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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  Never had a problem - 2000 Ford Taurus
  By TaurusRules - May 19 - 2:00 am

  Very reliable and comfortable. Fun to drive. One of the tires (Firestone) went bad at 20000 miles.

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  owner - 1993 Ford Taurus
  By clyde9 - May 19 - 2:00 am

  No problems since purchase new. Today having 1st plug and fuel filter change. Also drain/flush radiator and replace hoses for 1st time. 2nd transmission filter and fluid change today 5-19-03. Has been reliable and confortable. Mileage about 27 hway, 20 city.

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  The under-rated Tbird - 1996 Ford Thunderbird
  By Solimar - May 19 - 2:00 am

  One of the most underated vehicles in the market (to my good fortune).

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  Great Purchase - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By Matthew - May 18 - 4:56 pm

  Weve owned this car for 2 weeks now, and it has been a pleasure to drive. Were used to driving a Mazda Miata manual shift, and while the Fiesta is not a sports car, it comes real close to having a sports car experience. And were amazed at how quiet the cabin is, even driving next to trailer trucks in heavy traffic.

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  Great Surprise! - 2010 Ford Fusion
  By Steve - May 18 - 9:16 am

  To be honest, this car wasnt my first choice. I was set to buy an Altima until the Nissan dealer pulled a bait and switch on me. I found this car by mistake...Thank you Nissan! Ive had my Fusion for a couple of weeks now, and cant believe I didnt find it sooner. The exterior is hip, yet not too hip for my age. Interior is comfortable for my 6 200lb frame, and can comfortably seat 4 adults or an adult and 4 teens! Sound system is above average, and the dash gets lots of notice. The sync system is outstanding and easy to use. Mileage so far is roughly 30mpg in mixed conditions. Car handled very well in recent snow storm. V6 engine is very spunky. Quiet ride.

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  Good...but could be better. - 1999 Ford Mustang
  By Chaz123 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Excellent value for the money. Great straight-line performance but handling is fairly poor. Car sits too high and handling suffers from lack of independent suspension during hard driving. Surprisingly good reliability owned one for over 3.5- years and hexperienced only one problem (convertible top motor died, but replaced under warranty).

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  best car ive owned - 1997 Ford Expedition
  By babymj - May 18 - 2:00 am

  get the 5.4L get 2WD if you dont need 4WD, 2WD ride smoother

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  Excursion - 2000 Ford Excursion
  By brooks - May 18 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my Excursion while trading in my F-150 to tow my 21 boat and 33 camping trailer and also needed the extra room (have 4 children). I could not be more pleased with the Excursion with its towing capacity and room. My ford has the 6.8 Liter V10 and has tons of torque. The seating arangement is great. I had to pick up some items so I removed the 3rd row seat and had lots of room while still having the 2nd row available. The 3rd row seat could not be more easily removed... a quick pull on the latch and it rolls right out the back on its built in rollers. The 2nd row seats then simply fold down if more room is needed.

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  You cant beat a good Ford truck - 2002 Ford Ranger
  By Hitman & Speedy - May 18 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Ranger, and nothing beats a good Ford truck. The 3.0 V6 is no powerhouse, but it has ample power to get the job done. I had a custom flowmaster dual exhaust installed on her and she sounds AWESOME. Comfort level and room beats the Toyota and Chevy by a huge margin. Sure both of them trucks are nice, but no where near the level of a Ford. I average 18 MPG and have had NO PROBLEMS to date...7,100 miles in four months of ownership!

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  Please Take My Wagon - 1998 Ford Taurus
  By MO - May 18 - 2:00 am

  The curved rear doors are nice to look at on the outside, however dealing with children in car seats is a "head bumping" problem. The seat belts for rear seats jam constantly and we have to take the side panel off to fix this. Transmission is also starting to slip (a typical Ford) as I have been told. Power, even with the 6.0 is not enough to get you onto the highway quickly enough. All seats are hard and uncompfortable and the third seat is an oven - no A/C past the front row. Interior rattles are a norm.