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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  Good Escape - 2011 Ford Escape
  By Frank Shivery - May 11 - 5:51 pm

  Have owned my 2011 Escape XLT since July 2012. Overall it has been a good reliable vehicle. I have the 3.0 V6 Engine which gets surprisingly good MPG. No big complaints as this little SUV has held up well. There was an issue with the A/C which the dealer fixed under warranty and the throttle body was replaced last year also free of charge. Car has remained problem free since. No electrical issues, have just really only done regular maintenance on it.

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  Best car ever! - 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By Ann Alpeter - May 11 - 3:20 pm

  I bought this car for the looks (tectonic silver), and gas mileage (2015 fusion energi titanium) which stated 38 mpg gasoline only, combined city/highway and 88 mpg electricity + gasoline, combined city/highway. It has not disappointed. I drive aprox. 30-35 miles per day so I am using mostly electric. My average for 21 months is about 70 mpg. It would be higher but where I lose out is taking long distance trips. Then I average 35-40 mpg. Some weeks I get 99.9 mpg because it does not register any higher. I wish it had more trunk space. I wish Suri would hear me (is it my voice?) better. It has a very low pan under the front of the car which I have knocked off. When I took it in they said it had not been properly attached. It is lower than any other car I have owned and hits speed bumps if I am not careful. Navigation is good......once I got on to it. I ignore all the "techie" stuff but appreciate the safety features. I said I bought it for the looks......to me it is beautiful in its design and the color is still my favorite.

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  BAD BRAKE ROTORS - 2004 Ford F-150
  By cajun - May 11 - 1:50 pm

  I have 3800 miles on 04 f-150 and my brake rotors are scared so bad Im worried about my wife driving the truck. Ford will not honor their warranty, they said thats normal. So every one check your front rotors. Also the truck idles bad, a/c blows hot air until you reset by turning off & on, and my radio/cd player volume raises & lowers by itself while driving. Whats next?

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  White Lightning - 2001 Ford F-150
  By KyleA - May 11 - 10:00 am

  Great!!! The most comfortable seats. The best sound. Preformance is as advertised and more. A terrific value in Performance for the money

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  Near Perfect!! - 2001 Ford Taurus
  By Tom & Mary - May 11 - 10:00 am

  We bought our SES with the Vulcan engine, Silver Frost color, a few months ago from an "lease auction". It has (now) 90K miles & because the Taurus resale price is so low we bought it for about 1/3 of new price. The car is near "showroom perfect". If I didnt know the mileage I would think it was new. This car far exceeds all expectations we had of it.....we have yet to find anything we dont like about it!! We have an older Taurus but this SES is Fords finest. We look for excuses to drive it. The only way we would replace it would be to buy another one just like it!

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  My 30 day review - 2002 Ford Escape
  By gravydb - May 11 - 10:00 am

  Ive only been driving this vehicle for 30 days, so keep that in mind while reading. Overall, I am very happy with this SUV. Great acceleration with the V6. I test drove a Honda CRV and I thought the engine was going to burst while I was trying to merge onto a highway. No thanks. The Escape looks good, handles better than most cars Ive driven, and has plenty of interior room for being a "mini" SUV. There are only a few minor things I think should be improved, but if I could only pick 1 it would be the seats. They need to be a bit more contoured and supportive.

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  Nice Ride - 2007 Ford Fusion
  By Zeke - May 11 - 9:56 am

  Fun to drive, solid performance. Great looking inside and out. Ride is quiet and nimble on the freeway. Quick enough to get around the city, great for long drives. Interior is very comfortable and plenty of room for 5.

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  Safety vs. Looks - 1995 Ford Taurus
  By cbassett01 - May 11 - 2:00 am

  Overall, I feel that the Taurus (mainly 94-95 model year) vehicles were excellent cars. Both in safety and performance.

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  FORDS BEST KEPT SECRET - 2002 Ford Escort
  By BILL21 - May 11 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS THE BEST 2 DR COUPE FORD HAS EVER MADE, THEY SHOULD SCRAP THE FOCUS ZX3. THE ZX2 NEEDS TO BE KEPT IN PRODUCTION AND REFINED OVER THE YEARS. IT HAS A CLASSIC STYLE WHICH WILL WEAR WELL. THIS CAR HAS MUCH IN COMMON WITH THE ORIGINIAL 65 MUSTANG. THE FOCUS ALREADY HAS A REPUTATION FOR POOR WORKMANSHIP. I HAVE NEVER KNOWN A ZX2 OWNER WITH ANY SIGNIFIGANT PROBLEMS!!

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  Reliable - 1999 Ford Expedition
  By Gregory - May 11 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely no breakdowns or fixes in 35000 miles. My family enjoys the roomy interior on long trips. Great in the snow. Rough ride though with solid rear axle. Second seat is easy to work. Third row seat comes in handy at times.