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:

• 

  No Escaping the Segment—but thats more than OK - 2017 Ford Escape
  By BRex - April 30 - 11:10 am

  THIS IS A 2.0 engine, not the 2.5 labelled above. There was no option to select 2.0 model. I purchased a 2.0 Ecoboost model—a 4 cylinder that supposedly gets the gas mileage of an economical 4 cylinder while boasting the power, save the horses of a 6 cylinder engine. The driver can get the results of the former in DRIVE mode, and the later in SPORT mode, of which the transition is the easiest to shift on the fly in the Escape than the push button methods of other like SUVs. I find early on that the engine nearly measures up to this claim. Paddle shifters are available on my model, though I really dont quite grasp the logic of paddle shifters generally. The ride is firm and composed. The steering is very good, though not as connected to the road, in my opinion, as other notable vehicles in its class. Returning now to the ride. To what do I have to compare the ride to? As an owner of a 2005 Highlander—which never left me in the lurch or side of the road, I was impressed to the last day of my ownership of this vehicle as to the manner it floated over pothole patched roadways that predominate on long, country, suburban roads, while affording a 360 view of everything going on around me. As such, I drove this vehicle like a sportscar. The 2017 Escape appears to keep this pace, though visibility is somewhat more limited. I had found that side window cameras on other vehicles in this segment may have the potential to help for quick lane shifts, but my new vehicle did not include this feature (only a backup camera). As both a techie—I love the touchscreen (and the technology packages offered, besides this detail, are the best Ive seen in all the models tested, especially for the price. Comparably supplied tech packages on mid-sized SUVs jack the price up prohibitively for my expenses. However, as a pure driver? I dont need no stinkin badges—I mean tech to back up, make turns, or parallel park. In my former vehicle, I drove through city streets and the like to the extent that one passenger asked me if I liked motorcycles. I did all these owning to the line of sight around the vehicle. The new Ford has a front windshield that slopes down very far—reminding me of a Toyota Prius. I am not sure whether this is to give the sensation of a commanding view of the road or not. Dont get me wrong, it succeeds here, but heres the rub: with the motor supposedly giving the impression of a 6 cylinder and the 18 inch tires, on the SE Trim, and the general overall impression reminding me of my erstwhile Highlander (in terms of looks and theoretical performance) I have not yet justified in my mind the potential similar price that the lower end 6 cyl, mid-sized SUVs and the Escape. The strangest thing is that my mother, of all people told me to be sure to drive over plenty of bumps before purchasing the vehicle. Having purchased the vehicle I am finding–and this is a very preliminary impression-that one can definitely feel every jolt and tittle of said bumps and holes on the road. I feel it, but the vehicle is rugged enough that it has no truck with any given road you find yourself on. But I think this is true of every compact SUV. Generally, I love this vehicle and may venture to guess the Ford Escape may move up a notch or two in this category this year! Nevertheless, I would not yet pass this small SUV off as a midsized performing SUV—but well see. I was one of the first to buy the 2017 Ford Escape in my area. Oh, one more thing to note. I must admit that I wanted to buy a manly car in my price range that is not overly cumbersome. When I first saw the 2017 Escape drive up (the salesperson) wasnt even aware they had it in yet—so as I was looking in the lot he drove up in it, surprising me. What a surprise! I was like: "thats my next vehicle (I hope it lasts 12 years), it looks cool." Of course one review on YouTube said that the Escape has had 60% of it buyers female! Oh well. Note well: this is a very preliminary review. My main impression is that it is no Highlander, but I bet it could surpass the vehicles in its own class.

• 

  Top Quality - 1998 Ford F-150
  By lespitz - April 30 - 1:23 am

  I have 175,000 miles on this truck and never had anything go wrong this is a top quality truck. I abuse the heck out of this truck driving daily from 4000 ft to 8000 ft in the mountains. The 4WD system gets abused 9 winter months of the year. An excellent truck.

• 

  Ford Festiva 1991 - 1991 Ford Festiva
  By Scott Postma - April 29 - 11:16 pm

  Ive found this car trustworthy and free from unexpected maintenance. Not recomended for heavy highway driving as wind has effect on car. After 125,000 miles motor is very sound and doesnt burn oil. The interior is roomy and can hold 4 adults with leg room and headroom, or three bales of hay and two adults. Ive enjoyed the smallness of the car as parking and turning around is very simple and quick, especially in downtown areas.

• 

  Adorable Car for the perfect price! - 2008 Ford Focus
  By Eleshia - April 29 - 7:53 pm

  I am absolutely in love with this car! Its adorable and fun to drive. Handles great on small, curvy roads. Grabs a lot of attention from other drivers. Gas mileage has been improving since I bought the car (with only 42 miles on it.) Its up to an average of 25 mpg. Features and add ons are fun. Audiophile sound system sounds sweet and precise. Ambient lights add a little extra to the somewhat bland interior. I love the moonroof. Also, back seats are extremely roomy and comforable for a small coupe. Huge trunk space even with a subwoofer!

• 

  Pleased with performance so far... - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By deserthybrid - April 29 - 7:06 pm

  Being skeptical of Ford quality after a bad experience with a 2002 model, I have been plesantly surprised by the overall performance as well as the fit & finish on this vehicle. CVT is new for me, but the engine has the torque to accellerate fairly quickly. Love the SYNC system although it is not flawless. Sound system is solid and interior finishes, although not mind blowing, have a nice high quality feel to them. The Hybrid drive is smooth and switches from gas to electric mode seamlessly. Definitely very pleased both with the driving experience and at the pump after putting 5,000 miles on it. Highly recommend this vehicle to anyone considering a hybrid. BY the way, the Prius is UGLY

• 

  Yee Haw - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By debville - April 29 - 6:15 pm

  This car is so much fun to drive, especially with the top down. Everyone agrees its a great looking car. My first car was a 67 Mustang and I always vowed I get another one day. The incentives in December were too good to pass up on so I opted to buy then instead of waiting for the 2005s to come out. I am not unhappy with my decision at all!

• 

  Mixed bag - 2000 Ford Focus
  By dbf - April 29 - 5:10 pm

  Ive had my Focus since I bought it new in 2000. Unless you really cant afford otherwise, I dont think that I would recommend it. Maybe I got a lemon, but every problem Ive seen on this site, Ive had, and its only got 36,000 on it (after 5 years!). Lots of recalls, but major mechanical problems (heating core, trans, various bizarre coils and tubes and valves). You really dont save that much on the sticker after all of the repairs. Also, it was fast & fun to drive for the first two years, then consistently idled high, was sluggish and generally seems to be dying, despite going in for repairs once a month these days. Ford service (especially dealers) is abysmal. Sad part is that Im attached to it.

• 

  Taught Kids to Drive - 1998 Ford Contour
  By Marco - April 29 - 3:24 pm

  Specifically purchased a Contour with 60K to teach my 2 teenagers how to drive. Im tall and needed something with 4 doors. Not as pricey as other used cars of similar size, with 4 doors. Not too fast, but handles great. Both teenagers have licenses and have moved on to other vehicles. Sort of expected that one of them would wreck the car, so I didnt expect to own it for long. Have had it almost 3 years, and am pretty pleased. Get close to 30mpg in regular driving. Had to pay a bit to get the timing belt, gear, etc. replaced at 90K, but have just had maintenance (battery, brake pads) since. Wore out a set of tires in 40K, but expected as much with 2 teenagers pushing the envelope.

• 

  Excellent - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By Gilliann - April 28 - 4:43 pm

  This is my first car, and I love it, it handles beautifully, very smooth.

• 

  Ford Has a Better Idea - 2005 Ford Taurus
  By Tony Tavares - April 28 - 3:17 am

  This car is very reliable, a good performer, and well made. As good as any Honda, Toyota, or Nissan. I liked my first one so well, a 1998 model, I went out and bought another one. I didnt even look at anything else. My daughter bought a 2005 Nissan Altima and it doesnt ride any better than the Taurus, and cost a lot more money. The buttons on the radio stick badly in cold weather on the Nissan.