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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  Black Beauty - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By BelAirCarGuy - February 6 - 5:46 am

  Bought this 2006 Limited V-8 with 32,000 miles to replace a 1996 Isuzu Trooper. The Explorer has great styling both inside and out, three rows of seats with power folding third row. Plenty of interior room, with lots of leg room in the second row. Good visibility, with a straight hood, so you can see the front corners of the vehicle. The ride is very smooth with the independent rear suspension, and interior quiet at highway speeds. I did purchase a extended warranty for three years/thirty-six thousand miles. Recently had a run through the snow with slippery road conditions. The automatic 4WD worked great, but also tried the "manual" 4WD option. No problems either. Overall, great!

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  Thrilled Ford Escape owner - 2010 Ford Escape
  By DBSC - February 6 - 1:18 am

  I have a 2010 Escape XLT V6, this SUV is fun to drive. I am in my mid 60s, this auto makes me feel like a teenager every time i get behind the wheel. Throttle response, power and agility are great, i have not enjoyed driving this much in decades. Ford has put comfort, power, performance and economy in a great package.

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  Great Mid-size SUV - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By KCAttorney - February 6 - 12:26 am

  Bought this SUV with V6 in summer of 2007 with 95K miles on it. Sold it in November 2009 with 130K miles to a friends daughter who just turned 16. It still looks great, interior & exterior. Only repairs during that time were 2 rear wheel bearings and the rear AC door actuator. Other people complain about having to repair items like wheel bearings at "only" 90K miles. Come on, be realistic. Once a car gets over 50K miles, its going to need repairs from time to time. This SUV offers a great overall package. Ive had 3 Explorers now and had good luck with all 3. They arent perfect, but Ive had several other SUVs also, and the Explorer is a great truck. Thats why Ive owned 3.

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  Love My Car - 2010 Ford Mustang
  By BD - February 6 - 12:05 am

  My Mustang was special ordered just for me. The car is everything I knew it would be and more. This is the second convertible mustang I have owned. The first was in 1984. Now 26 years later I have another one. Love the my color ambient lighting, love the sync and navigation, love the backup camera. Color choice was white w/a black top and one of the striping packages also in black. Im averaging 19 city and 24+ highway. I was thinking the mpgs would be a little better being that it is only a V6 engine but its still new and not broke in yet. I am so happy with my car. I did a lot of research before I made my decision, and I couldnt have picked a better car. LOVE-LOVE-LOVE IT

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  Love my Focus! - 2005 Ford Focus
  By llb2010 - February 5 - 3:33 pm

  I bought my 2005 Ford Focus ZX4 a few months ago, and I must admit, I LOVE it! It runs great, gets awesome gas mileage (almost 35 to the gallon highway, about 28 city), and is very cute! Im seventeen and wanted to buy a car (yes- I paid for it myself!) that would last throughout college and I think Ive found the one! It has plenty of legroom for me (6 feet tall). It gets great pickup and I find it very easy to drive- even in the snow and ice. I havent had any problems with the car (knock on wood) and would recommend it to anyone. My parents may be Toyota and Honda owners, but Im a Ford girl for life!

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  Best Ive owned - 2002 Ford F-150
  By Jobe - February 5 - 9:52 am

  This is by far the best vehicle I have ever owned. Very few minor defects are far outweighed by the overall integrity of the truck. I do not like rattles and squeaks and this truck has not one, inside or outside. The overall finish of the interior is excellent well designed, simple, stylish, and to the point.

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  focus on the road ahead - 2010 Ford Focus
  By ben - February 4 - 11:40 pm

  The Focus. I traded in my 07 mustang for it. Although it doesnt have all the horses the mustang had, I agree with the people saying it is fast. Acceleration is not bad at all for a 4 cyl car. Some people doesnt like the exterior design at all but I beg to differ. Smooth ride and handles very well. Love the interior and features too, and above everything safety and gas mileage. I too have no regrets.

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  Great Car! - 2008 Ford Focus
  By Nicki - February 4 - 11:50 am

  My husband and I needed a new car that got good gas mileage. We bought our Ford Focus in March 2008 and love it!! The gas mileage is awesome! While on road trips we can get 38 mpg!! Now thats not too common. We usually get around 34 average MPG and with bad weather in the winter, obviously the MPG drops because of using the heater. But its still good, about 31 MPG in winter!! :-)

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  no complaints at all - 1995 Ford Ranger
  By Denise Partika - February 4 - 12:27 am

  We bought our ranger new in Aug. 95 it has been a reliable truck for pleasure and for work (rental clean ups). To this day my seats are still in good condition no rips or worn spots. I did have my windshield replaced 4 times. Mine has 185,000 miles on it. Doesnt use or leak oil, trans fluid or water. The suspension is still original no problems. Engine maintenance I had 1 fuel injector fail had it fixed no problems since. I replaced the perge container, starter, battery, couple hoses, brakes, repaired the gas tank filler hose. normal wear & tear stuff.

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  Great all around vehicle - 2007 Ford F-150
  By fordgirl1976 - February 3 - 10:09 pm

  We bought this truck because we have four children and the 4 wheel drive SUVs we were considering had room for us but nothing else (groceries, strollers etc.). This is my daily driver...and I have no complaints. I think it is easier to drive and park than my previous car (Ford Fusion) was. I get 15 miles to a gallon but I dont really notice because the tank is so large I can go 2 weeks on a tank of gas. My husband also takes this truck off road and we tow a camper with it without any issues. It goes great in the snow and I never have to worry about getting stuck anywhere. The ground clearance on this truck is awesome and I have no complaint as to how high it sits...it is a TRUCK!!!