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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  My 95 SHO MTX is great! - 1995 Ford Taurus
  By Santafeblue22 - October 28 - 2:00 am

  Ive gotten 120K of trouble free miles so far. Ive replaced only the power antenna and a rear brake bracket.

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  Wanna luv it BUT..... - 1999 Ford Taurus
  By KyleJ - October 28 - 2:00 am

  I wanna love the car with itsstrong 200hp motor & strong acceleration (when the tranny doesnt get mixed up with the gears) I love the design and ample interior space. But its making me worried - my warranty is up next month and so far had to replaced: Speed sensor, Ignition switch, ALL LOCKS ON THE CAR! they all died (including the trunk lock) one at a time, Battery, Alternator, Accesory belt, Drivers side mirror - the original one CAUGTH ON FIRE while driving! I dont want to be in a market for another car especially when this one is only 3 years old with only 30,000 miles on it - but Im not so sure I can count on this car for the long run.

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  Family Transportation - 1997 Ford Contour
  By fordman - October 28 - 2:00 am

  Great $15K car. Zero problems in almost 5-years. Good small family car! The used price on these cars are cheap, cheap, cheap. Good value at $3-5K.

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  I never want another car again - 1999 Ford F-150
  By bbest - October 28 - 2:00 am

  After driving this truck for the last three years, Ill never go back to a car. The ride is so smooth and in the snow it handles like a dream. I still need to remind myself every now and again that I am driving a full-sized truck, but it is worth it. Even with the 4.6L V-8 I still average almost 20MPG on a comute of almost 45 miles to work each day.

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  SWEEEET - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By john - October 27 - 8:40 pm

  I love it and it looks great next to my 69 conv.

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  What a Great SUV! - 2016 Ford Edge
  By John Joseph - October 27 - 4:54 pm

  I dont use words like great and awesome very often when describing cars. However, these words describe my 2016 Ford Edge Titanium. At least so far. My wife and I are in our 60s and we decided to trade our larger Explorer for something smaller that was easy to drive around town, parking lots, and shopping centers. We wanted the SUV to look great both inside and out with plenty of technology and still maintain the internal room we needed. We did not need a third row seat. We looked at the Nissan Morano, Chevy Equinox, and Jeep Grand Cherokee. After driving the Edge my wife said this is the SUV for us.. We purchased the 302A package which gives us an abundance of safety features and upgrades. Sync 3 is so much easier to use. The touch screen is easy to see and navigate through and the voice commands have a much quicker response. The Edge is very easy to drive with an upscale looking and comfortable interior and a great design on the outside. MPG has been around 20 primarily around town with the 2.0 liter Ecoboost fwd engine and 20 inch wheels. The acceleration and power are very smooth and adequate for what we need on a daily basis..If you are looking for a Mid-Size Crossover I would highly recommend test driving the new Edge.

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  Served me well - 1995 Ford Taurus
  By choco_drop2001 - October 27 - 1:00 am

  I bought the car w/60k miles. I drove it back and forth from Cal to Az twice monthly for 6 month plus up and down the Cal coast. The car handled well for its size and did not start to give me problems until about 155K miles. Now the transmission and rear motor mounts are going and its not worth the cost to repair. But I would say I was pleased overall with the handling, price and service I got from the vehicle.

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  great price, reliable, not flashy - 1995 Ford Taurus
  By JMick - October 27 - 1:00 am

  If youre buying one of these things in an attempt to be unique, try again. If you want to get where youre going in a hurry or even if you want to beat an old woman in a Buick off the start, think again. BUT, if you just want a nice big car thats cheap and easy to drive, here ya go. After I totalled my MX-6 I wanted a BIG car. I bought the taurus w/ 50k miles on it, now its got 80k. Ive had to replace a radiator (standard on a ford). Other than that, its great. Ive learned to love my Taurus and to give a nod to all the retirees that Im with in the slow lane.

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  great price, reliable, not flashy - 1995 Ford Taurus
  By jmick - October 27 - 1:00 am

  If youre buying one of these things in an attempt to be unique, try again. If you want to get where youre going in a hurry or even if you want to beat an old woman in a Buick off the start, think again. BUT, if you just want a nice big car thats cheap and easy to drive, here ya go. After I totalled my MX-6 I wanted a BIG car. I bought the taurus w/ 50k miles on it, now its got 80k. Ive had to replace a radiator (standard on a ford). Other than that, its great. Ive learned to love my Taurus and to give a nod to all the retirees that Im with in the slow lane.

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  Nice SUV - 2001 Ford Expedition
  By Greg G - October 27 - 1:00 am

  For the price I think this truck was a deal considering all the interior space that you get. I could not find any other trucks in this price range that had this much room. I looked at the Tahoes but they were thousands more and they appeared to have less room.