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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  2014 Escape Titanium AWD with 2.0 engine - 2014 Ford Escape
  By sharon61 - August 9 - 9:03 pm

  I leased my white tri-coat with black leather Escape Titanium on 6/29/13 and have now driven it a little over 2300 miles---enough to give you a meaningful review. Essentially, I love this vehicle for its eye-catching exterior design, good performance and handling, and comfortable, quiet interior. With the 2.0 liter turbo engine and regular gas I average about 21.5mpg in a daily mix of city and interstate driving, and I got 28mpg on a 254-mile interstate trip yesterday while averaging about 4-5mph over the speed limit.

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  We love our Edge - 2010 Ford Edge
  By dpanozzo - August 9 - 9:32 am

  We bought the Edge because I wanted it. My wife didn’t care at first, but after driving it a few times it’s all she wants to drive. I really enjoy this vehicle and after a year I’m still impressed every time I drive it. We’ve taken two road trips and found it to be comfortable and reliable and got us through some deep snow and icy roads where other vehicles did not make it. So far we’re very happy.

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  Love my Ex - 2000 Ford Excursion
  By stovetop - August 9 - 5:35 am

  Bought it because my family outgrew the ext cab 150, many, many trips from IL to PA and many parts in between. Wouldnt trade it for anything and now have a 6" lift with 35s on it, but its no longer my daily driver. It has the 4.30 rear end in it, so I never got better than 11 on the highway, now I only get 10, but it pulls anything I put behind it. She has 190K on the clock, and paid for so Im keeping this until the wheels fall off, put em back on and keep driving it. When the V-10 gives up, Im doing the 7.3L swap....

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  same old ford - 2013 Ford Fusion
  By gobama1982 - August 8 - 11:03 pm

  auful gas mileage ,16 city,16 hwy,can not talk when outside car due to engine noise,need a megaphone to communicate to rear passengers,no power,difficult to pass anything,so much road noise inside vehicle with windows up reminds me of grandpas 1955 ford 2 ton truck,id hate to see a new car worse than this one !!!!

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  love my fusion - 2010 Ford Fusion
  By kitman2 - August 8 - 4:34 pm

  I bought my 2010 Fusion used a year ago and only 1 issue happened and that was the power steering failed. My dealer was very help full in the cost adjustment as I had the car about 3 months at that time. I was told that was the first time they ever saw or heard of that on a FUSION. My only complaint on the interior is the controls for the air/fan/ heat etc are in an non convenient location as to ease of reach and adjustment while driving. I notice on the 2013 Fusion that the issue has been addressed properly. This is a very rewarding purchase for me as I have owned many other vehicles in my life and some sure sucked as to quality. That is usually found out after a person buys it! .

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  Think before you buy this car - 2013 Ford Fiesta
  By avatheps - August 8 - 7:27 am

  I bought the car new on May 1st 2013 and have driven it over 7500 miles. Most of the miles were driven during an extended trip to all points south of NY state. All highway conditions were experienced most being I81 and I95. Wet and windy conditions were frequent. I found several issues that I did not like and was happy with others. I will try and touch on most of them as briefly as possible due to the limited space available. My overall rating of this car is a 3 out of 5. This based on my thorough testing of this car in comparison with 49 years of driving experience and having owned many cars of all types. This car performs best in flat terrain. Do not buy it if you live on a hill.

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  stick shift - 2012 Ford Fiesta
  By jimd14 - August 7 - 5:49 pm

  After reading reviews from owners on this car I opted to get a stick shift. Its a new trans design so it will have bugs for the first few model years. Ive had my car for a year putting on 15k miles. So far no problems. I average 40 mpg but do not do highway driving. Yes the paint chips easily but for 16k new you cant expect the same finish as a mustang. For those who complain about cheap materials...its a cheap car...dont expect higher priced quality - its simply not realistic. Overall for the price of this car new you get quite a bit for your money.

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  2013 Ford fusion se 2.0t - 2013 Ford Fusion
  By bryankuban1 - August 6 - 4:26 pm

  Overall I absolutely love this car! I saw a picture of it about 1 year before it was on the market and said I will own one and so I do. I still look forward to getting into it every morning going to work and when I get off work I look forward to driving it home. I have driven many supercharged cars and turbo cars. Although this isnt the most powerful one it still has plenty of power to get into traffic, pass someone, or get out of the way.

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  All Looks and Zero Reliability. - 2013 Ford Escape
  By fordfan21 - August 6 - 11:48 am

  I traded in a 03 Explorer for the escapes "better" fuel efficiency, which was never achieved. Day 2 of ownership problems began with sync services freezing every other time. The car also developed a vibration through the break pedal that could be felt while stopped and in gear and was accompanied by the gas pump constantly clicking making it a chore to put gas. The interior would rattle and creak like a 100 year old home. Frustration continued with a creaking front suspension, replacing of the entire rack and pinion and constant trips to master reset the MFT system. Although eligible for the buy back program the Ford customer care manager was very rude and refused to follow through.

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  Wonderful Wheels by Ford - 2013 Ford Fusion
  By whitecloud7 - August 4 - 3:33 pm

  Im now a believer that Ford can produce a very competitive car to the Asian cars. The Fusion is beautifully designed with an attractive front grille. The performance is good but the mileage is below the average of 26 MPG that I expected. The seats are very comfortable, controls are easy to access and so far, the My Sync touch screen has worked fine. The sound system is first rate and I use a USB to play my recorded music. Trunk space is generous, and the tires ride smoothly. Overall, Im very pleased with the new Ford Fusion.