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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  Family Focus - 2004 Ford Focus
  By Inhispeace - December 17 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle has great driving ability, I do not know about its reliablity because of the fact that I have not owned it, but just under 3 months.

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  Escape is Great - 2004 Ford Escape
  By kathypat - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I really love this smaller version SUV. It has given me the amentities i need in an SUV for storage, etc.. and the stereo/comfort/quality/drive that I like in a solid vehicle.

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  crown vic - 2000 Ford Crown Victoria
  By Mable - December 17 - 10:00 am

  I bought the Crown Victoria because I wanted a luxury ride.Even so, I never thought it would be this smoothe with such wonderful gas mileage and comfortable too. It is a quiet car with lots of space, luxury, and easy to handle. Makes driving a pleasure, and a real relief to tired muscles and back. A must have for those who want comfort, good gas mileage and luxury. Storage space is also incredible. And it handles like a smaller car, easy to park, easy to manuever. Just a great find in luxury car.

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  Not worth it! - 2002 Ford Expedition
  By matt - December 17 - 4:05 am

  I bought my expo for the look, size, and extras but soon realized that I made a horrible mistake. I have had the air conditioner worked on 4 times with hot air coming out of the rear vents, celinoid has gone bad, possible cracked head gasket, pass side mirror will not adjust to set position, and oh yeah the gas mileage does hurt duh. The room is great and the interior is fantastic but the little tick tack problems are killing me leaving me stranded in 13 degree weather twice. Oh well, live and learn!

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  Excellent condition - 1994 Ford F-350
  By f350 slt - December 16 - 9:45 pm

  This is a great truck. Very realiable. Very clean. Looks and runs excellent. Well maintained

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  Tons of Fun - 2008 Ford Escape
  By BevAnn - December 16 - 6:06 pm

  I intended to buy a used 2006 Escape, but Hubby saw this one and was hooked. Has every available option from Ford. Very happy with that. Quick and snappy, can park anywhere. Just a lot of fun to drive. Great sound system. We looked at mid-sized SUVs but decided we wanted something smaller and this fits the bill. Lots of power. Weather has been bad nearly since purchase and I drive in AWD a lot, plus with zero degree weather or below, longer warm up periods are required so I am not seeing the great fuel mileage people are talking about. (17 mpg) I hope that chances with the weather conditions. Overall very pleased.

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  Not the best out there but... - 2003 Ford Ranger
  By fordguy1212 - December 16 - 3:17 pm

  These Rangers are great work horse trucks. Ive had the bed absolutely loaded with asphalt, concrete, stone etc. and the Ranger handles it well. The 4.0L motor seems good enough for the trucks size, not very peppy though and drinks gas like no tomorrow(comparable to a newer silverado 5.3L). My complaint is the front brakes. They constantly squeal, and have a ridiculous amount of brake dust coming from them. Even on replacement with after market parts the problem has not gone away. I find it to be a serious design flaw. Overall its a reliable truck that I use often and it seems to be holding up well.

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  2017 Ford Escape SE 2.0L - 2017 Ford Escape
  By RushMan - December 16 - 11:56 am

  I built a spreadsheet comparing comparable vehicles, and the Ford Escape SE came closest to my old car at a much lower price than the price of my 2004 BMW X3 or a 2016-2017 X3 or even the smaller BMW X1 that I considered. I chose the 2.0 l turbo engine. Performance is surprisingly good. I did test drive the 1.6L 2016 model which had an odd dash interference with the shift lever and disappointing performance. Many of the new cars are overly techno oriented to the point of being a distraction and a hazard as bad as texting while driving. The Escape with Sync is a good compromise. I do not like the Auto-Stop-Start feature even though it saves gas. BMW can defeat that permanently. Ford requires a dash button push on every start. I found gas mileage is below the EPA estimates, and comparable to my old 6 cylinder non-turbo BMW X3, even using the Auto-Stop-Start on the Ford. 16 city/23 highway. 20 mpg average on my mix. Ive never had a car, until this one, where I didnt beat EPA mileage figures, even brand new. The savings is in using regular vs Premium in my old car. Ride and sound are both better than my old car, although the seat back somewhat hard.

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  The Taurus is back with a Bang! - 2008 Ford Taurus
  By lovford - December 15 - 11:06 pm

  I test drove the new Taurus on a whim one Saturday and loved it so much I bought it on the spot. We took it on its first road trip this week and it drives and handles great with an average of 22 mpg highway and in the city 17 mpg. I am very impressed with the overall fit and finish and the back seat has the leg room that can realy fit real adults. Excellent driving car with superior a safety rating. Highly recommed everyone test drive the Taurus before buying any other car!

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  Great Truck - 2007 Ford F-150
  By James - December 15 - 8:39 pm

  So far the truck has been outstanding. Last truck was a 1981 F 150 so the change is incredible. Took two trips in the last month, one of 2000 miles and the other 1200 miles. Doesnt ride as well as my previous vehicle (2005 Towncar) but great for a truck. Only problem is the gas mileage is atrociaous. Ford needs a six speed automatic.