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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  THE FORD FUSION IS THE TRUTH - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By dolo777 - January 4 - 5:23 am

  Had this car for about a month now and it is fantastic. I love this car! It rides smooth. Draws looks all the time. The black exterior is the best color to me. I love it so much I wipe it down everyday. The V6 is very powerful and I can accelerate very quickly. Easy to pass cars/trucks on highways. Love the lumbar support. Handles turns very good. I have the standard cd system and it plays very good. Very loud! I love it.

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  Bang for the buck competence - 2005 Ford Focus
  By BasiliskSt - January 3 - 9:10 pm

  The Ford Focus ST (mine is a 2005, but the 2006-2007 are essentially identical) is an affordable drivers car. It delivers a surprisingly good blend of driving prowess and economy. The ST features a 2.3 liter fuel-injected four cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. This combination is extremely flexible, offering plenty of torque at lower rpms. The handling and steering are class leading, beating much more expensive cars. The car offers power on demand and economy. My Focus ST delivers 38 mpg at 55-60 mph, 30-32 mpg at freeway speeds of 70-75 mph, and 26-28 mpg in city, mixed driving. All good, but not class leading. The Focuss balance is skewed towards sport.

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  Previous Yukon Owner - 2007 Ford Expedition
  By Larry Johnson - January 3 - 8:18 pm

  I was determined to buy the 2007 Yukon until I drove the 2007 Expedition. I loved my previous Yukon. The fold flat rear seat is a huge benefit for my use. I have just driven 2000 miles the week after Christmas on a trip to the Florida Keys. I was impressed with the 18.5 MPG overall fuel economy with a vehicle fully loaded with camping equipment.That trip included interstate speeds ranging steady 80 MPH to creeping backups on I95, mixed with city driving (sightseeing) and down through the Keys. The seats are comfortable (7 hour stretches), the vehicle is quiet at interstate speeds, and the radio far surpasses the 2007 Yukon. The cooled seats got a workout in the Keys and were great!

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  My Cool Suv - 2006 Ford Escape
  By Harvey - January 3 - 4:46 pm

  Hi, Im Harvey from Texas. I love driving my new Ford Escape. It has very good handling and is very easy to control. Not to mention its very comfortable as well. My wife and I love it because is looks like a small 4x4. In other words it looks like it could go off roading or something. Oh, and wow! the Ford Escape is really great on gas unlike the last vehicle I had. It has really saved me hundreds of dollars in just a couple of months.

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  Ford Girl - 2005 Ford Explorer
  By SpeedDemon - January 3 - 3:13 pm

  LOVE my Explorer. Tons of spunk, can leave almost any other vehicle sit at a stoplight with my 4.6 v8. Previous cars were a Crown Vic, Mark VIII and a 95 Cougar all with the 4.6 v8, but only a 4 speed tranny. The 5 speed tranny on the Explorer utilizes the power of the 4.6 much more efficiently between 40 & 80 mph. Dont drive much - got this for hauling my birds and cats. The flat fold of the back seat makes hauling all the pet carriers much easier.

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  Ford Escape 2002 - 2002 Ford Escape
  By Emster - January 3 - 2:52 pm

  This is a good car for the most part, I think there are some design flaws that make this vehicle a "high maintenance" vehicle once the warranty is up. I had trouble with the wiring and windshield cracks. Overall, it got me where I needed to be with little trouble. It has a smooth ride and fits 5 comfortably.

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  2001 Ranger Edge 2DR SB - 2001 Ford Ranger
  By Todd - January 3 - 2:51 pm

  I have the 3.0L V6. I get decent gas mileage, averaging between 19 and 20 MPG. It truly is a pretty truck when it is driven through town, and gets a lot of attention. Ride height and ground clearance is great, but ride is extremely rough. Great 5-speed manual transmission, and the only problems I have had after 84,000 miles was an emissions problem (EGR flow problems). Other than that, this has been a great truck to drive, and very enjoyable.

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  Womens SUV - 2007 Ford Escape
  By BRENDAN - January 3 - 1:29 pm

  This vehicle is the second one which I have owned. The 1st one being a 2003 Escape XLT. This in itself speaks about my overall satisfaction with the vehicle. I call it a womens SUV mainly because of its smaller size. It handles as good as or better than a car and its usefulness far surpasses any car. I have traveled across Canada with this vehicle fully loaded with belongings and with an 18 cu.ft. luggage carrier on the roof rack and did it quite comfortably. The handling is exceptional in all weather and conditions.

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  Stay away from this vehicle. - 2001 Ford Windstar
  By Grace - January 3 - 1:11 pm

  We bought our 2001 Windstar in 2002 with 11,000 miles. We had to replace the transmission at 40,000 miles. We called Ford and they just pretty much told us too bad for you. They were trying out a new transmission and we were one of the unlucky ones. It gets horrible gas mileage and it seems to always be in the shop for the same problem. Next time it will be a Honda or Toyota for us! The Ford wind star is junk.

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  A hybrid that actually drives like a car - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By Oman - January 3 - 12:00 pm

  I replaced a large SUV (Expedition EL loaded) with this car since I was mostly using it for commuting to work (about 65 miles per day). I had been considering a replacement but until the Fusion came out there was nothing that made sense for me. I wanted creature comforts, a great ride, great mileage, and something that could handle merging onto a 70MPH HWY with short rising ramps. I test drove a number of cars and a few smaller SUVs and nothing came close to meeting my requirements. The build and materials quality is top-notch. The car is comfortable and quiet. Im getting just over 37 real MPG driving normally. It has plenty of room. I could not be happier with it.