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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  Fun Car - 2003 Ford Escape
  By Bill Haupt - November 23 - 2:00 am

  This is the first Ford car I have purchaed in my life. I was replacing a Nissan Quest Van built by Ford so, I decided to try the Ford. My main purpose was to buy a smaller car that gave me better gas mileage and still gave me the interior room and hauling capacity of my Van. The car has been great and trouble free although I am disapointed in the gas mileage and exterior sheet metal work, this car has been a pleasure to own and drive.

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  Great Truck - 1998 Ford Explorer
  By nevermor - November 23 - 2:00 am

  We have had ours for a year w/ no problems. Only thing Ive had done is a front end alighment.

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  2003 XLT Expedition - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By markfi10 - November 23 - 2:00 am

  We traded in a minivan for an expedion and just love it. I have two teenage boys and we like to travel by car. There is lots of room for everyone to spread out in their own space and be comfortable. The Expedition is easy to drive even for my wife who is only 5 tall just make sure you get the running boards. We bought the XLT Premium Expedition with the 6 disk CD Changer and middle console in the front. Gas mileage is not bad at 14-18 MPG. Highly recommend this as a family vehicle especially as your children get older.

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  Escape to a Minnesota Winter - 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Minnesota Mark - November 23 - 12:33 am

  I purchased the Escape Hybrid AWD for two reasons - exhaust emissions and fuel economy. I will assume the emissions are meeting my expectations. The fuel economy? Nowhere near the ratings of 33/29 for city/highway. During this mild Minnesota winter I am only getting around 23 mpg. Granted itÂ’s better than the 16 mpg I got in the winter with my 2003 Chevy Trailblazer LTZ, but the Hybrid is much less of a vehicle than the Trailblazer. I will say that the Escape with its front-wheel drive tracks better in snow than the Trailblazer. For my first hybrid vehicle the Escape is adequate.

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  Great family car - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Heather - November 22 - 9:33 pm

  We were a little hesitant about getting this vehicle since it was the first year for it. We love the car; it drives great, the room is unbelievable. We have the 3rd row seat and also the entertainment package. As my son said, all he needs is a soda and popcorn and its better than the movies.

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  Ultimate Combo - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By David S - November 22 - 9:30 am

  Our car really provides the best of both worlds for my wife and me. We are either carrying numerous passengers or large items. It provides great flexibility with all of the seat configurations of the 2nd and 3rd rows. We have comfortably carried up to 7 passengers. Even the 3rd row has good leg room. We have driven over 17,000 miles with no problems. Our gas mileage has been just about as rated. Certainly, we have seen the extreme lows of 17 mpg when driving strictly "stop and go". However, we have also experienced around 30 mpg on numerous of occasions of straight highway driving. So, our average has been approximately 22 mpg. The CVT is smooth, and the AWD tracking is great.

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  Good Solid SUV - 1994 Ford Explorer
  By kmarchionda - November 22 - 2:00 am

  This truck has been better than I expected. It hasnt failed me for the 60,000 miles Ive owned it for. Im up over 130,000 miles and its still going strong. The only problem is a small knocking in the engine, but the performance hasnt been affected and I actually get better gas mileage than other people I know with the same truck.

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  Head Turner - 2003 Ford F-150
  By softailmonkey - November 22 - 2:00 am

  fun car to drive and will get you a lot of thumbs up and smiles!

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  Its no BMW, but worth the money - 2012 Ford Focus
  By johnfsteph - November 21 - 11:57 pm

  This new 2012 Ford Focus has a lot of similarities to my 2009 BMW 335i. There is a lot of German/European influence on this new redesigned car. For about $24k you can have all if not more options than a Mercedes/BMW for half the price. If you are looking for a well rounded commute car for not a lot of money, look into the Ford Focus Titanium. You will be very impressed with it. I have the 5-door Focus Titanium in Tuxedo Black (very cool color!!!) and I am very happy with it. The best part is I get close to 38 miles per gallon!!!

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  No frogs killed in this hybrids manufacture - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Sparkie - November 21 - 4:20 pm

  27 MPG actual all around suburban driving, handles well, lots of headroom, Electric motor rapidly accelerates engine to passing/on ramp speeds up to 5750 RPM (redline is 6000 RPM) as required. Supposed to be great in snow (with the heavy HV battery pack over the rear wheels), but not tested there, by me, yet. Truly a "fly by wire" design (you steer and press the gas pedal, and the computer controller decides how much motor, engine, and transmission it will provide).