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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  Bring it back - 1994 Ford Probe
  By all for it ! - October 11 - 3:27 pm

  I bought my GT almost 2 years ago. Been in love ever since. Was a daily driver till just recently, now IÂ’m putting some time and money into the improvement of it. Its got a real good base for performance. And if youÂ’ve got the time and money they can be super fast. So far with just the basics headers, exhaust, cold air intake, pcm IÂ’m around 200hp! There is just something about getting behind the wheel of this car.

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  Explorer 2006 - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By mw - October 11 - 2:30 pm

  After considering the imposts, I found the Ford to have a nicer interior, exterior, and solid build quality. The main reason to purchase at the time was a very nice short lease deal in case I found the truck unacceptable.

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  No comparison - 2005 Ford Excursion
  By BlackWidowDiesel - October 11 - 11:51 am

  Believe it or not we traded in our 2004 BMW 745i for this beast, I also have a 2003 F350 Crewcab LB 4X4 Powerstroke and love it even though it has a rough ride, my wife wanted something more practical that we can use to tow our tow hauler. I did add most of the amenties the BMW had and then some, like DVD surround sound, Bluetooth hands free set up, Ipod adapter and Pioneer nav system. This thing rides plush and has tons of power. I had a Suburban for years and it was too soft for towing. Not to mention horrible torsion bar front suspension that had constant alignment problems and bad brakes. Sub also had fuelpump problems. This monster does it all in luxury and comfort with decent MPG-Diesel

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  An all American bird. - 1996 Ford Thunderbird
  By WhartD - October 10 - 7:47 pm

  I love this car I have owned it for almost a year now and I never get tired of looking at it. This car is fast and is extremely fun to drive. I actually look forward to rainy days so I can power slide to my hearts content. Handling isnt too bad for a big American car. This is one awesome cruiser. Mine is fully loaded and I love just driving around with the windows down and the sunroof wide open. The saddle brown leather and interior is great except for a few minor build issues which I put in the improvements part. Nice premium sound system. It has a lot or bass and the speakers work perfect. My razzi body kit looks great on it in white. Mine is all stock from 1996. $22grand in 1996.

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  Why did I wait so long to buy? - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By GTConvOwner - October 10 - 3:41 pm

  After searching all the competitors out there, including the German and Japanse cars, how could anyone not consider a Mustang? I bought a GT convertible. Wow, for the money this car has no peer. Right out of the box the power and handling of this car are fantastic. To think I can get add-on accessories to boost this performance to even higher levels without breaking the bank is even better. Top down driving is fun. Your passengers in the back may ask you to roll up the windows on the freeway, but in the front seats the wind is manageable. The family loves the car and want to take it everywhere. Four seats. Great stereo with excellent bass response. Very comfortable seats (Im over 6) too.

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  The Green Beasty - 1997 Ford Explorer
  By grimby802 - October 10 - 2:44 pm

  Why I love my beat up old Ford. With 115,000 miles (and counting) she still runs like a dream. I have replaced a few things here and there (but I have with every older car I have owned) Hint for people with gas mileage problems: change the oil, clean fuel injectors, replace air filter, keep tires inflated properly, and change your fuel filter. I still get 19 miles to the gallon or higher (pretty good for an old SUV). Oh and dont drive a aggressively (makes a huge difference). 10 years down lots more to go.

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  Excellent ZX2 - 2002 Ford Escort
  By didi4349 - October 10 - 12:36 pm

  The car far exceeded expectations. No mechanical problems, has all the bells & whistles-moon roof, etc. I have gotten over 40 mpg on trips. The only problem with Fords is the cars develop a rattle that Toyotas do not have. I love this car, fun to drive and handles well.

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  Way Underrated - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Rockinroller - October 10 - 9:53 am

  Its great that reviews like Edmunds knock vehicles that are actually superb examples of engineering and excellent design/functionality. It keeps the prices low!! I purchased my 500 AWD Limited not long ago, used, with 19000 miles. I was looking for a suitable substitute to the mundane and boring SUVs and a departure from the bumpy ride from my most recent leased vehicle, a Dakota 4x4. The 500 is a complete 180 in terms of quality, comfort, utility and style. The interior is totally functional, the visibility is unrestricted and the power from the 3.0 engine is more than adequate for anything beyond a street race (at $2.00+ a gal. for gas, what the heck is so important about speed?

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  Knocking on Wood - 1999 Ford Taurus
  By Caira - October 10 - 8:33 am

  I just bought this car a week ago, and I hope this car is very reliable for me. So far my mechanic checked it out and said it is a good car for only $2,400 with 91K miles on it. So far it rides good, I like the sound of it when you floor it has a nice little roar to the engine. I get 20 mph in the city I havent took it on a long trip yet, so this weekend Ill see how the mph is on the highway.

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  Strong value. Weak engine. - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By CGM - October 9 - 11:40 pm

  Overall experience has been great. I have had the car for over a year. I have gone on two family vacations and I have not wanted for more cargo room or passenger room yet. The ride is smooth, and the level of amenities you get for the price is tremendous. The engine compartment needs a little help in the form of a stronger engine, but overall very satisfying for an everyday family vehicle.