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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  Life with a Focus - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Jersey Dave - September 26 - 8:30 am

  My Focus wagon with automatic transmission has a lot of good qualities. Its spunky, offers great driving visibility and has lots of storage room. Little things like the theater lighting are also nice. But, Im not very pleased with around- town gas mileage in the very low 20s. A 2005 car with a 2.0 liter engine, even with an auto transmission, should do a lot better than that. (My 94 Geo Prizm still gets 25-26 around town). And, I really dont like the European suspension. In New Jersey, we have way too many streets and highways that are in pretty poor condition. I really have fears that my Focus with get beaten or shaken to death way before its time.

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  Another Throttle Body Issue - VERY Dangerous - 2016 Ford Explorer
  By Explorer29 - September 26 - 12:43 am

  My 2016 Explorer only has 7,300 miles and hasnt even had its first oil change yet. Last week, while driving on a major highway at 70mph in the center lane, it just shut off. Im so lucky that I didnt cause an accident. Finally got it working again and was able to get home. The dealer scheduled it for service but didnt seem concerned and it would be a week before they could see it. The next day, it did it again on another major road 4 TIMES. I barely made it home and then called a tow truck. Its been at the dealer now for 6 days. The Throttle Body Sensor is on backorder (probably from so many cases) and they have no idea when it will be in. They would not offer a rental car because I didnt pay for the extended warranty. So not only was this VERY dangerous, Im now without a vehicle for almost a week or more b/c of this. Ford should at least offer a rental car.

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  Mean Green Machine - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By David - September 25 - 7:30 pm

  Just purchased this vehicle after owning 03 Escape v6. Ford did a really nice job on the interior/exterior redesign. Smooth, comfortable ride, great visibility. Only complaints I would voice is that there is an image of the light colored dash board reflected onto the windshield via glare in direct sunlight...strange thing indeed...perhaps tinting or some type of dash cover is the solution to that one. Also, Bluetooth absent on a very expensive (but nice) Nav system.

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  I love this car - 2012 Ford Focus
  By praveen75 - September 25 - 4:08 pm

  Took delivery 2 weeks ago and this car (SEL version) has got everything I needed. Technology apart, I am completely sold on the handling and performance of this vehicle. I already see a 30 MPG on my dash with 900 miles on the odometer - mostly city driving. Havent gone on a long drive yet and I am sure the vehicle can deliver on the 35 MPG promise on highways. I went with 10 speaker Sony Audio system and it is a mind blowing stereo experience. My Ford Touch is a little buggy but works with all my USBs and voice commands - cool. The vehicle strikes a perfect balance on the performance, afforadability, technology, fuel-efficiency and handling. The interior has a very clean finish. We love it!

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  great truck - 2005 Ford F-150
  By paul - September 24 - 11:20 pm

  Only had truck for 2 months; fun to drive, handles great, and the rack and pinion steering makes turning in parking lots and sharp corners effortless. Basic CD sound system is great. Also own 2000 Tahoe and drives much better than Tahoe - wonÂ’t get rid of Tahoe though.

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  Just a great vehicle - 2005 Ford Escape
  By Chuck Ripple - September 22 - 10:46 pm

  Just fun to drive...a great vehicle!

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  2002 Explorer is a Lemon - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By fordjunk - September 22 - 6:00 pm

  When we purchased our 02 Explorer in 03, we were so happy we found an affordable SUV with plenty of room, power and comfort. Little did we know it was an ABSOLUTE LEMON! Luckily, we purchased the extended warranty that covered the MANY problems we had within the first couple years of ownership. The vehicle now has about 87,000 miles on it and the transmission IS COMPLETELY SHOT! $3,100 later, we are wishing we had spent the extra money and bought a Toyota.

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  Amazing - 2003 Ford Escape
  By nightfossil - September 22 - 2:00 am

  I went from a Ford Mustang to the Escape and could not be more happy. I loved my stang but I needed more room for camping and fishing. The Escape answers with a carlike ride a very peppy V6, excellent handling and comfort, very quiet interior, and room as promised. I do not usually go far off road, and this (2WD!!!)SUV easily handled the trail.

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  High on Value. Low on Gimmicks. - 2003 Ford Ranger
  By jesse janzen - September 22 - 2:00 am

  This is my 3rd Ranger. I just cant find another vehicle in the under $15,000 price range, car or truck, that I like more. This vehicle does everything right: payments are affordable; interior is roomy and comfortable; fuel economy is good; load capacity is more than youd think; its easy and fun to drive; it looks good inside and out; and--best of all--its TOTALLY RELIBLE. This truck seems ideal for a single person who only wants to operate one vehicle. This truck does it all! Its no wonder my friends and family always want to borrow my truck.

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  Traded my X5 - never looked back - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Denver - September 21 - 8:00 pm

  I drove a BMW X5 4.4 for five years prior to trading for the Escape Hybrid. Gas prices were part of my decision, and I honestly wanted to be one of the voices clamoring for Detroit to get with the program and invest in alternative powertrains. I loved the build quality and engineering excellence of the BMW. I expected that switching to a more pedestrian Ford was going to be full of compromise. Certainly, the finishes are less luxurious (recycled plastic instead of leather dash, fewer adjustments in the seating, etc), but overall, I have been quite satisfied. If I had it to do all over again, I would do it all over again.