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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  Best of 2 Worlds - 2004 Ford Focus
  By TiredOfGMCommercials - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Was going down the Honda Accord path but wanted to be different, save $$$ and answer the need for More Power Captain. Family and friends that have high mileage cars have had better luck with Fords vs. GM cars for Major Buck type repairs (IE A/C, transmission, engine mgmt), so I bought the Ford. Great car with more room than expected. If you appreciate Upgraded Engineering on everything that matters in a car built for performance, buy an SVT, otherwise by a car with a turbo and a spoiler bolted on. Rock On Ford!!!

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  Awesome Car - 2008 Ford Focus
  By Josh - October 4 - 1:48 am

  I love my Focus. I have had no issues with it yet. It has almost 24000 miles. Ive taken it every 3000 to get the oil changed and got routine service done to it. I got up to 49 MPG hwy. From Louisville, KY to Morehead, KY I averaged 41 MPG. Its just like any other car- you have to take care of it. If you drive it aggressively, just with any car, there is more of a chance with something going wrong with it. I have had no problems and no complaints. I put maybe $20 in per week. I worked for a honda dealership and I would much rather drive a focus than a civic. Bottom line: good purchase. I am going to drive mine until it falls apart! I am very happy with ford. Buy American!

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  200000 miles and still out running chevy - 1993 Ford F-150
  By preston - October 3 - 11:44 pm

  three owners and still 7.8 secs to 80 mph. small repairs like tires, brakes, belt, and heater core. but other than that all orignal parts in almost 20 years. a few scratches and one dent in the bumper. none of my doing. but still looks like new no paint fadeing like dodge or chevy. woludnt think of getting rid of it ever.

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  Amazing Crossover - 2008 Ford Edge
  By Gina - October 3 - 7:48 pm

  I Love my Edge! This is a wonderful winter vehicle for Montana. Heated leather is the best. I love the fact that it rides so smoothly and quietly even on some pretty bad roads. I havent had any problems with it. This is a very great SUV. I looked at a lot of others but I felt the safest in this puppy. Great room for my sons car seat and stroller. Love you people from Ford.

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  Super Reliable - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By Rock - October 3 - 10:59 am

  Bought it new and have 63k miles. Never a problem. Added some goodies, headers, catback, CAI, 373 rearend and hurst short throw. 360hp. Love this car. I still get comments from people. I have never had a brake job and Im at 63k miles and still have 20% wear left. Solid, solid, solid is what this car is. I wont ever get rid of it. Best thing Ford ever did.

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  The Thrill of Driving an Explorer Sport - 2016 Ford Explorer
  By Glenn Porter - October 3 - 4:54 am

  Wow, I love this car and I love working with my Ford dealership, Jim Burke Ford and Nicole Martinez, who helped me decide on the Sport over the rest of the Explorer lineup. This vehicle has passion for the road, even when there is no road because of the full time AWD and the off road settings, and it is better appointed than my previous Mercedes S class, and the cost of ownership is much lower. The Mercedes tuneup runs in the mid $450 range, the Explorer is $39.95 for its services and it is a lot more fun to drive. I tried out the Land Rover and the Lexus, but none of them have the styling and features this vehicle has, and the others are much more to maintain, and frankly, they are ugly in comparison to the new lines of my 2016.

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  Realistic review..... - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By desi - October 2 - 10:00 am

  A nice combination of minivan & luxury car inside. Compared to some "luxury" SUVs, the full size, upper end offerings from Toyota, GM & Ford are all quite decent. We like the heated / cooled seats, DVD, etc. Crash test ratings are better than Toy/GM models -- excepting for probably a high rollover tendency all SUVs have. Also, initial quality survey for 2 years is better than Toyotas. The electronic stability system (AdvanceTrac) -- which is a bit tough to find in 2WD models. Overall, excellent value for the money (as far as overpriced, full sized SUVs go) & probably appealing to people who hate minivans. Buy the 4X2 if you will not go off road.

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  Nothing beats it !!! - 2000 Ford Mustang
  By cape - October 1 - 10:43 pm

  For the price, nothing can compare. Most bang-for-the-buck. Excellent reliability. The v-6 has sufficient power, but we would all like a little more no matter what were driving now. Gas milage is surprisingly good. Decent mobility even in the snow; mine has 4 snow tires mounted on steel rims. Overall great value for the money

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  Vehicle runs very smooth and comfortable - 2007 Ford Focus
  By Janet - October 1 - 3:26 pm

  So far I am very happy with the new Focus. I am impressed with the comfort of the seating, front and back. The soft leather interior is great. The engine sound is minimal. Handles turns nicely. Cant wait to take this vehicle on a long road trip. Really impressed with road mileage on fuel. Exterior is sound and the colors are marketable. I love the keyless entry and the security that I have with my Focus. Overall so far I am impressed.

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  My Dream Car - 2010 Ford Mustang
  By Lepage - October 1 - 3:14 pm

  I took delivery my dream car a Kona Metallic Blue Mustang GT Premium coupe 3 days ago. This color is amazing, beautiful metallic blue in the sun, purple at dusk or dawn, and black at night. I purchased the comfort package, security package, HID headlights, manual transmission, & Track-Pak option. As you can imagine the handling is phenomenal! The engine horsepower is more than enough for the average driver. However,as a performance enthusiast not enough power for me. The interior has excellent quality, with great ergonomics. I love the aesthetics, from Sync to “My Color” to the quiet comfortable interior. The audio system has a surprisingly great sound.