchase I ever made. Other than regular maintenance, has needed minimal care.

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  Four Years and all is Well! - 2007 Ford F-150
  By alby144 - March 19 - 12:46 pm

  I have close to 45,000 miles now and still love this truck! I have had one warranty repair, to replace a window switch but other than that no problems. It is without a doubt the nicest truck that I have ever owned. I know somebody with an Escalade my trucks interior is nicer in fit & finish, they are equipped nearly the same and my truck cost $40,000 less! On top of that they had about 15 items to repair at their last service! Ive read about sluggish performance from the F-150, but have not found this to be so. Nor have I had issues with my brakes at 45,000 miles Ive got about 50% of my brake life left and 25% of my tread life left on my tires.

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  Fords Luxury Vehicle. - 2011 Ford Explorer
  By sonomamama - March 15 - 11:44 am

  Purchased a Ford Explorer Limited, fully loaded today. We love it! Its a new car and a fun gagdet in one. We have owned luxury vehicles (BMW X5), (Mercedes SUV) and this ranks right up there with them. My husband and I test drove fully loaded vehicles (Dodge Durango, GMC Acadia, Toyota 4 Runner, Honda Pilot, and Ford Explorer). Our decision was a no brainer. Heres what I love about the Explorer: Beautiful interior with tight seams, high quality leather, non pilling roof interior (similar to what you find in the BMWs), a touch screen (similar to an IPad) that plays DVDs, controls Entertainment, Phone, Navigation, Climate, etc. Your I-Phone syncs with it. It will store all your contacts.

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  GOOD SOLID CAR - 1998 Ford Taurus
  By ssmarkk - March 11 - 12:12 pm

  I have purchased my car in 2002 with 72,000 miles on it. Now car has 131,000 miles and mechanically sounds perfectly. Had no major problems with the car at all. Since 2002 I had to change battery, the timing belt (at around 110,000 miles which is expected), belt tensioner, braking pads, boots and front rotors, turn signal switch, fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, stabilizing link bars, 5 times changed expansion tank for cooling liquid, cabin and turning signal light bulbs, and, of course, tires. As you can see the most of the replacements are related to the routine maintenance. No problems with transmission and engine. This car become our family member.

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  Worth waiting for. - 2011 Ford Explorer
  By maddygee - March 10 - 3:19 pm

  Had the vehicle for over a month and really loving it. Fun to drive. Only one problem so far, rear passenger head rest wouldnt go down all the way. Dealer fixed problem quickly. Jury still out with the tires. For some reason Im not crazy over them, mabe thats because I had a flat after only one week. Big nail right in middle of tire. Overall Im really enjoying the vehicle. Mileage is better than I thought it would be.