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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  Big and Handsome - 2004 Ford F-150
  By heavy - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Nice in many ways, comfort, style and performance. Very good build quality and paint is smooth. I have the 5.4 liter and there was no selection on this review menu for my configuration. I am getting 16-17 miles on the hwy.

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  Great Value, Great Drive - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By JasonT1978 - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Smooth, quiet and handles great. Solid thunk to doors, and Volvo based construction makes the car feel VERY solid and safe! Awesome interior, huge inside and very comfortable.

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  A bit too early to tell, but here goes.. - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By johnclineii - November 28 - 10:00 am

  What other AWD full size sedan is available for less than $30k and fairly well equipped? An excellent car for the price. CVT is a unique feature that will, for some, take some getting used to. Be sure to check out foot space on both driver and passenger sides before buying. Plenty for me, but others might not think so. And why, Ford, no Sirius Satellite Radio? No stability control? And only the 3.0? Still, a great value and I am well satisfied, so far. Reliability remains to be proven, but may well be better than average. For this car to succeed, it must be reliable!

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  So far, so good - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By Steve - November 28 - 7:43 am

  I chose the V6 model because I wanted a balance between performance and fuel economy. So far I have really enjoyed the car. Acceleration is adequete, and it handles very nicely. The seats are comfortable, and the car is nice and quiet; this makes it relaxing on the way home from work. Ill agree with others and say that I dont like the placement of the climate controls. I also wish the transmission had an autostick option, or at least a choice of 1,2,D instead of just L or D.

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  Irreplaceable - 1991 Ford Explorer
  By desert rat - November 28 - 2:41 am

  Had my Explorer about 6 years. Outside of a few mechanical problems which may be expected by the time a vehicle reaches 130,000, I have no complaints. I take it to rugged and remote desert areas with confidence, sleep in the back when I camp, haul plywood, lumber, bricks, plants, fertilizer, furniture and occasionally even people in the back and it is big enough and strong enough to handle them all and I can still turn on a dime and 4WD it through narrow places where the big ones cant go. It is a true SUV its utility is excellent. Id buy a new SUV but NOBODY makes a vehicle that puts it all together like my Explorer -- believe me, Ive looked at them all.

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  An Awesome SUV! - 2005 Ford Explorer
  By Marcus Auerelius - November 28 - 12:27 am

  My family has had many SUVs, Lexus RX300 (and we now have an Rx330), Toyota 4Runner, Chevy Tahoe, Jeep Grand Cherokee, just to name a few. But I cannot believe just how good the Explorer drives. I wasnt quite sure about buying a Ford, but I was completely blown away when I test drove it. It is so comfortable, the refinement of the engine, transmission, the ride is all wonderful. Ford did a great job on the Explorer and Ii now know why I have seen so many on the road.

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  The Paint is Peeling - 2004 Ford Expedition
  By LEONARD - November 27 - 10:38 pm

  I love the exterior styling. I have the sport model. However within 500 miles the paint began to peel and the muffler began to make loud popping noises as the vehicle warmed up or cooled off.The dealership said the paint could be spot touched up and that the noise from the muffler was normal. I wanted the vehicle repainted and the muffler replaced. When I requested this I was told no on the muffler ( the noise is so loud you can hear it 20 feet away every time it is started or turned off) . In fairness to Ford the only paint peeling is on the body clad molding. It was also peeling on several other new units on 2 different lots and was verified by techs at both locations.

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  4 Cylinder -- Auto - 1995 Ford Ranger
  By Phil - November 27 - 1:45 am

  Nice little truck, had some dome light and chime issues, taken care of by using WD-40 on the door lock assembly. The wipers wipe once on their own about one every couple weeks (strange). And the brake lines rusted away. Other than that I love the truck. You sure wont win any races with it!

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  GT is a Winner - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By Texray - November 26 - 7:26 pm

  This is the best Mustang yet. Quick, well built and affordable. Ford did a good job on this one. If youre considering one, make sure that you get the GT. Why spend all this money and not get the pure fun and pleasure of the V8? Pure American muscle.

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  Easily most comfy car Ive ever driven.. - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Larry - November 26 - 7:53 am

  Ive bought a few new cars in my life, but buying this 2005 Ford 500 in 2007 may be my best car purchase ever. Has a nicer, more comfy car ever been built? I say, "no."