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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  Needs better gps - 2017 Ford Edge
  By David Mabelle - February 5 - 2:56 am

  Voice command not intuitive. Needs Garmin GPS or Tesla built in

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  excellent for what it is! - 1994 Ford Bronco
  By trailerman - February 5 - 2:00 am

  Purchased used with 91000 miles on it and now have 108000. 351 is smooth, consistant and capable of hauling virtually anything. Trany is reliable but unremarkable. 4wd is crude but effective. Interior functional but comfortable. Easy vehicle to work on. Rust is forming in all the usual places and tailgate design is poor. Excel. turning radius, ride quality not bad. NO MECH. PROBLEMS, V.DEPENDABLE, NO RATTLES OR SQUEEKS. Looking to impress yourself not your neighbors, Looking to make friends with a "real truck" not a SUV, this rig is perfect. Strong and functional. Feels like an old good friend.

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  An oldie but a goodie - 1993 Ford Escort
  By Adrienne - February 5 - 2:00 am

  This escort has been an extremely reliable car and has never had any problems starting and never died out. When driving this car I was confident that I would get where I needed to go.

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  An oldie but a goodie - 1993 Ford Escort
  By adrienne - February 5 - 2:00 am

  This escort has been an extremely reliable car and has never had any problems starting and never died out. When driving this car I was confident that I would get where I needed to go.

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  Not a fun to drive, but it never dies - 1998 Ford Escort
  By likesoccer - February 5 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Escort because it is what I could afford at that time. It had only 20K and looks almost new. I have been driving this car on daily basis for 2 years and put 30k on it. Escort is a plain, compact, low-priced seden. There is really not much fun to drive it. The engine, transmission and brake system works fine for commuting daily, but performance is mediocre. Overall it is a reliabe car and gives me great gas mileage (~28 city and ~36 highway). I have never had any problem with its mechanical quality, even after one collision and one weather disaster. I changes the oil regularly at local Ford dealership. A great car for daily life!

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  good car - 1992 Ford Festiva
  By james478 - February 5 - 2:00 am

  this is a great car it is fun to drive and easy to handle, comfy seats...i have nothing bad to say about this car. :)

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  plus and minus of the SVT focus - 2002 Ford Focus
  By imajsdaddy - February 5 - 2:00 am

  There are multiple postive remarks I have for the SVT focus, the car gets up and hauls butt! Fun to drive, awesome features for the $20,000 price tag! 170hp plus 6 gears to play with! Downsides, has been a trouble some car! From valve cover leaking oil, to t-stat housing leaking coolant 2 times. Car has stalled several times for no reason and dealer is unable to diagnos the issue! However Ford continues to service this vehicle as if they were trying to sell me another car (another words works hard to keep it perfect!) Overall this car is amaizing! SVT did a great job designing this sports compact, sorry to see it goign away in 04 though!

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  95 Mustang - 1995 Ford Mustang
  By lee7blue - February 5 - 2:00 am

  I really like my 95 Mustang... it looks Great.. is very realiable..I also have a 2000 convertible... and plan on buying a new 03 GT...

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  95 t-Bird LX 4.6 - 1995 Ford Thunderbird
  By Recon Ric - February 5 - 2:00 am

  Rare chameleon blue. Made a few mods and the car flat hauls you know what. Ill never get rid of it.

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  Transmission is a criminal offense!!! - 1998 Ford Taurus
  By saxophobe - February 5 - 2:00 am

  We purchased our 98 Ford Taurus because it got such a good rating on the Edmunds and Consumer Reports sites. This car was reportedly owned by someone that worked at the dealership and only had 40 K on the odometer. At 81 K, our transmission failed and we had to get it rebuilt to the tune of $2700!!! This was for a car we were still paying on and had < 100 K miles?!?! Ford wouldnt do anything about it either. If you buy one, get the extended warranty.