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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  freestylin - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By mejones42 - May 26 - 10:03 am

  The car drives great..The new design works for us having 3 sons under 5 yoa..They climb all over it and it holds up great. The controls on the steering wheel are easy to use. The CVT transmission is pretty weird at first, but after getting used to it, it really has some power and passes very good on the interstate at high speed..

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  Major Mistake!!! - 2000 Ford Focus
  By Unhappy Customer - May 26 - 10:00 am

  The CD player has been replaced twice and in fact is in the shop now. The air conditioning leaked into my car and caused it to mildew under the carpets. There was a strange smell coming from the air conditioner and for a while black soot like stuff came shooting out of the vents. For a while now it has not been accelerating properly. It feels like its dragging. The brakes went bad at 35k and the fuel pump had to be replaced at 37k . After they replaced the fuel pump, I started having strange electrical problems. When I turn the air conditioning up or the lights on something else will turn off.

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  My Baby Car - 2002 Ford Mustang
  By MeepishKitten - May 26 - 10:00 am

  I love everything about my car! It is thrilling to ride in it with my convertible down, I am a true convertible lover. My favorite view of my car is when I am looking at the rear lights especially at night matched with the light on my aftermarket rollbar. It is absolutely adorable! I love vrooming around in it and hearing the engine. It really turns heads and the leather interior is very comfortable. There are many mustang pony markings on my car. I like running my hand over the rised pony in the center of my steering wheel. If I could do it again would I still buy a mustang convertible? In a heartbeat.

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  Adrenalin cant be beat & turns heads - 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By DrDon - May 26 - 8:13 am

  I couldnt resist buying a brand new showroom leftover Adrenalin & taking advantage of Ford employee discounts. Traded in a 05 Silverado SE Special Edition Extended Cab and theres simply no comparison in quality - Ford wins hands down. The ride is tops, the look is...well, the Adrenalin turns heads everywhere Ive gone. Definitely buy the Navigation option with Sync. Makes a world of difference. Black interior is nice but I wouldve enjoyed a two-color treatment. Still, this car/truck combination is versatile, sporty, smooth, cool & a real winner. Might be the best vehicle Ive ever owned - and Ive had many.

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  Its OK - 2003 Ford Focus
  By Jason - May 26 - 3:53 am

  I purchased this car two years ago new. So far I have been pleased with the car but it has had several issues and the dealership was a nightmare to deal with. Right after the warranty ran out I had a $1300.00 air conditioning problem that the dealership ripped me on. There has also been some other repair issues that I feel reflect poor craftsmanship; however I do like the car and I guess for an economy sedan it will do.

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  Not Bad - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By Travis - May 25 - 1:47 pm

  The dealer is great. Free oil changes for life. This V6 sounds a teeny bit like a V8. I like it. It rides a bit rough over pothole repaired city streets. It feels quite good on the highway.

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  My Fusion - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By Alexander Garcia - May 25 - 6:13 am

  Upon laying my eyes on the Fusion, I had to have it. I am proud to say that it was an excellent choice to say the least. The look and performance of the vehicle are both simply awesome. The engine picks up almost as quick as my V6 2005 Mustang. The body and design of the entire vehicle make it look classy and tough (especially with black exterior). The 5 bar split chrome grill, the chrome tail light housing and fog lamp housing make it even more than beauty. The comfort of the interior is the same as an Audi A6, and has many extra frills of comfort. I added a set of 20 chrome rims and tinted the windows in back. It totally set this car off even more.

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  Inexpensive not Cheap - 2005 Ford Ranger
  By JDP - May 24 - 11:22 pm

  I bought my truck to serve as a "chore" vehicle so I could quit carrying things back from Home Depot in the car. I bought it from one of the Ford special sales for $10,950. 4 cylinder/5 speed stick A/C and radio. Very much a base XL. As it turned out I use it everyday and it is my primary work truck/transportation. I drive from Dallas to Austin every Monday and after working my contract for the week, I drive back Friday night. I have grown to like this truck very much. I get between 26 and 30 mpg week in and week out doing 70 to 80 mph hwy. It does all I ask and when I spill a coke or knock over the fries I just hose it out when I get home. And I still haul stuff for my wife from Home Depot weekends.

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  Been pretty good so far - 2001 Ford Escape
  By Josh - May 24 - 9:54 pm

  Bought the Escape XLT 4x4 right when it first came out. It has served me well, the only problem was the brakes went out at around 60,000 miles. Around 80,000 miles, the tranny started to make some strange noises and now at 86,000 miles, it is time to get it looked at. Otherwise, it has been a great car...got me out of a couple Wisconsin snow drifts, and now keeps me cool in south Florida. The AC could have a little more ooommmpphhhh. Oh, and the CD player runs really hot and sometimes refuses to eject CDs at times.

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  overall I really like the 2017 Expedition EL - 2017 Ford Expedition
  By Nicholas Kolias - May 24 - 7:25 pm

  Beautiful and functional truck. Some reviews state the styling is boxy and dated but I love it. The shape and lines are, in my view, timeless and classic. None of the overly contoured look on other vehicles.Engine performance is impressive. Tons of power, very peppy and good economy when you consider the size of this thing. The interior is beautiful. Nice fit and finish. Nice layout. I like the instrument cluster a lot but do wish they would update the system to allow vehicle info (like the trip and fuel economy metrics) to be displayed on the right hand screen in addition to the phone & entertainment options. Also wish the stereo system had a simple AUX in jack. Apple CarPlay and the system bluetooth work well but a 3.5mm AUX jack should also be an option. The nav system is pretty good but I still prefer Waze and hope its supported on CarPlay one day. Sync3 overall is pretty cool and easy to use. The interface is well done. The display is beautiful. Have only had the truck for one month, so cant speak to reliability or maintenance yet.