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 - 2010 Ford Taurus
  By jmtdawg - December 17 - 10:27 am

  After driving an 06 Five Hundred for last 4 years I felt confident that the new Taurus would be every bit as good as my Five Hundred. I purchased an SEL a week ago and it has exceeded my expectations. This is a fun car to drive and turns heads quite often. At this early stage of ownership the gas mileage is looking real good - 30 on the highway and about 22 riding around in town. The "Sync" system is great! I never had satalite radio before and now I know what all the buzz is about with it......no need for CD listening for the most part. I looked at more expensive cars but the Taurus was and is the winner. Great job Ford!!!!

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  Great Value & better than advertised MPG - 2009 Ford Focus
  By Politburo - December 17 - 5:33 am

  I spent about 80 man hours researching and test drving compact sedans before having to make a decision between the top two candidates: the Focus and the Elantra. I selected the Focus due to better overall value as for 1200 more the Focus provided Sync and leather seating (plus it looked better than the Elantra). After 6,000 miles I am quite confident I made a right decision as I have had no issues with it and the car does not get 24/33 MPG as auto tranny is listed. Rather since the engine has been broken in, it is getting something more like 28/37 as i got 35.9 on a recent 250 mile trip. The primary downside is the sluggish acceleration performance by the transmission.

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  Satisfied so far - 2009 Ford Escape
  By Renegade21 - December 16 - 2:20 pm

  I wanted a SUV for utility but didnt want to sacrifice much on MPG. I get about 24/27mpg (city/hwy) and probably average about 25 overall. The Escape is fun to drive and pretty comfortable. Im glad I went with the 6 cylinder. It has pretty good pickup but struggles initially. Handling is pretty nimble for an SUV. Get the Sync system! I love controlling my iPod and phone by voice. Overall a great SUV that Ive enjoyed so far and havent had any problems with. (about 7500 miles driven so far)

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  Awesome truck - 2005 Ford F-150
  By Bill - December 15 - 11:33 pm

  Just took delivery yesterday and Im ecstatic. The King Ranch is without a doubt the absolutely nicest truck on the road anywhere. Built like a bank vault; solid, quiet, powerful, smooth, good-looking inside and out, very comfortable and luxurious. The "family plan" pricing was too good to pass up - really an amazing amount of vehicle for the money. I looked at used E-Class Mercedes and Audi A6s that would have cost thousands more, but cant do what this can. Yes, the fuel economy is not what youd get driving a Jetta or Prius, but consider the fact that its 300 hp pushing over 5500 lbs. The mileage is actually pretty good for such a vehicle.

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  my 96 gt - 1996 Ford Mustang
  By my 96 gt - December 15 - 11:32 pm

  I have owned my mustang for 9 months and it was my fourth vehicle purchase and the most expensive i have owned rare cars for the most part including a rx7 and a fiero. I found my stang and fell in love with it right away and it has been the most fun of any car iv driven its honestly sad when i have to get out of it its very reliable and runs great you truly have to drive one to know the feeling!

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  An Alternative to German cars - 2010 Ford Taurus
  By Frank Reitz - December 15 - 10:06 pm

  I wanted a full-sized car with AWD. The SHO was $20K+ less than the Germans. Traded in a 07 Avalon that I loved. The SHO is everything the Toyo is and more. The other reviews (SHOs) say it all but dont convey the feel of the car. Fully loaded with people and fuel its almost 5000 lbs (!) but runs great. I love it. My wife has started using it more than her car.

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  great car - 2007 Ford Fusion
  By jdlutz - December 15 - 7:12 pm

  Highly recommend this car. Sleek design and reliability! The 07 fusion has been a very reliable car for me. The seats are very comfortable, handling is great and the sirius radio is a nice add-on. The only thing about the V6 engine is the gas mileage isnt too great. I drive about 300 miles per week and spend about $37-45 each week at an avg. of $2.89/gallon. Cost is pretty reasonable for this package!

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  Love my 2002 Escape - 2002 Ford Escape
  By Cameron Brown - December 15 - 2:00 am

  Powerful, sporty, and fun to drive. Perfect size for our small family plus groceries and dogs. We absolutely love the car. One caution: we originally had a 2001 model which we also loved but had a problem which would cause the engine to stall when decelerating at about 40mph which Ford could not fix at the time (see NHTSA web site for info). After four attempts to fix, Ford respected the California Lemon Law and replaced our 2001 (with over 25,000 miles on it) with an identical 2002 model for only $800. The new one is working perfectly so far with 4,000 miles on it.

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  What a great vehicle! - 2008 Ford Escape
  By JENMAC - December 14 - 6:20 pm

  I turned in my 5 sp manual 98 Explorer Sport for the new 5 sp manual 08 Escape and I love it. The ride is comfy, the gas mileage is great (22-28 mpg) and best of all I can plug in my iPod. It is a fun and safe car to drive with plenty of room for my friends. It is a great car for road trips and vacations.

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  2004 Ford Explorer - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By 2004 Ford Explorer - December 14 - 3:28 pm

  I can not believe that my explorer would be more reliable than my 2003 Toyota corolla. i bought this car from a friend and it had 360,000 miles. i got a tug for it only for 1 year because i thought it wouldnt last more than 1 year. The car still runs perfect and the handling in this car is amazing for an SUV. to keep this car perfect like this all you need is to do maintenance on time. i cant believe it didnt break down on me for the way i push this car. i just took it from Fairfax Virginia to Jacksonville North carolina 6 hours drive with 360k miles and its still FINE!! you see alot of Honda and Toyota in US but guess what do you see the most in Europe ? FORD!!!