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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  CROSS COUNTRY WITH MY 500 - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Carol - May 13 - 6:23 am

  Purchased the 500 more for the roominess. Traveled from NY to AZ and it was awesome. Extremely comfortable and rides very well. Enjoy the kind of sportiness it has and the way that it handles with the rack and pinion steering. I also enjoy just riding around town. The interior to me has a rich look with the simulated wood grain and the gear shift in the console.

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  Goldilocks of SUVs - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By theaba - May 12 - 10:26 am

  This is just the right car between a station wagon and a SUV. It did a great job of moving our students load to the college dorm. My other car is a sport car. So, I drove the car in a spirited fashion and I was very impressed by its handling. The CVT gear works very nice. We made sure to get side air bags. This is not a standard feature but an option. You need to insist on it. Two other important factors in our purchase decision was its #1 rating in roll-over test (above Acura MDX), and its top ranking in crash testing (based on Volvo cage).

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  Poor Build Quality & Many Design Flaws - 2003 Ford Ranger
  By RJ2 - May 12 - 10:00 am

  Cant direct cold air to floor, poor fit & finish (e.g. uneven gaps, underspray behind gas door, around rear door hindges, under hood, engine pings, sick exhaust note, sliding window rattles & ticks (makes me crazy), tach buzzes at specific RPM range, right rear door rattles, turn signal cancelation mechanism is defective on nearly all Fords (prevents operation when wheel is at 10:00 & 2:00 positions, premature cancelation, fights driver), hood prop rod tears up paint on underside of hood when serviced by dealer (needs protective cap), dealer tears up wheels when removing center cab due to poor design.

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  The best compact truck going - 2003 Ford Ranger
  By LarryS - May 12 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Ranger, last one was a 02 model. While my 02 model was a lemon in every since of the word my 03 has been fantastic. I average 22 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, and I am a very lead-footed driver. Overall perofrmance is excellent for a 4 cylinder truck, next to my 96 Accord this is the best vehicle purchase I have made.

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  Quality at an unbeatable price - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By Avery McClellan - May 12 - 10:00 am

  I tested every full sized affordable SUV on the globe. The Expedition was the most appealing. Totally new design. I was leaning toward a Chevy Tahoe or GMC Yukon. Then I test drove this Ford and fell in love. The quality of this ride is much higher than the GM product and even the Toyota. Plus the price of the Expedition was significantly less than a comparable equipped competitor.............NICE

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  Previous Ford Owner - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By Gary D. Urie - May 12 - 10:00 am

  I have not owned mine very long but I have owned a Ford for the last 6 1/2 years. I upgraded from the truck to the Expedition and I am very impressed. I have not been in it long but already the aesthetics are very pleasing and impressive (seats, interior design, creature comforts, exterior design, clearance, and wheels, etc.). It rides great even if it lacks the power of its competitors. I have not driven far enough to comment on mechanical reliability or long term road performance. If it holds up like the F150 truck and I believe whole heartedly that it will, then it is another winner from Ford. Gary

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  Love my Expedition - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By Bundi - May 12 - 10:00 am

  I am very happy with my 2003 Expedition. It is so comfortable to drive and rides awesome. Putting kid seats in is very easy and power fold third row is a must.

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  Go Ford! - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By Buscemi - May 12 - 10:00 am

  Be careful of quick or sudden turns. It took some time to get used to driving in high winds on the freeway. Sometimes it has felt unsteady. It has a high pitch sound when changing gears.

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  Great SUV - 2003 Ford Explorer
  By JMAD - May 12 - 10:00 am

  I have always been a Ford Truck fan, but with a little one on the way I need to move into the SUV world. The Explorer was a great choice as far as function and being pratical. The NBX edition was a great option, because it gave it enough features to not look like the everyday SUV.

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  Second time owner - 2007 Ford Mustang
  By 2nd Mustang - May 12 - 2:40 am

  Purchased a 2002 Mustang GT for the wife and wound up driving it myself as our family grew. Just replaced the 2002 at 96K miles with only changing tires, oil.. etc. New Mustang goes beyond the 02 quality. Styling is excellent, and you can tell the engineers put a lot of time into this vehicle. Expecting to have the same success with the 07 as with the 02