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 Car - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By fordsman00 - July 14 - 7:40 pm

  I would recommend the V6 fusion to anyone looking for great gas millage and performance. I went on trip from Southeastern Arizona to Provo Utah and back! Traveled through desert and mountains for a total of 1841 miles! I averaged 28.8 MPG. This included 196 miles of city driving. All Mileage Hand calculated We love are Fusion. I would consider myself an aggressive driver and think more moderate driving could achieve better results. We have 14,000 miles and many to come. We have had no issues so far and love to drive it. The only thing that could use some improvement would be road noise from rear of vehical. Well put together car and can feel the quality when driving. Rate it 9 out of 10

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  CPO, The Way To Go - 2013 Ford Fusion
  By Dan A. - July 14 - 5:34 am

  Extremely happy with my 2013 Ford Fusion Titanium that I purchased as a Certified Pre-Owned car with about 26,000 miles on it. I bought it to replace a 2007 Ford Five Hundred that got rear-ended and was totaled. The Five Hundred was roomier with a huge trunk and was a pleasure to drive on long trips. But the Fusion is very comfortable, still has plenty of space, and has much better acceleration and handling than the Five Hundred. I find that I am more engaged driving the Fusion than I was with the Five Hundred especially on longer trips. While I love my Fusion I do have some minor annoyances to point out. First, under hard acceleration from a stop, the front end jumps and loses tracking and pulls hard to the right...it gets a little squirrely. Second, the "engineered" lug nuts are a disaster and whoever thought that was a good idea has obviously never changed a tire. After I had new tires put on and rotated a few times the lug nuts, which are not solid metal start to break down and eventually you cannot get the off the car with just a lug wrench...it takes an air gun, wrenches, and a chisel. I highly recommend replacing the OEM lug nuts with an after market solid metal lug nut from someone like DP Accessories LCB3B6HC-CH04020 as soon as possible. Third, the trunk lid supports seem to wear out faster than I think they should and dont hold the trunk lid open with a breeze or on a slight inclined hill (like my driveway). I replaced a worn out set shortly after I bought the car at around 30,000 miles and now, at 67,000 miles they are worn out and need to be replaced again. Other than these things and a few other minor nits (mostly technology related) I really do love this car. I will also only ever buy another car through a CPO program...its like getting a new car with the initial depreciation accounted for.

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  Growing Pains - 2009 Ford Escape
  By BitterSweet - July 13 - 11:06 pm

  I have enjoyed driving the Escape, but disappointed in its reliability. A bad wheel bearing was replaced at 3000 miles. A part for the steering wheel shaft was ordered at the same time. The airtime/rollercoaster feeling when driving over dips in country roads was unexpected. Removable cup holders and easy to vacuum interior makes upkeep of the interior simple. Folding down the rear seats is easy, but I have had to search for the seat belts after setting the seats back up. Currently, 26mpg is its avg highway mileage, I expect to see this increase with the recent repairs. Finally, I keep window cleaner in the suv due to significant drop in visability with any dirt on the windshield.

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  Doesnt get more reliable than this car! - 1998 Ford Contour
  By Ken - July 13 - 7:02 pm

  Bought my SE in 1998 with 15K. Has not let me down once since I bought it. With only regular maintaince it has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. 27MPG in town, and a best of 34MPG on the highway cant be beat. Currently has 112,000 miles and still starts and drives like it did when I bought it. Ride is probably a little stiff to most people, but very well controlled and makes me want to take the curves and turns faster than I really need to. Excellent cornering manners. Very comfortable in town and downright perfect for road trips. Mine has the 2.0 Zetec engine and it delivers more than enough power for commuting, but could use a little more for driving in the mountains.

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  Very Impressed, Stout well built vehicle - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By Ryan R. Z - July 13 - 6:20 pm

  First of all im a former Japanese car buyer. Owned many camrys and accords.. My Fusion has 46,500 miles and it has been very solid. I am in town alot along with some highway.. I can get about 19- 22 depending on how i drive it in town and on the highway close to 29. These numbers are with the ac blowing hard. I accelerate very aggressively also. My accord had tranny issues back in 02, my camry was falling apart with 95k in 05 so hopefully this will be a good ownership experience.

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  Love my Focus! - 2008 Ford Focus
  By Blynn - July 13 - 6:00 pm

  I have grown up on Fords. My first car was a Chevy-had it for 9 months and switched to my Focus no questions asked. This car feels solid. I can take corners like there is nothing to it. Drives easily. Comfortable on the inside, beautiful outside. This is a car I will drive until the day it dies...then Ill go get a new one. I love this car. I have never felt safer while driving. Never been more comfortable about driving it hard. If you dont have one of these-get one!

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  Good Buy, Good SUV - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By geobf - July 13 - 4:33 pm

  4,000 miles in less than three months, very happy with it. Wanted a replacement for my Explorer with better fuel economy/greener. Made the move just before gas prices went nuts, found that some Houston dealers had them on the lots. Bought one with leather seats; my wife liked the ride despite the leather. Very happy with performance, just short of 30 MPG despite mostly highway miles. The A/C not running under battery is a pain, but the gas engine only stays off for more than a couple miles if you are in very slow traffic. Challenging to get above 20 MPH on the electric motor, requires a subtle touch on the pedal. Safety package/side airbags a pleasant surprise.

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  Great Car - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By Freestyle Owner - July 13 - 3:00 pm

  Very smooth quiet ride with a lot room for six people. Gas mile is good for big car. Transmission is excellent. Has a very stable feel on the road.

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  Better comfort and than Toyota and Honda - 2007 Ford Focus
  By Linda Leo - July 13 - 10:43 am

  When my old Tracer wagon died, I couldnt find anything in my price range. In NYC at the time, car dealers were selling foreign cars and luxury cars. My husband finally found a Ford dealer with a few Focuses on the lot. All I had to do was sit in the drivers seat, and fell in love. It felt like my Tracer, with controls easily accessible, excellent comfort for my bad back, and great fuel mileage for the rapdidly increasing fuel costs. Add to that the low cost, and it beat out the Toyotas, Mazda 3 and 6, and Honda Civic hands down. I would have considered it a bargain even without the $2500 rebate and excellent financing I was able to obtain.

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  The best buy for the money. - 2009 Ford Escape
  By Leggir - July 13 - 12:43 am

  This is my first Ford Escape and I love it. It was a toss up between it and the Mitsu Outlander but ultimately won because of maintenance costs. It handles like a car but doesnt dissapoint in off-road uses. Ive taken it in 12" inches of snow out in a field, through at least 18" inches of water on a 4x4 track and its handled admirably. In fact Ive gone farther than some 4x4 pickups. Gas mileage is 29MPG (US) on the highway which is where I do most of my driving. Everyone whos road in it is impressed.