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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  A Great In-Town Truck - 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Scott - December 31 - 2:30 am

  I did all the research and test drove everything. Im on the road a lot with my truck for work. I wanted something that was comfortable enough to work in all day, but still have a truck that could carry garbage, branches and all the stuff associated with owning a home. This truck has been everything that I imagined. If you think that this is a full sized truck, youre wrong. If you want a full sized truck, go by one. But, if you want a great compact truck that is luxurious, eye catching and handles small truck jobs this is your unit.

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  I cant believe its American - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Colorado flyfisher - December 30 - 8:23 pm

  Awesome vehicle. Great mileage, performance, and useability. This vehicle has been outstanding and clearly exceeded my expectations. Ford you got it right this time! I love driving by gas stations and waving.

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  My 2 year wait was worth it - 2008 Ford Escape
  By Reed Kays - December 29 - 10:20 am

  I started noticing Ford Escapes in traffic a couple of years ago, and liked what I saw. I was only 3 years into owning my Hyundai at that ime so I thought, in a couple of years when I am looking to buy a new car, I need to test drive an Escape. Time passed, and I read up on all the small SUVs in my price range out there. I noticed how entusiastic almost all 2008 Escape owners were, so that was my first and only test drive. Upon climbing in I immediately noticed how high the vehicle sets without feeling "top heavy". All the dash controls were laid out very ergonomically while also looking modern, stylish, and upscale. Driving it was as easy and fun as I had thought it would be.

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  Great Car - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By James - December 29 - 2:36 am

  I eagerly awaited the Five Hundreds release after I saw it at the Chicago Auto show. I love it. Im glad Ford is finally taking advantage of Volvos engineering.

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  Great Truck - 2005 Ford F-150
  By jamesa30 - December 28 - 11:46 pm

  This is a great truck. It is very quiet inside at freeway speeds and the ride is very smooth for a truck. There is a perceived lack of power, but its a truck that weighs something like 6,000 pounds, not a sports car. Same thing with gas mileage, a heavy truck, but it gets better mileage than the 2003 Land Rover Discovery that I had, so Im not complaining.

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  Love my Ford Edge Titanium - 2017 Ford Edge
  By Donna Hastings - December 28 - 4:03 pm

  This SUV has everything anyone could want. Perfect

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  Not a bad little 4-banger - 2013 Ford Fusion
  By spocklives - December 28 - 3:52 am

  First of all, this is a 4cyl, and its going to shift like a 4cyl. The difference is in the EcoBoost engine. When getting on the highway, this thing really has a lot of pep and get-up-and-go. The ride is so comfortable Ive had people say it rides like a Merc, very smooth, very nice. My one major complaint is with the SYNC and Bluetooth features. Theyre not 100% reliable and dont work properly all the time. Mine has a tendency to get "stuck" after reading a text message and I have to switch the radio on and off again to reset it. It doesnt always hear my voice properly when telling it simple stuff like, "call dad".... did you say, call vet? Call dad..... did you say, call Frank? I dont have a funny accent either... I speak perfect English. Defeats the purpose of hands-free when I have to stop and look at my phone to find the contact I want my car to call. Yes, were spoiled, 5 years ago this didnt exist. The transmission sometimes has problems finding the right gear to sit in on inclines, but its active assist on the descent saves your brakes and makes up for it. My husband is 61" and 250lbs, he fits in the front seats very comfortably, not so much in the back though. I feel bad when I have to stick him back there in favor of my mother. :) You can literally fit 9 bodies in the trunk, dont ask me how I know that. Im not 100% comfortable with an electronic parking brake, if thats one thing I could change on this car, that would be priority.

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  Nice, fairly quiet, comfortable, but just pretty good MPGs - 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By kkuhns - December 28 - 3:51 am

  I knew that there was no way that this car would really average 47 MPG overall, so I had already adjusted my expectations down to think I might get 37 - 40 MPG overall, and I was OK with that. After the first 1000 miles, Im getting about 37 overall, which is OK, but I want and expect it will get better. At least I hope so. I got the appearance package with 18" tires, so that may have a slightly worse impact on MPG, compared to the standard 17" Low Rolling Resistance tires. Not sure how much difference that makes, but presumably a little. Overall, I really like the car. I sold my 2013 Honda Accord to get one and I definitely think it was worth it.

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  Good Solid Sedan - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Robert - December 26 - 8:00 pm

  I like the size and comfort of this car. I upgraded to some black rims and it looks like a B/B 450 in black and that works for me. The car could use a GPS and iPod/MP3 interface. A driver needs to look over the shoulder because of the blind spots in the mirrors. My wife loves the individual heated seat controls. My children covet the car with the upgrade rims.

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  Everything I hoped for. - 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By idandfei - December 26 - 12:12 pm

  Ive wanted a Fusion since 2013 when the new body style was released. I bought the Titanium and got every option because I hate blank button faces in cars. This is the first new car Ive ever owned and Ive always hated the blank buttons in all the used cars I owned. I dont believe in global warming and nobody should have to believe in it when buying a Fusion hybrid. Its 2000 dollars extra for the hybrid model and will save you that much in gas costs in the first few years. If you believe in saving money, theres no harm in accidentally pleasing a few hippies.