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 fun car! - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By CProverbs31 - July 7 - 10:00 am

  We LOVE it! We are no kids - in fact we are 60ish. We bought the car on a whim, and after 7,000 miles in less than two months, we are having a ball with it. It is soooo much fun to drive.

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  Eds Truck - 2004 Ford F-150
  By Edmund Paha - July 7 - 10:00 am

  Great Truck, Like the engine, bedsize, tow package and new regular cab design

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  Nice Van - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By boa49 - July 7 - 10:00 am

  I just bought this vehicle, but I love it! Fuel economy could be better, but otherwise it is perfect for my needs and I got it for much less than the competition due to the included rebates and my companys Ford Partner X-plan.

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  Transmission Nightmare! - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By Unhappy with Ford - July 7 - 10:00 am

  I have had this vehicle for 2 years and now have to replace the transmission. I loved driving this but will never ever get another Ford. The manufacturer and the dealerships do not stand behind there product!

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  Tall guys car - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By CJG - July 7 - 5:50 am

  This is the first sports car I found that I can fit into being 67". I could drive it long distances without being cramped.

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  Give the imports a run for their money - 2007 Ford Fusion
  By Nils - July 7 - 4:30 am

  I waited to review this vehicle, because I really wanted to try it for a month before giving my final impression. One thing that Ive like about what Ford has done with their cars has been the conservative design of the interiors. Nothing flashy, everything is in a place that makes sense, and the quality feels fine. Some people have complained about engine noise on the 4 cylinder, but I dont think its that obnoxious. Its a fun to drive car for a mid-size. Im impressed with the fuel economy, it gets about as good of mileage as the Focus I used to own. It makes my 30 mile commute to work painless, I enjoy driving with this car.

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  Great Truck - 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By buck - July 7 - 2:36 am

  This is the second Sport Trac that I have owned; they both have been great trucks.

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  Great cheap used car for short trips. - 2013 Ford Focus
  By Bill Gernert - July 6 - 2:47 pm

  This is a great second car. Driving it made me realize that all cars will be electric sooner than you think.

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  2007 Ford Edge - 2007 Ford Edge
  By chuckchuckington - July 6 - 11:03 am

  Im at just under 2000 miles and loving every minute. This is a great car. I suggest driving one and not taking some of the so called experts advice.

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  Rides and drives better than most cars - 2018 Ford F-150
  By KP - July 6 - 5:45 am

  If you are looking for a sports pick up truck this is the one. If you are looking for a truck that will be the envy of the whole neighborhood this is the one. I received my truck one day before hurricane harvey hit the Gulf Coast of Texas. My area was flooded with 41 inches of rain at my house. Fortunately my home did not flood but many others were. The stock Raptor has 32 inches of clearance which was helpful to me and others. As expected acceleration is surperb. Creature comforts were much better than expected. On the negative side I ordered the bed extender with a soft tonneau cover. That was a disaster. The bed extender is permanently mounted, takes up a lot of space and is clunky. The tonneau cover latching apparatus cannot easily be accessed with the the bed extender installed. The tonneau cover latching apparatus is very difficult. I would not advise buying either from Ford. Otherwise love the truck. BTW 19 miles per gallon conservative driving highway 16.2 overall.