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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  Why I will go back to buying Hondas - 1996 Ford Taurus
  By Ira - October 8 - 9:09 pm

  My first mistake was selling my 1991 Honda Accord because I got a great deal on this new Taurus. The car has been great if you are into high maintenance. Lets see: two transmissions, numerous electrical and brake problems, a few starters, a/c heat problems, fuel problems ... you name it and its broken.

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  Its a wondereful car to drive -- I love it - 2006 Ford Taurus
  By 05 Taurus - October 8 - 5:53 pm

  I really love my Taurus it has lots of trunk room for a huge wheelchair and a cooler to fit. It is a lot fun to drive.

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  Very Happy - 2009 Ford Flex
  By New Car - October 8 - 4:56 pm

  After looking at crossovers over the past several months, narrowed it down to Flex limited and Mercedes R350. Went with the Flex and could not be happier. Larger feel in the interior, an many more features at a much better price. Also like not having to put in premium! Very happy

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  So far so good - 2016 Ford Edge
  By Dorianne Castillo - October 8 - 12:09 pm

  It has pretty much everything we needed. The only thing that i regret not including is a front camera. Great ecoboost, pretty good on gas millage.

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  Cant go wrong - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By D London - October 8 - 12:07 pm

  With the rush to get the new 2005 Mustangs, smart buyers bought the 2004 models at tremendous savings. The convertibles were well built cars with no leftover kinks from prior years. The performance for the 3.9L 6 cylinder is more than adequate and if you dont constantly floor it the gas mileage is outstanding. We were able to obtain 25+ mpg combined city/highway on a 3900 mile vacation. Incredible! If you are in the market for a used nice looking sports car convertible, do not hesitate to buy a LOW mileage adult driven model. The price should be right with everyone else wanting the new styles. No disappointments, and with gas so high, you can basically have it all with this model.

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  Excellent Car for the Price - 2000 Ford Focus
  By Ahmet Guvengez - October 8 - 10:00 am

  This is just an excellent car for the price. Superior handling and fairly good acceleration for an automatic... I bought it last October 2002 and drove it for 10000 miles already. Except for a couple of recalls, I have not had any noticeable problems. I think this car is very underrated when compared to what it provides for the money.

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  The best of the best - 2003 Ford Escape
  By Aspen37 - October 8 - 10:00 am

  The greatest car Ive ever drove and I cant wait till the 2005 comes out. Ill be the first in line.

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  HUGE Disappointment! - 2005 Ford F-150
  By Tim Ross - October 8 - 1:23 am

  This truck is a huge disappointment. With all the hype, I just cant see it. The engine runs like crud. It wont idle. The gas mileage is horrible. It has the power but there is no throttle response. CPU programming they tell me. Then fix it! The drive by wire was a mistake. Ford used to have the best cruise control in the business. Now, because of the lack of throttle response, there is a significant lag. The air conditioning is only cool, not cold! Again they say CPU programming. Also, Id like to shoot the guy that thought up the deeper bed. You cant reach into it. They seem to be trying to phase out the SuperCab longbed and shortbeds are useless so they make deeper beds instead.

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  funstyle - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By lucky - October 7 - 12:00 pm

  My Freestyle AWD Limited is fully loaded and such a pleasure to drive. I have owned SUVs since 1995 this is my favorite. The safety features and rating sealed the deal for me.

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  Ford Mustang -- fun to drive - 2002 Ford Mustang
  By Nancy - October 7 - 11:58 am

  This car has definitely been fun to drive it handles great and has a lot of power. However, I just spent two weeks in a rental because of rust on the panel above my windshield. The seal was faulty and 3 months out of warranty. I dont suggest an aftermarket car starter. My car has issues with starting due to it. Other than that, I love it!