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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  My Baby! - 2005 Ford Focus
  By ariana - April 15 - 6:37 pm

  I plan on keeping this car for the next 50 years! Ive had no problems with it at all, and the gas mileage is fantastic on the freeway. The EPA estimate is 35 HWY for my model, and on my last trip I got 34.8, while going 70 or more with no AC. No mechanical problems at all, and its compact size is great for maneuvering in Los Angeles. The car costs nothing to operate besides the $19.99 oil change I get religiously, and gas.

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  Excursion-a fun trip and room to stretch - 2001 Ford Excursion
  By FOZ - April 15 - 3:33 pm

  Although this was a "Big Boat", it was still fun to drive. The power and economy of the 7.3L/TD was just awsome. We felt comfortible, safe, and secure in our "boat", even our Great Dane agreed. On several trips, the unit always performed to expectations and more. There was always enough room for everyone and everything. Even pulling a trailer was a joy. We hardly knew the trailer was there. We would gladly replace our present vehicle with a newer one (2005 being the last of the line), but for the right price. Right now they are still over priced on resale and under priced on trade values.

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  It rolled over and died :( - 2003 Ford Explorer Sport
  By yvette - April 15 - 3:23 pm

  Bought this Explorer in 03. It averaged about 20 MPG (which, I think, is more than advertised). It was a little rattly - random noises that I didnt know where they were coming from. It drove well. I think the clutch was maybe starting to go out? It sometimes didnt want me to shift into 1st. But this last weekend it rolled - quite easily I might add. Though it is totaled, all passengers (including my puppy) are ok. So I guess thats a positive point about the car - it didnt kill us. The seatbelts held strong, and the frame didnt crush in too badly around us.

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  Fun to drive, lousy tires - 2006 Ford Escape
  By Tom Culler - April 15 - 3:09 pm

  The Escape is a fun, nimble little SUV which has great interior capacity and the 3.0L V6 has great power. The stock tires, however, are slippery and noisy. I cant wait until they wear out so that I can replace them.

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  VERY Impressed so far! - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By FeistyFordFiesta - April 15 - 7:56 am

  My little automatic 1.6 engine is quite peppy! Im averaging 32 mpg in the city, and have seen it as high as 42 on the highway. The "electronic assist" feature should be very useful but may require getting used to. It got confused when I tried to merge quickly into fast moving traffic from a stoplight that was on a steep hill and in a sharp turn. Next time Ill try it in "L" gear. The front seats are comfortable and the drivers seat is very adjustable, as is the steering wheel. The storage trunk is nicely sized for such a small car. There are four cup holders for the front seat. It has a nice tight turning radius and is super easy to park!

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  Our new pony car named Ruby - 2016 Ford Mustang
  By Ann Harris - April 15 - 4:17 am

  Our first Mustang was a 2004 GT convertible 4.0 automatic. Sassy was a fun little car, not a lot of zip but a ton of fun and we cherished her for 12 years. Then we bought our new 2016 GT convertible with the California Special package. With Ruby, it was love at first sight. If she were human, she would sound like Mae West with that throaty growl. She handles and rides like a dream and that much horsepower should be illegal. We are a retired couple yet we feel like kids when we drive this car, just for the sheer fun factor. We love her and plan on keeping her in the family for a long time.

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  Happy car - 2003 Ford Taurus
  By aipo86t - April 15 - 12:22 am

  Bought my Taurus used one year old for $11K. It had 20K miles on it, 32 months later it has 96K miles. The only non-scheduled maintenance work done on the car was two TSBÂ’s when I got the car one for rainhat extension and one for a noisy serpentine belt tensioner, both done under warranty. I find the seats the most comfortable of any car IÂ’ve owned. The car does everything well, nothing fancy just a good honest car. The base engine could use a bit more power when car is fully loaded but is willing and happy. Car is great in the snow. With three kids in college IÂ’ve traveled in all kinds of weather from Vermont to Minnesota and always felt safe and in control, great value for the price.

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  Almost perfect - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By Peter - April 14 - 2:46 pm

  I bought this after owning a 88 LX 5.0. It is a larger/heavier car and isnt as agile as I would like. Engine/trans are smooth and interior is comfortable, especially seats. Handling/ride is so-so with outdated solid axle. Motor is smooth and quiet and not as torquey as 5.0 engine. Overall a good car, but doesnt give me an adrenalin shot like the old car did.

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  Dont get the navigation system - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By larrybrac - April 14 - 12:43 pm

  I love my Escape Hybrid with one major exception. The navigation system is the worst piece of electronic equipment I have ever owned. It will not allow the user to input anything except at an absolute stop. The processor is so slow that the map is unable to move when the vehicle is in motion. Instead, the arrow on the map jumps for a few seconds, then the map jumps to catch up. The user interface is so bad that it is very difficult to even get a destination into the system. The screen is so small that you need a magnifying glass to see it. So much for Fords motto about "Innovation". The best thing they could do is fire the electronics engineers and buy an aftermarket Alpine system.

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  Best sedan on the market, perfect for almost everyone - 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By hybridbear - April 14 - 8:23 am

  We ordered our Fusion Hybrid back in October and took delivery in December. This is the most comfortable car Ive ever sat in. Long road trips are no issue as the seats are comfortable even after 14-15 hours in the car per day, we felt refreshed each night after driving the car all day. Our fuel economy was around 40 MPG in the cold MN winter with some tanks dipping into the 30s when the temperatures were consistently below zero. Now that spring is here our last few tanks have been above 50 MPG and the current tank is at 56 MPG about 3/4 used up. The city fuel economy is amazing and highway fuel economy is better than any non-hybrid sedan available