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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  My First Ford Truck - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By F. A. Hicks - June 5 - 8:58 pm

  My Ranger is a fine vehicle, smooth ride, excellent handling & power to match. The exterior design is also a plus factor, having conformed to the changing times by having that sleek look but maintains the distinct Ford body style (a manly style). Only Ford & Chevy have been able to keep their trucks the way I like em! I must add however that the Ranger was sort of a poor choice for me. I am 61" & 240lbs. I am not uncomfortable in my Ranger but I still, after six months, cant seem to get to seat adjusted right and my head is .25 of an inch from the ceiling. I am comfortable even driving for long periods. Recommend 2004 Ford Ranger. But us "Big Guys" need "A Full Size Baby".

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  Ford Expedition - 2005 Ford Expedition
  By Tim Rambo - June 5 - 3:03 pm

  The Ford Expedition is the greatest family vehicle out there. Great performance, incredible driving ability, and very comfortable on the interior. The vehicle rides like a luxury car and handles like a small sports car. Truly an amazing vehicle.

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  Infuriatingly User Unfriendly Electronics - 2017 Ford Fusion
  By Paul - June 5 - 1:40 pm

  TINY icons on the dash and steering wheel make it infuriatingly difficult to see / find / turn on / adjust the cruise control, the heater and air conditioner, etc. Unintuitive power window controls. I got stuck in a restaurant drive through unable to figure out how to lower the drivers window after the window controls somehow got locked up. Key FOB has nearly illegible icons that require a lot of concentration to find and figure out. Many times I hit the anti-theft siren alarming the whole neighborhood and then it took minutes to figure out how to turn off the alarm. Never had these problems when renting Toyota Camrys / Hyundais and Kias.

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  Fun to drive...if it will start. - 2017 Ford Fusion
  By rsto10 - June 5 - 6:23 am

  I do not recommend buying this car until Ford addresses and fixes the batter drain problem with this car. Numerous times, after sitting in my work parking lot for the day (8 hours), I return to the car to go home and the battery is dead. There is a bug with this car that my dealer, and according to the increasing complaints on the forums, most other dealers cant diagnose and fix properly. Ford has been silent about the problem and has yet to issue a fix to its dealers. Do not buy this car until the problem is fixed at the corporate level. That being said, if a fix is found, this is a really fun car to drive with great tech. With winter tires this AWD car is really, really fun in the winter. The only thing I dislike about this car is the MPG. Not the mileage Id like or was used to with my 2014 Ford Fusion 2.0 Titanium AWD.

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  My ownership experience - 2003 Ford Windstar
  By jwhclayton - June 5 - 1:33 am

  I purchased new in summer of 2004, it now has 75,000 miles on it. I have changed oil every 4,000 miles, replaced tires, replace brake pads on front, replace power steering fluid. It has only been in the dealership twice since it was new. No complaints.

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  This Car Will Get You Noticed - 2005 Ford Thunderbird
  By Ben - June 5 - 12:41 am

  This is my wifes car and she just loves it. It turns more heads than a Corvette. If you want attention and comfort and a quality built car then this is it. If you want to carry groceries or kids then this car isnt for you. The car style is not overly aggressive or cheap and I believe it will stand the test of time in style. All the ladies in her group love it. My wife has finally got the "Car Craze" bug because of this T-Bird. Its cheaper than the Corvette as well and I believe more fun in the long haul.

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  Not a bad buy at all - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Legato2001 - June 4 - 4:50 pm

  I initially got some bad advice from people about buying a Ford. Although Ive had the car for only a couple of months, I find those complaints to be unfounded. Its not the most comfortable car in the world for long drives, but it definitely allows for a fun drive. The steering is very nice, the sound system is very good, and the fuel economy leaves nothing to be desired. All around, a great buy for the money.

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  F150 was great - 2001 Ford F-150
  By F150 Lariat Supercre - June 4 - 10:37 am

  This truck runs great, gets 21 MPG highway and has plenty of power. Im going in for a brake job at 59,000 miles and had no other problems. Shifts well, the 4.6 liter engine is smooth and delivers 231 HP. Lots of space and passengers love it too. Bed is 5.5 feet long but served me well as I can easily put 4x8 sheet of plywood in. Other trucks including 6 cylinder Rangers, Toyotas and Dodges just dont deliver the gas mileage that this truck does.

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  Ford Escape - 2011 Ford Escape
  By Kimberly - June 4 - 4:13 am

  We had minor issue with the AC, fixed based on a notice from Ford that thankfully our mechanic saw. Overall I loved it. The four wheel drive and handling was great, it was sporty looking for an SUV, and had pretty good gas mileage for being an SUV. The interior was comfy with heated seats and plenty of storage.

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  The real mileage is 18.7 mpg, not 26 mpg! - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Wenguang Wang - June 3 - 11:53 pm

  I bought this new 05 Focus in Nov. 2004. The performance and comfort are good. However, the claimed city driving of 26 is a dream. I constantly get 17-19 mpg for city driving. I dont use air conditioning, dont press the gas hard, nor brake hard. I dont drive with windows open. I dont drive with lights on in daytime. However, I can never get higher mileage. If I had known it uses this much gas, I would not buy it at all.