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 car cant go wrong - 2008 Ford Focus
  By Chris - August 24 - 10:00 pm

  I like this car, great gas mileage, fun to drive, basic but really nice interior. Very good suspension takes corners and bump really smooth. When I first got the car I drove everywhere for the weekend and still had a half of tank left. The radio control is nice, also says the name of the song artist for cds, and very good sound quality for the aux line in. Love this car

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  Nice Ride - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By Greg - August 24 - 12:45 pm

  Bought my GT in 2006 w/23k on it in excellent condition. Now it has about 46k on the odometer. In three years Ive replaced a tire (damaged) and a wheel bearing. The drivers door lock sticks, so I have to use the key. The transmission has a light squeal which goes away when you engage the clutch. Otherwise, it is reliable, very fun to drive, and gets good gas mileage. The five speed is fun but a little clunky/heavy to shift. The handling is good but understeers a little too much and the steering is a little slow.

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  Great Car - 2007 Ford Fusion
  By UCLAUSMC - August 24 - 10:56 am

  I bought my Fusion used and immediately loved it. I hadnt planned on buying a Ford and was really looking at the Camry and Accord but I fell it love with the Fusion after the first test drive. It looks great. It rides and handles great. Its not a sports car but I have no problem passing on the freeway. I have been getting 27 MPG with mixed driving. The few small complaints I have about it have all been fixed in the newer models. My car was totaled by a drunk driver while it was parked in front of my house and the only car Im considering to replace it is another Fusion. Just a great car that is well made and thousands less than any of its competitors.

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  Awesome - 2010 Ford Mustang
  By uncle fester - August 24 - 12:38 am

  Had the car 2 days now. Very nice.. fund to drive. Acceleration is great... sounds great too.

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  Really Enjoy This Car, Especially The Mileage - 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By Mark Holdgrafer - August 22 - 7:00 pm

  Really wanted the Mustang, but with a teenage son in the family there was no way to fit him in the back seat, so a family sedan was needed. Never thought I would buy a hybrid, but am very glad that I did. Almost didnt even test drive it though. I test drove a standard Fusion because I liked the styling, but it was so dreadfully underpowered that I just wrote it off. At another dealership I decided to give the hybrid a try and Im glad I did. The electrics give it a nice punch with some added torque that makes up for the missing horsepower even with the combined engine/electric rating of only 188hp. That is one of the advantages of electric motors, the full torque of the motor is available almost instantly across the full range of RPM. What I really enjoy about her though is that she gives me on average about 40mpg. Once you get used to driving a hybrid its pretty easy to keep your mileage close to or even above the rated values. I often get around 50mpg on my commute (as reported by the on-board computer at the end of each trip). The one thing that I dont like about her is the MyFord Sync entertainment system. Its been widely reported that it is simply not a user friendly interface and they are correct. Its got some maddening deficiencies. For instance, pressing the media button repeatedly should cycle through the available media inputs on the stereo but you have to use either the voice interface to tell it to switch from line input to USB input, or go several layers deep into the media menu to do so. There are other user interface mistakes like this as well.

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  Love my 1998 Taurus Wagon - 1998 Ford Taurus
  By Barby - August 22 - 11:27 am

  We have owned either a Taurus or a Sable. We are on our 5th one now. We buy them used with about 100,000 miles on them and then we drive them til about 150,000. This particular 98 Taurus Wagon we have now has 175,000 miles on it and it is still going strong. Have not had any major problems with any of these cars. We get about 25-27mpg which is great. We just recently got a 2003 Taurus sedan and it does not get as good gas mileage. Its about 22-24mpg. Guess Ford changed something. We have been thinking about replacing this wagon but actually are thinking on keeping it to see just how far it will go. The body is still in excellent condition, paint not fading at all.

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  Hidden secret - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By Michael Drake - August 22 - 8:43 am

  How quiet of ride for front wheel drive, roomy insides, the underside with a full belly cover under the engine, and a vent going to the alternator in the back of engine to keep it cool.150,000 mile tune up, no timing belt. The head lights at night are very good design for road coverage.

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  Black Beauty - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By Tony - August 22 - 4:16 am

  This is my 5th Explorer and so far Im loving this one. It handles great; the power is awesome in comparison to my last LTD, which was also an V8. Needs to improve gas mileage.

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  awesome - 2004 Ford F-150
  By GONZY - August 22 - 2:00 am

  awesome i love this truck its better than the extreme

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  Simply The Best - 2004 Ford F-150
  By crcarl1 - August 22 - 2:00 am

  Fantastic truck. Flawless build quality. Plush interior. Needs to loose some weight as the 5.4 L V8 seems underpowered due to the heft of this truck.