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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  Cant Believe I Got One - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By Howard - March 20 - 10:43 am

  For the price paid I couldnt find anything as much fun on the market. The only thing that surprised me at first was the acceleration with the V6 and 5 speed. I thought it would feel faster and I started to be disappointed until I looked at the speedo and saw how fast I was going. This is going to take getting used to if I want to obey speed limits.

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  More suv than expected - 2006 Ford Expedition
  By Ronnie Moses - March 20 - 8:59 am

  I am an old school suv/truck guy (Bronco) and have never been an independent suspension fan, but this Expedition has pleasantly surprised me. I ordered the offroad suspension package and love the ride and drive of my Expedition. Overall this thing is like a Swiss army knife, you can do almost anything with it and it actually does go offroad pretty good too. The Ford Expedition is one awesome 4 wheel drive suv.

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  Hangin in there. - 1995 Ford Contour
  By Chazman - March 20 - 12:36 am

  Had a rough start with this vehicle as we had to chase some electrical issues (check the ground for the trouble lights on the steering column). Its been reliable since except AC just went out. V6 with 5 speed is a blast to drive. Ignore the "check engine" light as dealer and others cannot figure out cause. Runs fine. Good driver in the snow.

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  Dependable but no MPG champ - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By ekamperman - March 19 - 9:46 pm

  I bought the 2010 FFH new and weve had it for 3.5 yrs. and 40,000 miles. We only average 34 mpg, not the 40 mpg we expected. Oh well, at least nothing has failed on it. I should count my blessings, right?

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  Cant take it anymore! - 2004 Ford F-150
  By eddie - March 19 - 8:39 pm

  Ive owned Ford trucks since 1994 and have been happy with every design except this one. The seats are like sitting on a park bench the material will show something as small as a water stain. The 4.6 liter engine would have trouble pulling a dead snake out of a ditch. If you happen to get something stuck in the middle of the bed get ready to climb in the back. I just dont see how they can go from a truck as good as the 97-03 to this. By the time you read this it will be trade bait! What a shame!

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  Great handling, sporty, good price point - 2006 Ford Escape
  By dave_7248 - March 19 - 8:07 pm

  Responsive handling, manageable size, and sporty look have been satisfying. After researching and test driving at least 12 vehicles (RAV4, Forester, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Jeep Liberty, etc.) for more than a year, I finally decided on the 2006 Ford Escape. The combination of being fun to drive, the safety canopy package and the price point kept pointing me back to the Escape. Ive rented the Escape at least four times, and have always been satisfied at the end of my trips (despite having a bad back). My concern has always been the Ford name -- will the Escape be reliable? Im a big Consumer Reports fan, and they gave the vehicle a great review for reliability.

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  Nice truck with many styles - 2004 Ford F-150
  By jetfighter - March 19 - 4:13 pm

  I like their CD review of truck frame comparing it to others (Dodge, Toyota, and Nissan). It appears to be built so that the frame is more solid than the others are, which has to be good. Overall, I would have to say that it is an impressive truck. But I have not driven the others only read reviews and I have only had this one for a bit, so only time will tell on the quality.

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  Great car if you can handle a weird transmission - 2013 Ford Focus
  By Haley Reynolds - March 19 - 1:28 pm

  This car is my first car and I noticed after a week or two of having it that when I would be at a complete stop and then accelerate it was jerk on me. Its annoying at times but its normal. Believe the car dealership when they say its normal. Its the made of the transmission, Its a mix between a standard and an automatic. I never have a shifting problem when im going fast and steady only when im in town and traffic is crazy and im stopping and going for a while. in low gears its acts like a standard and jerks you a little. The gas tank is small so I fill up alot seems like. But other than that its a good car. very comfortable and good speakers. The steering basically can handle its self almost. Love this little car as my first car.

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  dream truck - 2005 Ford F-150
  By rick w - March 19 - 5:10 am

  Only had it for 3 weeks but love it. Beautiful, powerful, luxurious. Went with a spray-in bed (negotiated a credit for the plastic liner part of the package) and a aluminum fold down tonneau cover (Fold A Cover) and solved the storage space issue. Fuel economy is not good (15/18) but fits my situation.

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  Focus Lives Up - 2008 Ford Focus
  By Bill - March 19 - 2:16 am

  This car does exactly what I expected it to do. Delivers very acceptable ride and performance with exceptional mpg. No issues or dissapointments. Just utilitarian transportation at a very reasonble expense.