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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  new f 150 - 2016 Ford F-150
  By Daren Eaton - April 14 - 7:15 am

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  American Muscle - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By George Koretski - April 13 - 10:36 pm

  I am an advid reader of all of the driving magazines and such and had to think very hard on whether this (being my 4th stang) was in fact the vehicle of choice. I see that the Japanese manufacturing is just almost unbeatable. Every time that I would research cars in this price range the Japanese had it, but this one! So with that in mind I went to the dealership to put it to the test and see first hand myself. From the V8 4.6 300 horspowered engine to the sleek and retro-60s styling, this is truly as car that shouts "They finally built one right." You wont be disappointed with this one I am sure of this. But why does Ford only have a 3/36 warranty on this car. They can certainly up that ante, right

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  Completely Satisfied - 2000 Ford Mustang
  By klauer - April 13 - 5:35 pm

  I love my Mustang! It has 85,000 miles on it and no problems. Definitely the funnest car Ive ever had. I would buy another one in a heartbeat.

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  Loving it. - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By TM - April 13 - 11:06 am

  I have never been a Ford fan until now. Sold my VW Golf TDI, bought this vehicle 4 weeks ago and totally love it. We took it on a 4800 mile road trip for 2 weeks and it performed beautifully. We drove through many 11,000ft+ mountain passes, passed trucks and had plenty of power to spare. The low gear was a huge benefit on the mountain descents. The handling is responsive and it feels solid on the road. Ride is smooth and it absorbs the road better than I expected. For our trip we averaged 31mpg. Not bad at all. I do find my "in town" driving milage a little lower since most roads in my area arent flat. I average 28mpg in town. The pop up back glass is very helpful when traveling with a dog.

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  Pretty good buy - 2006 Ford Focus
  By Kika - April 13 - 10:41 am

  I like my Focus Hatchback. Its compact, so its great for fitting in small places and such. However, I keep hearing a noise associated with the brake/transmission that I cant figure out. I took it in to the dealership and they fixed another noise (which was the backseat latch needing oil). This other noise worries me, though. Otherwise, I cannot complain. The A/Cs great. The sounds pretty nice and I like the speaker set up. And, it drives smoothly. I would recommend it for a first time car-buyer.

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  Generic family traveler - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By MARKSS - April 12 - 6:33 pm

  I have had my Explorer for a year now. It is very strong with the V8, but the down side is gas mileage. I get about 14mpg around town and about 17.5mpg on the highway. Everything works fine. There is nothing spectacular about my Explorer but it does what it was built to do, haul people. It isnt an offroad machine, but the automatic 4wd is great for Colorado winters. Really the only compaint I have is the flimsy back hatch piece just below the back window. I know many people who have broken that piece when closing the hatch window. I am lucky that mine hasnt broken yet. The 3rd row seat is surprislingly comfortable for short guys like me.

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  Mikes Focus - 2005 Ford Focus
  By mike raymond - April 12 - 1:29 pm

  Its good on gas. Holds a lot. It makes me feel safe. Great handling, good suspension and quick.

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  Surprising Performance - 2000 Ford Mustang
  By dave - April 12 - 10:46 am

  I wasnt looking for a Mustang and have never been a big fan. I saw this 7 year old vehicle with less than 55k miles while looking at other convertibles. I gave it a try because of the low price and was really impressed. I actually liked the handling better than Mustang GT convertibles Id driven. I was surprised by how powerful the V6 felt with the 5 speed manual. My particular car must have spent a lot of time in the garage based on the low mileage, tight feel, and nearly flawless interior and exterior. I thought Id miss the quick open/close of the top that I had with a Miata, but this power top is fast and seems well made. On the road the blue color seems one of the least common.

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  2007 Shelby GT 500 - 2007 Ford Shelby GT500
  By Mike Scaramucci - April 12 - 9:36 am

  I am 62 and it is the most fantastic car that I have owned. There is no equal. I have done several upgrades to the hp. it sounds fantastic and its speed is exciting.

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  Great Truck - 1998 Ford Ranger
  By 4x4RangerGuy - April 12 - 9:33 am

  Besides the automatic, my Ranger has been bulletproof. I off-road as a hobby, and this truck has taken me everywhere without ever breaking a thing. The 3.0 V6 is bulletproof, and the 4x4 always works. I replaced the hubs with manual hubs to get rid of the vacuum assist, and its been great. The truck is comfortable, and it has been on long trips with no complaints. These magazines are bought out by Japanese manufacturers, so they never have anything decent to say about American vehicles. Well, the Ranger disproves it all. A solid, well built and well priced vehicle. I will be buying another Ford Ranger for my next vehicle.