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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  I love my Ford Bronco - 1995 Ford Bronco
  By dfelman - June 26 - 8:45 pm

  My 1995 Ford Bronco is a tank. It is dark blue, with about 66,000 original miles - I am the second owner, and have owned it for two years. It gets looks everywhere, and notes left to buy it. I have never had any issues with it - knock on wood. I love it and am a proud Bronco owner

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  Amazing! - 1999 Ford Mustang
  By bmeers22 - June 25 - 1:22 am

  This car is awesome! It has power and feels sturdy. I recently gave up my 01 impala and I dont regret it one bit. Mustangs are the best. It gets great gas mileage as well.

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  Over 202k miles! - 2005 Ford F-150
  By kgaston - June 23 - 9:54 pm

  I have logged over 202 thousand miles on this truck since it was bought used in January of 2007. Major repairs: none. Minor repairs: replaced EGR valve at ~175k miles, other than that, it has been just regukar, routine maintenance. My only complaint is the quality of the cloth seats in this vehicle, they easily trap dirt and dust, causing them to stain if so much as a bottle with condensation on the outside is placed in the seat.

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  Best Car I Have Owned And Love to Drive It - 2015 Ford Fusion
  By twr777 - June 18 - 10:04 am

  I bought the Fusion Titanium AWD (Ruby Red) and just love it. It is truly a gorgeous car and is the best looking car in its class with a fluid design. Too many cars today have gone overboard with odd geometric angles. The Fusion design is just stunning. I have the black leather interior which looks sharp. The engineering of the car is superb. Great feel on the road.

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  Deserves a test drive - 2015 Ford Escape
  By guido65 - June 14 - 9:40 am

  Wife and I have had 3 Ford Escapes over the last 15 years, all have performed flawlessly. We decided it was time to trade in our 2010 4WD XLT. We wanted to upgrade to the Titanium 2.0 turbo. Wow, what a vehicle. Interior quality, fit and finish rivals some luxo utes costing thousands more. The 2.0 is quick and responsive. The infotainment system is fine with us. We are both in our upper 40s and we have no problem navigating. Test drive you wont be disappointed

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  Awesome machine - 2013 Ford Mustang
  By rdavidson3 - June 3 - 6:17 pm

  We have put 24000 miles on our 2013 mustang. It has really exceeded our expectations. The tires are barely worn. I just rotated them. It feels like it is glued to the road in turns. It is heavy and powerful a 3.7 liter that gets 21 miles to the gallon in city driving. Everything works perfectly. I dont care for the bluetooth cell phone though too wierd. but thats me. It is perfect for two people a beautiful car that turns heads. 80 feels like 60 mph 100 like 80 so you have to watch the speedometer! I am generally pretty cynical about cars, but I would recommend this car to anyone that has a little fun money and wants to jazz up their day.

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  Love this car! - 2015 Ford Mustang
  By twangstar - June 1 - 12:12 am

  My wife purchased a 2015 Mustang GT manual with the performance package bone stock, and let me tell you, there is nothing "base" about this car. I have a 2014 Mustang GT Premium and her base model 2015 is way nicer inside. The performance package has the beefier suspension, 3.73 gearing, 6 piston Brembos, and the ride is phenomenal. It feels more planted to the ground than my 2014. The bumps in the road are less jarring and the tail doesnt dance like mine. I didnt like the look of the 2015 at first but the minute she pulled up to the house, I fell out of love with my 2014. It truly is a car you have to see in person. You can tell Ford has put a ton of thought into this car.

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  A very good SUV - 2015 Ford Explorer
  By mylotcat - May 28 - 7:29 pm

  Traded my 2006 Trailblazer SS V8 for a 2015 Sport twin turbo V6. Both have equivalent 0-60 times. The twin turbo is refined in normal driving but pulls strong when you put the pedal to the metal. With 1400 miles and 18.6 combined MPG, its averaging about 3-4 mpg better than the SS. I like the engine but wish the exhaust was more throaty, like the Mustang. I also wish it had a digital speedo incorporated into the analog gauge. I find a digital speedo easier to read. A heads-up display would also be nice. I was pleasantly surprised to find adaptive cruise control to be a very useful feature, as well as blind spot monitoring. Sony audio system is very good. Great interior and amenities.

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  2015 Ford Edge SEL - 2015 Ford Edge
  By ohr - May 28 - 6:43 am

  This is my fourth Edge since 2007. As the years models changed over the car keeps getting better looking. We use our Edges for trip to FL around 1200 miles and have no problems. All cars have not let us down. Smooth ride and great colors.

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  Lovin the car! - 2015 Ford Mustang
  By screamin8 - May 25 - 7:46 pm

  This car was an unexpected replacement after my daily driver got totalled. I couldnt wait for an order so some compromises yet some pleasant surprises. I live in Ottawa Canada, and we get a full on Winter so I immediately dumped the Pirelli all seasons and put on Michellin X-ICE 3 winters. Combined with the snow setting on the traction control (which really works) this is an amazing winter driver. While many slag the car for its weight it really helps with traction on snow and Ice. I got second 20" rims for summer with meaty Michellin Pilot Super Sports, helping to make up for no performance pack. Not to mention improving the visuals over factory. Standard brakes are outstanding.