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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  So far so good - 2006 Ford F-150
  By tetsmmb - February 26 - 6:40 am

  I just picked up my new F150 and I love it! Perfect right out of the box. Good performance, comfortable and quiet. My kids love all the room in the back seat. Crew cab is the way to go.

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  My Freestyle - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By cardlady - February 25 - 7:40 pm

  I love my new car. Ive owned Fords since 1990, and this equals or surpasses my car experience. Its fun to drive and perfect for my needs and style. I would recommend a Freestyle to anyone.

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  The Wave is here - 2005 Ford Escape
  By Jerry Williams - February 25 - 5:33 pm

  I was a certified master mechanic and a service director for three states. I have handled a lot of car complaints and driven a lot of cars and trucks. I ordered a new Ford hybrid about 6 months ago, and just got it. But it was well worth the wait. This is the quietest SUV, car, truck or anything that I have ever driven. It has to be an engineering breakthrough for Ford. It has power enough to pull up to 4,800 pounds (my boats and mowing equipment). I can tow it behind my motor home with all four wheels on the ground. I can get on the freeway very quickly. All the power you need. The warranty is 100,000 or 8 years drivetrain and battery.

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  Read this - 2008 Ford Focus
  By Frank - February 25 - 2:36 am

  One word sums up my Focus, surprised! I was set on not buying a Ford. Reading the reviews my heart was on a Corolla, Civic or Mazda 3. However after all my research and actually test-driving I can honestly say Im very impressed w/ my Focus. Quiet, great handling, good mileage and solid. Power isnt impressive, but more then adequate (if youre looking for power get out of this car class). Lots of car for the money!

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  Ideal used vehicle - 1993 Ford Tempo
  By MCRider - February 24 - 4:25 pm

  It seats 5 adults comfortably and has a spacious trunk. Its size is small enough to fit into tight spaces, yet big enough to make you feel like you arent in a sardine can. The controls are easy to reach and operate and the seats are very comfortable. Gas mileage and acceleration are lackluster, but the solid feel and excellent handling more than make up for it. We liked this car so much, we traded our Cutlass Supreme on another Tempo the following day.

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  A Head Turner - 2002 Ford Thunderbird
  By Lostinfla - February 23 - 4:19 pm

  I wish that they would have designed the top to have a back lid instead of the old boot. On other convertibles such as the BMW, it looks so much classier and also easier to use. A little more juice in the engin would also have been nice as 258 hp with a 3700 pound car is not all that much--although the torque is good. But those are just suggestions for making an already great car even better.

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  Very nice overall - mileage isnt great - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By TJ - February 23 - 6:00 am

  For an AWD vehicle, gas mileage is good. However, it is not going to blow you away, especially when you compare it to hybrid sedans. I am averaging 27- 29.5 mpg mixed city/highway driving after 2 tanks. Going 75 on the hwy = 23mpg. AWD works well. I felt no slippage during the most recent snow. Performance is smooth for an SUV. I cant burn off the line, but it is a hybrid and that is to be expected. Navigation package is great and worth it if you hate getting lost and arguing of directions. Audiophile Sound system is good quality. Standard recycled premium seat fabric is good quality. Dash and doors are plastic, though they do appear to be sturdy and thick.

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  WooHoo - 2007 Ford Mustang
  By claude - February 23 - 2:23 am

  Incredibly fun to drive and comfortable. Acceleration is exhilirating and stopping performance is above expectations!

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  What an oustanding vehicle - 2003 Ford Focus
  By ajpuckett - February 23 - 2:00 am

  After 5 months and 6000 miles I am very happy with this car. The best thing about it by far is its exceptional handling. It is so much fun to drive that I often drive it unnecessarily. The acceleration is nothing to write home about but about as good as all the other cars in this class. The sound system rocks even without the six-speaker/subwoofer/6-disc changer upgrade. I can only imagine how great the other system sounds. It gets great fuel economy, I average about 33 mpg on the highway and 25 in the city. I test drove almost 10 different cars in this class before choosing a Focus, and only Mazda Protege came close to being this much fun to drive.

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  dont, if you dont have to - 2000 Ford Focus
  By former focus owner - February 23 - 2:00 am

  I just traded my focus in and Im glad about it. If you dont have to buy a focus get something else. Its cute and all but it feels exactly like your driving a little go-cart. I think it was made for high school kids who were purchasing their first car. This is not a car for adults!