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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  Great Car - 2002 Ford Taurus
  By #1Ford - May 11 - 1:29 pm

  We have over 80,000 miles on the car and have only had minor repairs on the trim over the door. Other than that the car has been maintenance free, and gets 29 mpg, We drive it 40 miles one way to work every day, and would love to see Ford keep it in their lineup and not replace it.

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  loving it - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By dixon - May 11 - 1:00 pm

  I love everything about this car, the ride, the style and the comfort that it offers. The stares that it gets on the road is an added bonus. The car handles well at any speed and during all weather conditions. This is a luxury car but not at a luxury price. The space that it offers is great as rear seat passengers always enjoy comfort. I find that it is good on gas and that is a plus in this current economy, also great if you have to do a lot of shopping, the trunk is huge!. Highly recommended.

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  Life is good.... - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By chrisma - May 11 - 6:36 am

  ...so why not treat yourself to a Mustang GT? I did! Enough power to play with the big boys. Enough styling to play with the big girls. Excellent value for the price. Not looking forward to when I have to put her away for the winter :-(. But then Ill have that much more to look forward to the next spring :-).

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  My 3rd Ford Explorer Limited - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By dads girl - May 11 - 12:50 am

  My 3rd Ford Explorer Limited. Loved my first two. Bought a Lexus RX300 but went back to Ford. Like this one but had to have rear end replaced after 4 months, 2K miles. Ford was good about warranty repairs. Still a little rough changing gears. Chrome running boards rusty after 1 winter. Great interior features and design. Comfortable and now seems very reliable and quiet. Easy to handle, good pick up, great on long trips. BUT, I wish Ford would take the too numerous seams out of the leather seats. Not good on people who drive in shorts or skirts. 96 seats were the best! We dont need the high "thigh" supports on the sides of seats. These arent race cars. But, I will buy another Ford Explorer again.

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  Vermont Ford - 2006 Ford F-150
  By jay johnstone - May 10 - 5:33 pm

  Have 5.4l engine. Upgraded to longer warranty as I realize I could fix almost nothing under the hood. Easy to drive despite huge size, gas mileage has been about the same as my previous 4l Ford Ranger.

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  An In the Shop Van - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Brent McKee - May 10 - 2:30 pm

  I have had numerous electrical problems with my Freestar. I downsized from a Mavigator and knew that there would be a dramatic difference in comfort options. The mid-seats are very difficult to remove and the back seat is not comfortable for a average sized adult. I have had the vehicle in for service on eight different occasions with electrical problems Ford has changed out the dash electronic twice and the passenger side power window motor once. I have never been so dissatisfied with a vehicle and based on this experience, I will now be looking a lot closer at imports.

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  Great Car - 2010 Ford Fusion
  By HartRW - May 10 - 4:23 am

  We just love our Fusion, ride performance, looks, everything. The first trip we took it on we averaged 29.9 MPG. Our SEL is a V6, but it isnt AWD. The fit and finish is very good, I have found no defects what so ever. Performance is more than adequate. The MPG is better than I expected. The cross traffic warning system is great when backing out of a parking place between two SUVs. We also love the blind spot warning system.

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  Excellent Freestyle does not Disappoint - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Kris Loewen - May 10 - 4:03 am

  My wife and I love our Ford Freestyle. Cant figure out the poor reviews in Consumer Reports. No problems after 6k; The car drives smoothly and is wonderful to get in and out of. I like the CVT, I can see out easily and the seats (leather) are supportive and comfortable. I love the rear folding seats and the huge amount of storage space available in the back. It is ridiculous how much space there is back there. The Freestyle is a dream in the snow and ice, it doesnt even know there are bad conditions. You can literally drive normally and have no worries at all. Does not get the mileage claimed (we are at 17mpg in town and maybe 22 on the highway in the AWD SEL model).

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  Ford Mustang gt - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By Kim Mensik - May 10 - 2:16 am

  Having the car less than a month, doesnt allow for too much experience. However, we bought the car w/ a full tank of gas, the wrong gas, so our engine light is on all the time until we refill. I dont like the trunk opening as its too small for some items. although once you get the item in, there is plenty of trunk space. I think the center console sets too high up for my liking, but otherwise fun car that weve dubbed "Fire in the Hole"

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  most reliable car - 1995 Ford Explorer
  By C. Davis - May 9 - 11:46 pm

  I have owned this car for over 10 year and the only repairs that i have ever had were to replace an oxygen sensor and another to replace a transmission sensor. This car is an absolute tank. Starts every time and shifts great. I know other people with 200,000+ on their 95 Explorer and they are still running great.