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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  awesome suv - 2007 Ford Escape
  By Forrest Gump - June 28 - 10:54 pm

  Just got my new 2007 Escape XLT, and its only been a few hundred miles, and I love every minute of driving it. It has great pickup, drives like a car, and handles some limited off-roading Ive done so far. The seamless 4wd is great - I couldnt get the car to spin in the rain, and it pulled right out of the sand. I cant wait to see how it will be in the snow. Great 6-disc CD changer, nice sounding stereo with good bass. This is the perfect SUV: good size, power and fuel economy. What more do you need?

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  Great Truck with Goofy Security System - 2017 Ford F-150
  By Hank Gartland - June 28 - 9:22 pm

  I have a 2WD V-8 which was not an option in the model drop-down. I have only owned this truck for two months, so I could not comment on a lot of the questions such as repair frequency, etc. My initial impression of this truck is very positive except for one feature that is so idiotic that it is hard to believe. The design of the drivers door handle and key lock makes the 2017 F-150 extremely easy to break into. The lock cylinder is mounted on the door handle, not on the door. When you pull the door handle out to open the door, you can look behind the door handle and see the lock cylinder. To break into the truck, you just need to pull the door handle out, slip a pair of pliers behind the handle over the lock cylinder, and turn it. Doing so enables you to unlock the truck, open the door, and get in within a couple of seconds without tripping any alarms. I had a weapon stolen from my truck at a restaurant. When the police arrived, they went right to the door lock and showed me how it looked like it was off center. The police say they see this all the time with the new F-150s. How could Ford engineers come up with something so stupid? The fix is to replace the drivers handle and lock cylinder with one designed for the passenger door. This fixes this bug, but leaves you exposed to difficulties getting into the truck if your truck battery ever runs down completely. If this happens, you have to either break a window to open the hood or have the truck towed to the dealer. Wow, what a monumental goof!!!! See the Ford F-150 Forum for a discussion of this problem ( https://www.f150forum.com ).

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  Ford Crown Victoria - 2004 Ford Crown Victoria
  By crown victoria - June 28 - 6:06 pm

  I personally like the Ford Crown Victoria. I have always said that a car that is used as taxis and police cars has to be built well. You know something? I was right! It handles very well, has a smooth ride, and is very quiet. For me the Ford Crown Vic Is an excellent car. A very dependable car.

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  NICE MINIVAN - 2006 Ford Freestar
  By P. M. - June 28 - 4:46 pm

  We bought the Freestar 2 weeks ago and took it on a trip to South Texas. Averaged 18 MPG on the trip which is disappointing seeing how its rated at 24. I expected 20-22. Other than that, I give it a well above average rating.

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  Get a good tow truck plan! - 1998 Ford Contour
  By CLAZ - June 28 - 1:49 pm

  I originally leased this car for two years. I decided to buy the car because I had no problems up until that point. About two months afterwards, my transmission blew. 6 months later it was the engine and so on and so on. I ended up having to bring the car in for a minimum of $500 worth of repairs every 6 months like clockwork. Car had to be towed at least 10 times before I was finally able to get rid of it. Nobody ever really figured out the O2 sensor problem, electric problems,belt problems,etc. Its a shame because the car handled great after the repairs and it was very comfortable. Ford has the worst customer service I have ever experienced, they basically disown you after you leave the lot.

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  MINI-VAN - 2006 Ford Freestar
  By GENO - June 28 - 12:40 pm

  Smooth shifting and nice handling. Plenty of storage room as we travel back and forth from NY to Fl. Nice ride with good vision of the road.

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  bad mpg and ford cant fix it at 9k miles - 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid
  By patfran - June 28 - 3:12 am

  This car has been to dealership 3 times to fix the poor performance on gas mileage. Advertised 47/47/47 and lately I am getting 32.5. Gas engine turns on as I am stopping! The second visit to dealership didnt even test drive. Radio doesnt turn on and off with dashboard button. Service bulletin still hasnt fixed that. I dont think they want to do more than throw the $550 check at us. With the sleek design and ability to put some great pzazz into this vehicle, they cut it off at the knees. Hybrid without good gas mileage is not worth anything.

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  A Big Disappointment - 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By jay26tm - June 27 - 9:48 pm

  Special-ordered this car to get all the tech available in a fuel-efficient mid-size sedan. Unfortunately, the car only delivers 37.6 mpg - not the claimed 47 (and I was able to get 52 mpg in a rented Hyundai, so my driving style is NOT the problem). Most disappointing is poor reliability - back in the shop for the 3rd time in 10 months for mysterious electrical issues. Poor workmanship from the factory allowed water to saturate electronic components, causing all sorts of electrical problems. With only 9k miles on it, car has now spent 11 days in the shop over the past 10 months: my 2010 Chrysler has only spent 2 days in the shop & my 2003 import only 5. I just want to drive it off a cliff!!

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  thought Id never buy another Ford - 2004 Ford F-150 Heritage
  By reidster - June 27 - 8:00 pm

  After bad experiences with Aerostar, Ranger and Taurus I vowed never to buy another Ford. F-150 Heritage 4.6L is the best truck/vehicle Ive owned. Looked at new versions and Tundra, but like the size and looks of 97-2004 F-150s. Tight turning and great ride/handling. More front room than Tundra. Thought 4.6L was too small when test drove new F-150s but works well in Heritage. Hope I can haul small toy hauler with 3:31 rear end. Mileage better than my 3.0L Ranger.

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  We Really Like Our Freestyle - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Arman Balk - June 27 - 5:56 pm

  My wife and I are seniors and have had three Ford wagons. We find the Freestyle to be a pleasure to operate. It is easy to get in and out of, gives excellent visibility, handles very well, and rides smoothly. The CVT is very smooth. The engine gives us plenty of power and good gas mileage - driving 65 MPH we get 26 to 31, depending on conditions. We like the 6 passenger seating and all the cargo room provided by fold down seats. We think the styling is excellent and have had many complements on this.