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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  Just owned a week. - 2000 Ford Mustang
  By Luis - June 18 - 11:00 pm

  Such a fun car to drive. Not the fastest one out there but love the exhaust throaty sound when you romp on the gas.

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  reliable ride but not fun to drive - 1999 Ford Escort
  By dem4life - June 18 - 10:12 pm

  Overall it has been a good, sturdy car. It rides very smoothly and has great visibility. Excellent turning radius and not bulky to drive. A few things to consider before you buy is that it is not made for a small person. The seats dont adjust higher and sit very low. Even with the steering wheel tilted as far down as possible I still feel like the air bag will explode in my face. It is very sluggish to accelerate. In the dark it is almost impossible to find where to put it in drive without putting the ceiling light on. Also, you cant get a CD player for less than $250 due to the integration of the radio and the other controls.

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  Fun To Drive - Easy To Park - 2004 Ford Focus
  By NY Commuter - June 18 - 9:52 pm

  A great car, wonderfully flexible and spacious interior, never felt claustrophobic like other cars in its class that I looked at (like Corolla, Matrix, Scion, Civic, etc.). 28 mpg average city-and-highway driving, and I drive in New York City. Zippy handling, comfortable ride, a real pleasure to drive. Why anyone who wants a small car buys anything else is beyond me. This car is a great bargain and completely reliable.

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  2001 ZX3 base 5 speed with A/C - 2001 Ford Focus
  By spudjack - June 18 - 9:37 pm

  Bought 4/02 with 7,800 miles. On 6/06 have 24,500 miles. So far have had 2 or 3 recalls done. Have letters for 2 or 3 service bulletins. Like my Focus but only rate this vehicle average. Problems so far faulty gas cap covered under warranty and the hood release under the dash board disintegrated and had to be replaced. Biggest complaint about this car is the a/c. It does not get very cold. Have dark interior and finally had the windows tinted to keep the heat down on hot days. Average 28-30 mpg in blended driving. Would buy a Focus ZX3 again but would have to be 2003 or newer.

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  STYLE & COMFORT - 2005 Ford F-150
  By D.P. - June 18 - 9:00 am

  This is my 2nd F150 in 6 months. I drive for a living and this is the most comfortable truck that I have driven. I love the interior with the FX4 pkg, it is very "user friendly". My wife also feels very comfortable driving this vehicle.

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  Painful front seat and foot-well design - 2016 Ford Explorer
  By Henry F. - June 18 - 3:29 am

  Great, smooth ride. Wonderful turning radius and nice looks, BUT: The sides of the seats ride high and put pressure on the thighs, and its immediately noticeable and uncomfortable. 62" here but not big, relatives of mine who are much smaller said the same thing immediately. Contributing to the pain, though, is that they redesigned the foot well so that the floor actually inclines back to front and left to right, which puts your ankle and leg at very weird angles, and doesnt allow for a depth of the basin for pivoting over the pedals. The angle of the brake (also too far forward - towards you) and the gas pedal has increased which makes matters worse. They also increased the angle of the dead pedal, and one cant even put a foot on it without it pushing the toes inward --- the walls curve in and effectively make everything near the pedals smaller. I think they did this to open up room back towards the chair but all of the above caused me much pain. I even measured angles, distances, etc. to make sure I wasnt crazy --- Im not. Its sad because its a nice looking car that otherwise would be enjoyable, but ... if you are in pain driving something its a complete loss.

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  Great Driving - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By George - June 17 - 11:55 pm

  Ive had this car for almost 2 years. Had to have one transmission put in, other than that no problems. Go to car shows and even took 3rd place with it. It runs great.

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  Best full size - 2005 Ford Expedition
  By Rollyn (Ed) Miller - June 17 - 3:52 pm

  This Expedition is remarkable. I have over 20,000 miles now and it has never had any problems. I average 15 miles per gallon and over 20 miles per gallon on lone trips. I am so impressed with the passenger comfort even in the 3rd row that I sometimes sit in back with my 2 kids to watch DVDs when my wife drives. I tow a large deck boat and the vehicle handles the load very well. I am impressed with the brakes that stop faster than any other vehicle I have driven with anti-lock brakes. The rack and pinion steering and 4 wheel independent suspension give sporty ride and handling. My wife and I argue over who gets to drive she usually wins but I get to ride in the back and watch movies with the kids.

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  Great Truck - 2005 Ford F-150
  By Bailey - June 17 - 3:18 pm

  I have had the two body styles before this truck. Hands down, this is the best F150 they have built. Great driving and running truck. I love the fact that I can have a full size truck with 4 doors and it fits in my garage perfect. I was worried about the 5 foot 5 inch bed but it has never been a problem.

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  A Transmission Too Soon - 2012 Ford Focus
  By fordo2 - June 17 - 11:37 am

  This is my seventh new Ford product and Im exceptionally disappointed with the engine/transmission. With 7,000 miles on it, the transmission is still shifting very hard and has not somoothed out like the dealer said it would. Quite possibly Ford put this on the street before the bugs were worked out. The engine runs exceptionally rough and another dealership said that all 4-bangers do that - my 2005 Focus didnt. I think dealerships are making up excuses because the quality of the car wasnt quite yet ready to hit the market. The one we test drove was much smoother than the one we ordred. Will Ford Motor Company ever make a car that doesnt rattle? Very disappointed! Fordo2