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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  WOWOWOW - 2012 Ford Focus
  By ritchie19047 - August 10 - 9:34 pm

  My new Titanium with the handeling package is an amazing value for money! The car is rock-solid in every driving situation, especially so on secondary roads with those choppy sections where heavy trucks tear up the surface on curves. My 10 Focus SES was very jumpy in those spots, and this car just glides through. It is "scary quiet" on the open road. The summer tires are the stickiest things Ive ever driven; but I live in NE Pennsylvania, so I got a set of winter tires for the cold season (Mich Pilot Aspins), and they are just as amazing. The transmission is first rate (I dont understand all the negative chatter Ive read). Pleanty of power; gutsy acceleration. Contd below...

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  Surprisingly good vehicle - 2015 Ford C-Max Energi
  By Luke - August 10 - 9:21 pm

  Original review from 2015: I was in the market for a plug in hybrid vehicle, so choices were limited to the Prius, the Volt, and the C-Max. I test drove all 3, and my favorite was the C-Max. I chose it over the Prius because it was more fun to drive and had more built-in technology such as the navigation, entertainment center, bluetooth, voice commands, park assist, hands-free tailgate opening. The Volt had better acceleration , was low to the ground, and had a sports car feel. Being a family guy, I opted for the C-Max which had a SUV-like look and feel (it is higher off the ground and had better visibility of the road). It is my first Ford car, and it is fun to drive. I have been averaging 70mpg on a 50 mile commute to work. I work in Los Angeles and have found many places that supply the 220v outlets so I plug in while at work. The only negative is the small trunk but that is a small inconvenience I can live with. March 8, 2017: it is now 18 months since I bought this car. Now have about 30K miles on it. My original review still stands. I continue to love my car. It is reliable and never had any mechanical or engine issues. My two complaints are sometimes the hands-free tailgate function doesnt work all the time, and the navigation system is not as good as my iPhone. Its a bit clumsy to use and cant find some points of interest when I try to type it on the screen. The voice recognition when asking for directions is not great either. September 9, 2017: Still loving it. Still continues to perform well. Only thing I will add is my Ford dealership gives me great service when I bring the car in for scheduled maintenance.

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  6 Years and NO PROBLEMS - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By A penny - August 10 - 11:06 am

  We love our Sport Trac. Our rule is when a car breaks down, we fix it then get rid of it. We have had our Sport Trac since January 2001 and have approximately 58k miles. We purchased an extended warranty but never had to use it. We have replaced our other car three times in the past 6 years. We did all of our regular maintenance, but no other repairs. In fact, we have original brake pads and tires. The only semi-complaint I can think of is it does not have the best turning radius (4x2). This is the first car that we will trade before a break down (I just want a new one).

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  A REAL truck!!!!! - 1998 Ford F-150
  By Jasonmonroe - August 10 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this truck in late 2001 with 61K miles, and now its 8/02, and I only have 66K miles...so I dont drive much. But I can tell you its the best truck Ive ever had or seen. Tons of power (especially torque), the stereo sounds great, more room than anyone would ever need, quality built with awesome styling, and a super comfortable ride. Add a flowmaster exhaust system, and the sound of the 5.4L Triton really comes to life! Other full size trucks have their positive points, but Ill take my Ford anyday. You wouldn beat it! Quality is STILL job 1 at Ford.

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  Great Starter car - 1991 Ford Escort
  By Maryann - August 10 - 2:00 am

  This is a good car for commuters and an excellent starter car. Based on the MAZDA 323, most of the components are Made in Japan.

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  Fun and cheap - 1999 Ford Mustang
  By wcamp - August 10 - 2:00 am

  54,000 miles and only changed the oil and tires. Runs like a champ and is a ton of fun

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  92 Tbird - 1992 Ford Thunderbird
  By jcp - August 10 - 2:00 am

  The car has been a good reliable car. The std. V6 is good on gas and has reasonable performance. The exterior has remained in excellent condition. After 180,000 miles, I have had to have the head gaskets replaced at 140k miles, the front bumper repainted, and the driver seat belt fixed.

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  A great vehicle! - 1997 Ford Ranger
  By mrbower - August 10 - 2:00 am

  I have owned many vehicles, including ultra-luxury models, and this is the most reliable, most comfortable vehicle I have ever owned. I purchased it from the dealer with 15000 miles on it and the only problem it has ever had was the adjustment switch for the driver side o/s mirror failed and was replaced under warranty. The 4.0 engine has enough power for any situation and gets reasonable economy for its size. Handling is superb. My next vehicle will probably be a Ford SUV, as I will be needing a little more room.

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  110k miles of trouble free driving - 2013 Ford Fusion
  By Phil Humbert - August 9 - 11:34 am

  I purchased this 2013 Fusion titanium in July 2014 when it had 15,000 miles on it. Now in April 2016 it has 110,000 miles. Other than routine oil changes, tires, and a couple of minor dealer recalls the car has been perfect. Still on the original brake pads all other wear parts. Highly recommended. It is still quiet, solid, and drives perfectly. I drive about 5,000 miles per month for my work sales job, and average over 30 miles a gallon every tankful.

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  AC Failure in less than a year In Hot Miami summer - 2016 Ford Mustang
  By Li - August 9 - 11:00 am

  My wife bought the Ecoboost Premium version of the 2016 Mustang as her everyday commute car. First few month, everything was perfect. The car drives great and have good responsive handling. And acceleration when fully step on the pedal is just fun. But when the nightmare comes, one hot summer morning, the AC started to act really strange. It is blowing hot air on driver side, and warm air on the passenger side. Took it to dealer to fix... It took couple days for them to finish replacing the Evaporator (Thats what they said was failed.) Have to go through the hassle of driving to another location for a rental car, as the dealer does not have any loaners on the lot, which wasted us a lot of times and ordination. Then it come back to us, and worked for another 2 or 3 month. Then suddenly last week, AC started to blow hot air again... We took it to dealer AGAIN and this time it took them 3 days to fix, and they told us the problem was the Evaporator AGAIN... Well thank god this car is only a 2 year lease. And after the lease end we are seriously considering other alternatives.. Ford AC tends to fail fairly quickly as my wifes previous car -- A 2004 Ford Mustang had AC failure after only 60000 miles of driving. The AC problem absolutely kills the joy of driving this otherwise very fun machine.