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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  under powered - 2006 Ford F-150
  By Warren Torchia - April 15 - 12:48 pm

  bought this truck with 136 000 khm on it. i was using it for work so i needed something reliable. the truck was great it motor ran smoothly everything was responsive. no major issues so far. the only complaint i would have is for a v8 engine it was lazy. tried replacing spark plugs and gas filter but still had a slow moving truck. other then that the truck was great no real problems other then basic up keep would recommend to anyone who needs a solid truck

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  MANUAL ROCKS - 2013 Ford Fiesta
  By festiod - April 8 - 1:08 pm

  research told me the automatics had some issues so I chose stick not living in city automatic is crucial and kinda like shifting...to quote another review it is go-cart fun turn and handles you cant take 40 mph at 60 no problem no "drifting" just driving...fastest speed 106 I drove, oops it was accidently no where near red line....it not powerful just geared well ...off the line it is competent but after shifting into fifth if you arent careful it keeps creeping up. if large adult male there is little room in back seats knew that going in .

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  Over 102,000 miles and still doing well! - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By mhs48128 - April 5 - 11:41 am

  Never towed a thing with it and thats probably why I have no trany or radiator issues. Also, garaged in winter. Yeah, a minor radiator leak and Im watching it! Always had a slightly rough truck "ride". Comfortable front buckets. 2nd seat o.k. but 3rd seat is a "pop-up" rumble seat! Only two complaints: A "glass chin" front grille with no real bumper--not front "crashworthy". Stupid orange dashboard idiot messages. Currently lit: tire pressure sensor and gas cap leak & engine light (for same reason), and no way to turn them off permanently. (Must use reset button.) Both useless "errors" and not major. Otherwise, quite reliable. AC still works. Over 102,000 is a good life span, so far!

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  oh boy - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By Marquis Greene - March 26 - 5:35 pm

  Ive purchase a ford explore and had to change out 3 radiators and 2 thermostats

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  Mine is the 2.0 - 2015 Ford Escape
  By petalmasher - March 25 - 4:51 pm

  Not sure why anyone would get the lower trim levels. For someone who wants the best bang for the buck dependably hauling kids, car seats, daiper bags and luggage across the state for a family vacation, the Forester, Rav 4 and CRV are the obvious choices. An Escape will do the job but it will be a bit more cramped and cost a little more. If you also want a combination of handling, power, interior materials, and tech options generally only available in a luxury brand without paying $10k for a hood badge, a loaded Escape is a a good option.

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  Manual transimission S model - 2014 Ford Focus
  By dallastx2 - March 22 - 1:07 pm

  When renting a car for work I always request a Ford Focus. It is a compact vehicle which feels safe to drive. The Focus feels solid on the road. This past year needed a new car, wanted something with better than average fuel economy - purchased a Focus. I picked up the manual transmission version. Not having used a manual transmission in years, its been fun getting back to driving with a stick. The engine performance has been a pleasant surprise. Having a manual transmission gives me the opportunity to drive the vehicle at higher revs. The engine has not disappointed.

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  My dream car! - 2014 Ford Mustang
  By parichino - March 21 - 10:40 pm

  Ive had my eye on Mustangs for years and now finally bought my dream car, and not disappointed. It exceeds every expectation. LOVE THIS CAR! Its got enough umph but also enough gas mileage (averaging 24). Just the right balance. Best thing about this car is that its super good-looking and just downright FUN FUN FUN to drive! You cant go wrong. Its not perfect in every way but still head-over-heals in love with this car! Oh, and did I mention that I love this car?

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  Fun to drive... - 2015 Ford Fusion
  By deputydog35 - March 18 - 9:44 am

  I bought this car brand new... Its super fast and fun to drive! However, Im a big guy 60" 285lbs and the driver seat is not real comfortable. The seats I have are heated and cooled! The driver seat does not lower enough to make it comfortable. The passenger seat goes much lower than the drivers seat. Other than that the car is great! I only have 10k miles on the car and get about 20mpg. Which is not very good!

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  A good purchase - 2012 Ford Escape
  By Phil Pimental - March 16 - 9:21 pm

  I have owned four Escapes over the years, and own a 2009 and a 2012. I have now had the 2012 for a year now and put about 10K miles on it. I have had no issues with it. It will get over 30 MPG on long trips when driven at highway speeds.

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  Great on gas, but improvements needed - 2012 Ford Focus
  By Adam Holly - March 14 - 10:09 am

  Decent power, but Ford needs to put a 6 speed manual in it! 3000 RPM cruising at 115 km/h is absolutely absurd. The MTX-75 needs to be retired. Fun facts about the S: No low washer fluid indicator, and you cannot turn the traction control off on the S, short of pulling the fuses for it under the hood. Phenomenal on gas, however. Even with winter tires, its not great in the snow, partially due to the low ground clearance. Tuxedo black metallic paint is gorgeous when clean! The build quality is good, save for the stupid mud flaps Ive lost both front ones because the clips dont hold, and the rear ones are barely hanging on. Only been in the shop once for a wheel bearing when new (warranty)