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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  Great SUV! - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By travelnut641 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  I love my SUV! It was fun, sporty and very reliable! This is perfect for my husband, son and myself. Thank you Ford.

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  Nothing can beat this ! - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By Flash Bang - May 18 - 2:00 am

  With the New designs the Explorer and only be a gift from the truck gods

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  Nothing to brag about. - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By baleo - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Bought used. Price was right. Needed trans at 65000. Good thing we had extended warranty. Otherwise okay. Took on a few trips long trips, 800+ miles. Ride on highway is good. In town ride mediocre. Interior design confortable, good driver and passenger seats. Will keep until it dies because no resale value.

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  Bravo Atlanta! - 2004 Ford Taurus
  By HB44 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Very Happy With 2004 Taurus

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  Terrific California Special - 2016 Ford Mustang
  By Ed Bishop - May 18 - 1:24 am

  Great rider,fantastic acceleration,exterior paint quality is OK, not great, Sync3 great improvement over 2015. Much better vehicle than competition. Add Catback exhaust and Airaid induction and you have a great running machine

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  Worst transmission ever built - 2013 Ford Focus
  By Mike - May 17 - 4:00 pm

  Dont buy this car. Ford experimented with a dual-clutch transmission and it was a complete failure. Had a 2012 and 2013 Ford Focus that I bought for my kids and both were in the shop constantly due to the transmission. The 2013 had the clutch assembly replaced twice. Ford would never admit that the transmission was a flop even though the extended the warranty on it for 7 years. I contacted the regional customer service rep and they just gave me the standard line that "Ford will continue to repair the problem." What good is the car if it is always in the shop being repaired. This was my first experience with buying a Ford and it will be my last. Traded in both cars for a Chevy Cruze and a Toyota Corolla. Since Ford wont admit their mistakes and take care of their customers, I will never be a customer of theirs again. I guess the old Ford motto still holds true - Found On Road Dead.

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  Cant beat it - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By ksarrow - May 17 - 3:03 am

  Excellent exterior design. Windveil blue is the coolest color. Gets up and goes with great handling. Shaker 500 CD system is awesome, although loading the CDs into the 6 CD changer is confusing and slow. Only beef on interior is central column kind of hits against my right leg. Mine doesnt have MyColor or trip computer. : (

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  Excellent car for your money! - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By felixc1976 - May 17 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car new in 97 for $17k with all possible options. Ive driven 60k miles in 5 years with practically no problems! I bought an extened warranty for 7 years and feel safe. This is a quality car with all possible options for much less money than Camry or Maxima. I recommend buying 2 yr old loaded SEL Taurus for $13k + $1k for extended warranty and driving it till 100k mi. Im not sure it will survive afterwards, but by that time you will want a new car anyway. However, you will save a lot of money for the next car!

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  Big fan - 1997 Ford Thunderbird
  By Big fan - May 17 - 2:00 am

  I bought one used with 24,000 miles on it in June 1998, my second T-Bird. After 4 yearsand over 80,000 miles on it now, its only been in the shop ONCE for anything other than routine maintenance such as tires, oil changes. Very reliable and a comfortable ride for commuters. Highly recommended if you can find one (you cant have mine!).

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  I love this car - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By brian - May 16 - 9:30 pm

  I have own this car for 7 months and I love it. The excellent mileage and the comfort of the seating speaks volumes for the Ford engineers. All of the new amenities show Ford is committed to providing cars American can be proud of.