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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  Great Decision! - 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By gman - January 14 - 11:03 pm

  I really enjoy the decision to buy a Hybrid Ford Escape. The overall quality is excellent. The piece of mind knowing that I can have great gas mileage, protecting the environment and also not send money over to the Middle East is worth every penny. I also enjoy the same benefits of a regular SUV concerning cargo space and overall flexibility. The only downside is the interior design, very simple (I cant believe there is not a holder for a cell phone!) Overall, very happy with the purchase.

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  2005 ZX4 ST - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Felipe - January 14 - 4:03 pm

  I originally bought this vehicle for my wife and I have now been driving it since we bought an SUV. I havent had any problems whatsoever with this vehicle.

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  Problems?...Not Fords. - 2003 Ford Focus
  By Derek Ripley - January 14 - 3:10 pm

  I have had this car for almost a year, I bought it with about 65k miles on it. I have never had any problems with this car other than ones that I solved, and they were problems that I could have avoided. Its fun to drive, gets better than est. gas mileage.

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  Bang for your buck!! - 2002 Ford Focus
  By Army19k - January 14 - 1:15 pm

  Recently getting back from Iraq, I felt like I needed something that would be suit me performance wise and in style. I had done so many months of research and was looking at the Nissan SE-R Spec V and Civic SI-R. But when I came across the Focus SVT I was quite impressed with the performance and standard options. Styling of this car interior wise is awesome. When you stomp on the gas you get pushed back in your seat. 0-60 in 7 seconds and the tuned suspension makes the car handle so amazing. Now, the check engine light is one of the pains that come with this car. The IMRC and O2 sensors always seem to cause problems but usually arent anything huge. Aftermarket for this car are endless.

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  New Classic - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By RB - January 14 - 10:17 am

  This T-Bird is by far the most enjoyable retro-classic 2 seat roadster to have on Sunday drives for this 49 yo driver! At a used price of $25000 for a 3 year old Red Premium convertable with hardtop that had sold for over $40000 new, this car is of terrific value to me. It is a luxury sport cruiser that just leaves a smile on my face when driving, easy smooth handling with plenty of power, and a wonderful conversation piece getting compliments everywhere! Im done with Corvettes, Miatas, and Mustangs at this stage of life and really enjoy my retro bird for a relaxing cruise with the top down. Just a great car for this purpose!

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  My sweet GT - 2010 Ford Mustang
  By Jim - January 14 - 9:23 am

  Ive had this car for 6 years now, still love everything about her. Fun to drive, flawless performance, and a head turner.

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  Spacious and solid wagon - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By cawfebug - January 14 - 8:21 am

  With about 10,000 miles, we havent had this into the dealership for anything other than oil changes. Coming from a 01 Honda minivan, this AWD wagon feels much more secure and quite. The third row seat is a great alt to a minivan, fairly easy exit/entry. 3rd row can fold flat for hauling. CVT trans is fine with me, not sure why people complain about it, it gets good MPG for such a large vehicle. Highly recommended.

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  Smooth Ride, Great Design - 2007 Ford Edge
  By cawfebug - January 14 - 7:58 am

  The AWD Edge has been a great car to drive. I was surprised as to how smooth and quite it is. All controls are fairly easy to get to given the size of the interior and the seats (except the front head rests) are very comfortable on long trips. This car is a great deal dollar for dollar. We get compliments on the Edge frequently.

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  Best ever Family Cruiser - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Tim G - January 14 - 5:30 am

  This is an awesome vehicle. I get most of the versatility of an SUV, the ride and fuel efficiency of a sedan and the roominess of a minivan. My whole family loves this vehicle. It has outstanding ride and handling characteristics that far out-perform minivans and SUVs. I also enjoy the 5 star safety rating in all areas (even without the optional side impact air bags), great rollover resistance and it also maxes out the IIHS safety tests too. The Freestyle is also handy at Home Depot because all the seats, except the drivers, fold flat. I traded in an Explorer on lease and now save about 40% gas due to the smaller motor and CVT transmission. It has by far the best third row seats available.

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  A blast to drive - 2001 Ford Focus
  By Floci - January 14 - 2:00 am

  We bought it 15 months ago new, and both my wife and myself are still in love with it. Handles like a sports car and nothing has gone wrong with it. It has 24000 km on it. I have nothing bad to say about this car. So far it is a very joyful experience owing one.