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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  awesome truck - 1999 Ford F-150
  By jb - December 23 - 9:35 pm

  This truck now has 290,000 miles on it and I still drive it everyday. I put 285 bfgs on it and I still get about 13 mpg. I have replaced a few coils, but they are cheap and easy to do yourself. I kept thinking it would crap out, but its still running strong. Ford finally did something right.

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  Love it! - 2009 Ford F-150
  By Dan Cook - December 23 - 8:53 pm

  Love this truck! had a 2004 5.4 4x4 crew cab before, loved it, but what a difference. This 5.4 gets about 3 to 4 mpg more than the old one. With only 2000 miles on it, took a 2000 mile trip and averaged 20.5 mpg. Alot more power than old 5.4 and just love the six-speed trans. Rides like a car and has a huge backseat, already many compliments on it.

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  Fun - 2008 Ford Escape
  By Fun - December 23 - 6:43 pm

  I purchased the Limited edition less than a month ago and just reached 1000 miles. So far I think it is a fun little SUV to drive. We had out first winter storm in Alaska and it handled very well on the ice and snow. I kept my 2000 GMC truck for bad winter days but now feel confident in driving the Escape too.

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  One of the best I ever had - 1990 Ford Thunderbird
  By Big Dog - December 23 - 4:25 pm

  Ive had several Fords and two T- Bird. My first was an `85 that lost an argument with a snow plow. I ordered a bright red 1989, but it came it was white I said Id take it only if they painted it red. They refused but ordered it again I received it as a 1990. I wasnt disappointed. Great looking, great handling (smaller turning radius than my wifes Subaru). Living in Chicago and New York I mainly drove my T-Bird long distances, and they were dream drives. I once rented a non-SC for 3 weeks while shooting a Rte. 66 documentary. It was good, but my SC was far better. Wish I had it now, but times changed and I aged, so I donated it to charity.

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  So far so good - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By hexanero - December 23 - 4:13 pm

  This car handles perfectly. Steering is extremely responsive for a larger car. Interior room in enormous. You can probably stick a smaller car in the trunk. The 6 speed provideds a very smooth shift. The brakes are pretty good. Overall the car is really quiet, its safe, and it fun to drive. The larger style mirrors provide excellent visibility. I would def purchase again.

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  Love it! - 2009 Ford Focus
  By Kennon - December 23 - 3:07 pm

  I drove Mazda 6s from 1988 till now. I drive a lot of miles every year chasing my hobbies, kids, and getting to work. For me a car must fit my body with arm rests and foot rests properly placed. I spend a minimum of two and a half hours driving every day. My cars mus not be hard to handle in windy or wet conditions. Great mileage with enough power to run cruise control on long hills are a must. This little Ford is a pleasure to drive and ride in. Mileage 37 Summer 33 Winter 87 Octane. Less on E10 by 2mpg Mixed driving. Best 41mpg on I-80 in August, Worst 29 last week at -6F

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  Best Car Purchase Ive Made - 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By Trey - December 23 - 1:22 pm

  I bought this car Certified from a Ford dealership, 4 years old with 50,000 miles on it. I bought it specifically for the gas mileage of the hybrid. I had seen several reviews of the hybrid saying that they werent getting the rated 44mpg city in the real world. Still, I figured Id have to save a lot of money on gas upgrading from my old vehicle, so I went with it. I couldnt be happier with the gas mileage. I am a volunteer firefighter, and if Im making a run and really accelerating hard (not all the way to the floor every time, but still asking for a lot of power), I see around 37 to 39mpg from a trip. If Im really trying my best to increase fuel economy, I regularly get near 50mpg, no problems. And if Im driving along as usual and not paying attention to my gas mileage or acceleration, Ill get around 46mpg, maybe even a little more. There are all kinds of driving aids and tips that you can configure on the dash to help coach you in getting the best gas mileage, and at the end of each trip when you turn the key off, it tells you how many miles you drove, your fuel economy for that trip, and a few other fuel economy related items about the trip. It didnt take me long at all to get used to driving the most efficiently for this car. I drive between 100 and 200 miles a day usually, between work, school, the firehouse, and any other driving I do, and Id say overall I average around 46 or 47mpg. I bought the car hoping for great gas mileage, but really Im getting even more than I expected without really trying. So with gas mileage, I am more than happy. Moving on, I love the look of the car, inside and out. My mom (who has owned a Mercedes before) told me she would have thought it was a Mercedes getting in the passenger seat. Its really a very appealing car by looks, both inside and out. Mine has the touch screen and heated seats and Im very happy with the value and what all options I have (which Im still discovering as I go on). I feel like Im driving a luxury car every day. One random thing Ive noticed is that you dont need to turn the A/C on to have cold air blowing. And Im usually the person who will have the A/C on 11 months out of the year. With the Fusion, I rarely turn it on. I find myself getting chilly in the car with only the regular climate fan turned on and turned to Lo. Somehow, it cools the car down more than my old cars A/C did, without me ever having to turn on the air conditioner, which again saves fuel. My only two things I can point out that Im not the biggest fan of (and this is only because Im really looking for a downside to report, its really not a big deal) are: 1) the bluetooth will lose connection with my iPhone 7 fairly often, to the point where I dont use the car to make phone calls because it will almost always cut out during the call, and 2) Id rather have physical buttons than touch-sensitive buttons for controls on the center-stack, because I have to take my eyes off the road to adjust the climate, I cant just feel for the buttons or knobs. But really, thats just personal preference, and not a knock on the car itself. Overall, I am thrilled with the car. The gas mileage is better than expected and the only reason I can think that others arent seeing these numbers is because theyre driving the car like a regular gasoline motor without following the tips that the car gives you. It only took me a couple short drives to get the driving down, and now I do it naturally. And its not like Im driving extremely slow or anything. I got a ton of compliments on the car the first day I drove it to work. It looks and feels like a much more expensive car than it is. I love the car so far, I have an extended warranty and free scheduled service on it for a couple of years, so I really expect it to be cheap to own and drive. And a big shout-out to Jim ONeal Ford, everyone there was more than helpful with me, with no pressure, and I cant thank them enough. Absolutely no regrets with this car!

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  Surprisingly Good - 2008 Ford Focus
  By Harry7 - December 23 - 6:30 am

  What can I say? Ive never really liked many of the Fords Ive owned, but this one is an exception. Solid, quiet as a crypt, comfortable, excellent road manners, great MPG, Sync, Sirius, huge trunk.

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  Fun little truck - 2007 Ford Escape
  By Philippe T. - December 22 - 7:50 pm

  FUN little truck. No repairs since new. No complaints!

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  New road car, yellow mustang - 2016 Ford Mustang
  By Papa - December 22 - 2:42 pm

  Waited 47 years for my first sports car.