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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  290,000 miles and still running - 1990 Ford Festiva
  By teejay - October 14 - 12:18 am

  well here i am again for anyone out there that wants to read about my little festy. toughest car i have ever owned. hope to get 300k before i am done maybe then consider going 400k. who knows??? i bought car with 182k and thought 200 would be maybe possible. this little thing just keeps going and going and going!!!!!

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  Pretty Good - 2010 Ford Taurus
  By D. R. - October 13 - 3:55 pm

  Basics of what makes a vehicle a car are very good - fine fit and finish, drivetrain is plenty powerful,smooth, and flexible. Trunk space is superior. Ride is quiet, but would prefer a bit less stiff suspension and higher profile tires on a family sedan. I dont care about Indy car performance on the curves. I know pizzazz sells, but wish Engineers would shift emphasis a bit from entertainment and novelty to utility. Steering wheel paddle switch shifting to play manual transmission is an idea whose time should have never come. Long after the shine wears off, such mundane things as a garage door opener and a trash container - not included - would be more satisfying.

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  Great Car from Ford - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By Marko - October 13 - 1:00 pm

  Have only owned the car for <700 miles but am totally impressed with the engineering and design detail of the car. My real word mileage is as advertized on the sticker but it does take a little thought and effort to get the high mileage results. Ford (MS) Sync system is the bomb. Works voice activated quite well, support for Sat Radio, iPod and 10G car music server is awesome. Fit and finish are top notch.

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  Awesome Rig - 1997 Ford Expedition
  By countryboy7879 - October 12 - 9:13 pm

  I love this thing Tons of torque, good offroad, will pull anything, and is comfy. Yeah, it does drink fuel like theres no tomorrow, but its fun to drive, and its by far one of the more macho SUVs on the road. I take it to an off road park almost every weekend and it can follow any of the "trail rated" jeeps that are half its size. Ive also towed in excess of 10,000lbs, and other then the rear suspension being maxed the motor and trans didnt mind it one bit.

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  Not too bad. - 2007 Ford Focus
  By jbb - October 12 - 12:22 pm

  Pretty reliable : no issues in 36k. Has good pep, handles quite well, is well laid out inside, is roomy. Base seats are awful, gas mileage is so-so, and somewhat noisy inside (but Ill take that as a trade off for a lighter more nimble car that does not need 200 hp to move)

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  The Mustang is back! Ford got it Right! - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By AJC-05GT - October 12 - 11:30 am

  Ford finally got it right with the Mustang. The retro look brought me into the dealership to take a closer look. I have never had such a fun car to drive. Even though I have the great Shaker 1000 stereo system I spend most of my time listening to the growl of the engine. The car has great performance and handling characteristics off the show room floor. Make sure to get the 5 speed manual transmission as this is a true drivers car. With a few inexpensive bolt on upgrades and a computer reflash this car becomes a serious rocket and will easily pull low 13s in the quarter mile.

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  Would Not Do It Again - 2002 Ford Focus
  By Robert - October 12 - 9:58 am

  Nothing but problems with this car since I purchased it new in 2002. General frame problems at first - the front passenger floor leaked excessively, had to be repaired.Twice it has overheated, needed temperature gauge replaced, and of course the entire cooling system needed flushed. Within the past few years Ive had approximately $2,000 in repairs (including problem above, as well as transmission problems, motor coil problems, all in addition to regular routine maintenance-tune ups, oil changes). Mostly the car has been used to drive to/from work, and around town, very few long trips. Now-138,000 miles,and its basically dead (unless I fork out another $2k in repairs). Fed up!

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  3rd Ford truck! still impressed! - 2006 Ford F-150
  By Dan - October 10 - 1:52 pm

  Im on my 3rd Ford truck. 2 Rangers, and now the F-150. Ive owned my last 2 for at least 5-7 years, and NEVER had a single problem. Ive over exceeded weight capacities, towed, hauled, even pulled trees out of the ground! This F-150 is powerful enough, sharp looking, and more comfortable than my Rangers. I can only agree with other reviews that the A/C is weak, and I live in southwest Florida. So far averaging the SAME mileage with this 5.4L as I did with my 3.0 supercab Ranger! It also has enough back seat room for the baby seat. If I have the same luck with this 5.4L, 4 door supercab as I did with my Rangers, then Im sticking with the Fords!

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  Great little car! - 2004 Ford Focus
  By GilGarp - October 10 - 2:00 am

  The SVT was not a car I had considered but a pushy salesperson was all I needed to get me in the drivers seat. Needless to say I was impressed! I would probably say that performance was the most important thing (after price) when I was looking for a car. And while the SVT has decent acceleration, it really shines in the handling department. Its very solid, has a well-rounded bunch of performance upgrades (brakes, gearbox, suspension, engine, etc.), lots of little visual sporty touches, and surprisingly versatile. The back seats fold flat, which is nice for when I need to take my bike places.

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  16 year olds review - 2000 Ford Explorer
  By Eric Friday - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I like it so far. I got a nice version for very cheap, and am happy. good ride,