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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  2005 MUSTANG IS HOT! - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By SDmustang - October 14 - 7:26 pm

  I love this car. It makes you feel like a "movie star." From the police to little kids and "big kids" turn their heads. It truly is a fun car that can zip around town and make you feel like you dont want to get out. We have driven 700 miles in it in 2 weeks! We now want a convertible and the coupe. Go for it and take the highway. And watch others dream about your car. :)

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  Test drove them all - 2017 Ford Edge
  By Dennis J. - October 14 - 11:28 am

  I had a VW TDI and knew VW was going to be buying my VW back so I had many months to shop for the perfect car for me. I test drove them all numerous times and each time I came back to the Ford Edge. I wanted a vehicle that was sturdy on the road, solid when you closed the door and quite on the road....and it needed to have plenty of power. That is what the Ford Edge gave me! Because this care was so smooth on the road and luxurious inside, I decided to go with a black color since it made me feel like I was riding in a sedan made to drive a world leader. I look forward to driving this car everyday!

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  Love our Expedition !! - 2000 Ford Expedition
  By 98 expedition - October 13 - 9:05 pm

  This is a great family vechile ! we have had our expedition for 4 years now at 182,000 miles and its still going strong ! hardly ever has given us any problems since we have had it ! been the most reliable vechile that we have owned ! will continue to drive it an will rebuild it when it is that time ! cant go wrong with a 98 expedition !

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  A poor effort in this class, avoid.... - 2017 Ford Explorer
  By Rob S - October 13 - 8:33 pm

  I leased this car based on a significant discount Ford offered to move from another brand. I cannot wait for the lease to expire as the car finds new ways to disappoint on a regular basis. After 13,500 miles of driving I have dealt with the quirks of a SUV that really isnt. Today, I went to rent a carpet cleaner I have rented in the past and was able to put in the back of my previous mid-sized SUV. Would not fit in this one, the 3rd seat takes up a lot of floor space. So, I called U-Haul. They dont rent to people with a Ford Explorer. The Eco-boost/trailer package isnt all that useful since I cannot rent or use a trailer now from a rental. The transmission has a mind of its own. It slips in to S1 from time to time on its own, which acts like a brake so I am used to this quirk as it has happened 4 or 5 times when accelerating from a traffic light or stop sign. I average around 21.7 MPG so I dont drive this hard at all. The electronics have now reset itself 4 times... so everything says its resetting itself, all the settings are lost then about an hour later everything comes back online. The car also has a really unique feature I have experienced 3 times now. Making a turn in to a busy road, the Eco-boost will bog down, so after the turn has been completed and I need the vehicle to accelerate up to the speed of traffic, the car just kind of sputters and from what I have read this is an issue of the Eco-Boost having moisture or something. Regardless, I dont trust this thing and often wait out traffic knowing that if I turn it may bog down and result in an accident or worse. As to the vehicle... the premium seats really are not that great, I am over 62" and these are decent seats for someone who is maybe 55". The fancy massage seating loses its usefulness when I would really have another 2 -3 inches of seat length... so Ford must have a bunch of short people designing their seats as this seems to be a common compliant. The car should have an 8 or 9 speed instead of a 6 speed. The previous SUV had one that came out in 2013 and yet Ford still lags behind. Trying to find the heat/blower settings can take up to 2-5 minutes as I dont like to take my eyes off the road to figure something out that we all took for granted in cars before all this technology. Yes, the car looks a bit like the Land Rover however its just not a very good offering and Ford should be embarrassed for putting this product out. I am counting down the months until my lease is up and I am already looking at the MDX and offerings from GM. One final note, Ford must know its a loser as I have been contact ZERO times about my owner experience. The dealership have been great people and I wish they sold another brand as this is the last Ford. I have a family member that drives a new Lincoln every two years and I have already told them no more Ford. The car is a mediocre effort for a mid $40K vehicle... unfortunately it stickers at $55K and its way out of its class for that amount.

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  Better then a wagon - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By soccer mom - October 13 - 7:26 pm

  A very smooth ride. The pick up and go with the CVT like no other. Im glad I took this car out for a test drive, I was looking at SUVs; much more room inside. My son loves to sit all the way in the back and watch movies.

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  Reliable by anybodys standards - 1998 Ford Windstar
  By Lynn - October 13 - 5:31 pm

  Dont believe everything you hear about Ford quality and reliability. This vehicle (7 yrs, 140,000 miles) has been proof that Ford builds good vehicles. Of course there have been repairs, but all were inevitable based on the age of the vehicle.

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  I Love my Ford! - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By Sandra - October 13 - 4:53 pm

  I bought my 2004 Explorer Eddie Bauer early this year. I had one problem with it and that was that the solenoid needed replacement which was covered by my warranty. I also had a problem with the rear windows where the electric motor broke and needed replaced. Other than that, I am very happy with my Ford. I would definitely buy another one in the future. My husband also has a Ford (F150) and it runs great. Very minimal complaints!

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  08 Taurus X review - 2008 Ford Taurus X
  By flufflebug - October 13 - 2:10 am

  We purchased this vehicle after our 2005 Ford Freestyle lease was up. The Taurus X is the Freestyle with a lot of improvements. After 4 months of driving it, I am very pleased with our purchase. I thought I would miss the smoothness of the Freestyles CVT but I dont miss it at all. The Taurus Xs transmission is very smooth, the ride is very quiet and the engine is very peppy.

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  Bad first impression - 2003 Ford Explorer Sport
  By waynercanada - October 13 - 2:00 am

  This is the first and last Ford SUV I will own. The poor quality of the vehicle was magnified by the uncooperative and unhelpful dealership. The vehicle handles poorly in moderate winter conditions and fuel economy has decreased significantly over the last year. The vehicle was never driven off road and is well maintained;however that did not help prevent having to replace both front ball joints, rear wiper,and rear bumper (due to rust) to name a few problems. I have owned this vehicle slightly over a year and now want to rid of it.

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  FX4 CREWCAB - 2003 Ford F-150
  By ROBK - October 13 - 2:00 am

  THE BEST FUN TO DRIVE