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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  Good Car for the Money - 2007 Ford Focus
  By rbogrow - June 1 - 7:40 pm

  I have had this car about a month now and so far have been pretty pleased. The 5-speed manual is very fun to drive and the car responds well. I have been getting about 30 MPG on about 50/50 driving. My biggest complaint are the really cheap sun visors. I did have a fit and finish problem with the hood and a paint drip above the rear light upon delivery.

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  Its ok, not too bad - 2007 Ford Freestyle
  By Jr - June 1 - 2:47 pm

  A Little noisy when driving , the AC is giving me a lot of problems, the interior is kinda noisy as well

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  What a change three kids makes - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Scott - June 1 - 1:43 pm

  Wow...just five years ago we had a Saab 900 Turbo, and a VW Cabrio (ragtop). Three kids later we are a Ford family, with an Expedition and now a Freestyle. The Freestyle is GREAT; hauls all of us plus friends easily around town and on the freeway, with more comfort in the third row than our Expedition, at 150-175% better gas mileage!

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  Never Bored with this Ford - 2006 Ford Focus
  By docamg - June 1 - 3:16 am

  What a pleasant surprise! I have owned the car for 4 months and am delighted with its performance, reliability and ergonomics. It is a pleasure to drive, handles extremely well and gets great mileage. I highly recommend the Focus to anyone who wants an inexpensive, fun vehicle.

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  boat anchor - 2002 Ford Crown Victoria
  By fletch lives - June 1 - 12:53 am

  This heavy cruiser is a fantastic highway car getting a high of 27.3 mpg on a trip from Savannah to upstate NY. Smooth ride as long as the hiway is smooth. Poor around town performance as the tall gearing has the transmission constantly downshifting at even the slightest hint of throttle depression. Huge trunk is not the most usable as everything has to fit in the well. Poor sense of straight ahead. Handling is pretty much non existent as the car has very poor steering feel and is easily affected by bumps and ripples on these old Savannah streets. I bought this after an accident thinking that I would be safer. I have been and it has been mechanically reliable but the downside is a boring car

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  2013 Fusion Hybrid--Efficient, gorgeous & fun - 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By hatnbak - May 31 - 11:03 am

  Have had my car for 4 weeks, 1400 miles. So far Ive averaged around 44 mpg overall, but have hit 52 on certain drives. I love all the tech features in the car (I got a number of the options), including adaptive cruise control, lane control, cross-traffic alert, blind spot warning, voice control for climate/entertainment, etc. Quality of everything feels very good & very European; if it didnt have Ford badges, could easily (from inside or out) be mistaken for a Volvo/Audi type of car (I traded from an Audi). Integrates well with my Droid RAZR and external music device (MOTOACTV)

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  Stay Away at all costs - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By Stephanie - May 31 - 7:39 am

  From day one I had problems with the radio. Now at 64,800 miles they think it blew a rod and needs a new engine! I am a 37 year old mother of 3 that drives to and from school, practices, etc. I still owe $9K on the truck and will need to put in an additional $6500 to get it running again. Oh, and Ford will warranty its new engine for 75K but not the one with the car originally --stay away. Obviously there is a defect with this engine. I am calling Ford to see what they will do. Unbelievable! I will never, never, never buy a Ford again. And this was my third one in 10 years!

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  No wonder Ford leads the Big 3 - 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By detroit ex-pat - May 31 - 5:20 am

  I had been looking at the FEH for a while and happened to find the one I wanted a dealer nearby, so I went to check it out. Anyway two hours later I had traded in my 2004 Chevy Malibu Maxx for my new FEH. So far I have put about 8600 miles on it in the 4 months I have had the car and I love driving it. Ive got a 35 mile commute from the north side of Chicago to the western suburbs (a mix of city, freeway and horrendous traffic), and I feel as though the FEH must have been designed to drive my commute. Long haul trips are a breeze as well with the sync system to entertain (or distract) during long hours behind the wheel.

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  AC Seat? - 2007 Ford Expedition
  By Ticktuktick - May 30 - 9:13 pm

  I got this limited Expedition in the winter time. I like the drive, the style and the convenience of the truck until it turns to the first summer. Many people like the AC seats. That was one of my main reasons to choose this. With a long drive, this seat does not feel cool at all. I took it to the dealer to check it up. They said it is normal. I measured the temperature with AC seat on for a 40- mile drive, the temp under my mid legs is 90º and the back is 94º and they are on the way up. Today, I just found out from a shop foreman, the cooled seats are not cooled by the AC unit like some other competitors do. They are in fact powered by the TE cooler. It is underpowered when the ambient is warm.

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  Mid-life fantasy - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By Dave - May 30 - 12:12 pm

  I bought a convertible before I got too old to appreciate it, and Im glad I did. My grandkids complain Im too old to be driving such a hot car. Car is an absolute blast to drive, head and shoulders better than my 2000 GT coupe. Car looks super with top down, and I frequently get compliments. Power top has been trouble-free, no leaks to date. Biggest issue I have is interior squeaks/rattles I never had with my 2000 GT, which are annoying when top is up. Shaker 500 stereo is nice but Im not sure speakers are suited to it. Rear defrost switch is in awkward position, hard to operate/see when in 5th gear. Using cupholders can make shifting awkward. Still, a tremendous value, super to drive.