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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  I LIKE IT! - 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By jbelew - March 12 - 2:00 am

  I had an extended cab Mazda B3000 but the back seat didnt accomodate two kids very well. The Sport Trac is perfect for me. I didnt want to give up my truck but I needed more seating capacity. Now I have both. Unlike some of the competitors, this truck has a REAL back seat. Its actually very comfortable for kids and adults. I regret not getting the fixed center console. The removable nylon bag doesnt do anything for me.

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  Not That Impressed :-( - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By king17 - March 12 - 2:00 am

  I have had the vehicle now for a little over a year and its already been in the shop 6 times. Its been everything from the paint fading to the back window breaking to the front end making an annoying clicking noise. I sorry to say that Im not really impressed with my first purchase of an SUV.

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  Great Truck - 2017 Ford F-150
  By Fred VanHowe - March 11 - 6:29 pm

  My previous 5 vehicles were Cadillac Escalades. 2 EXTs and 3 ESVs. While Caddy has great curb appeal and decent ride, my Platinum F150 beats the Caddy in every category except looks. I had the Caddys in shop constantly with ridiculous problems big and small. So far, after a year, the F150 has only been in for oil changes and rear window (that little one in back) that opened but would not shut. I drove my neighbor, who is in his 70s and drives a Lexus LX570, to a football game two hours away and he said the F150 Platinum was the best riding vehicle he has ever been in. The second row seats have a lot more room than the Cadillac ESV. My wife, who also drives a Lexus SUV, likes the F150 Platinum , although she wont admit it

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  Not great in a cold climate - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By EyeOnAlaska - March 11 - 5:13 pm

  Bought my used 08 FEH awd for my move back to Alaska. Very disappointed with the mileage Im getting in a colder climate-averaging 21mpg all- around. Granted, thats ok for an SUV, but certainly doesnt live up to its billing. It very rarely goes into EV mode, and even when it does, the engine wont stay off sitting at a stoplight. This is in temperatures anytime below 20 F. Below 0 F, mpg drops into the mid teens and it sounds like a coffee grinder on steroids until it finally warms up. Almost a must to keep it in a heated garage. You have to be incredibly careful with the gas pedal to not kick it out of EV mode leaving a stoplight.

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  Affordable Comfort - 2001 Ford Crown Victoria
  By The Duke - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Great Car. Quite, smooth, comfortable ride. Great car for long road trips. Handles very well with the handling pkg option. MPG is lower than advertized for city and highway, but California gas is partly responsible for missing the milage numbers.

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  Yellow GT - 2001 Ford Mustang
  By Hoppy - March 11 - 10:00 am

  This car is fun to drive and it gets a lot of attention. It is Zinc Yellow and is a beauty. It runs like a Mustang GT should. It has all the power you would ever need to drive on the highways of the good ol USA. I love it!!!!!!!

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  Fabulous Quality! - 2002 Ford Focus
  By Katsb579 - March 11 - 10:00 am

  fantastic! this car has been perfect and i couldnt have asked for anything better! the performance is absolutely wonderful!

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  Ok Truck but only Ok - 1999 Ford Ranger
  By mARIETTA - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Not much fun to drive and the 3.0 does not have very much power. But its a good value and holds its value pretty well. Watch for the special finance and lease programs, they can turn a good value into a darn good deal.

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  Think twice before buying - 2012 Ford Focus
  By TH - March 11 - 4:48 am

  I purchased my Focus used but with only 6k miles. Think twice before purchasing one used. The car has several great attributes. Even 5 years later, the styling is still great. For a small car it looks fantastic and accelerates, brakes, and handles much better than most economy cars are supposed to. Plus, the fuel economy is excellent. Around town, i routinely average 28-32 mpg and have seen as good as 38 on the freeway. All of these great traits are ruined however by very shoddy reliability. Its mainly highlighted by a horrible transmission that shudders, slips, and bangs at all speeds but mostly at initial acceleration. The dealership will do nothing for you except a reflash of the computer and tell you its within Ford technical specs. My car had a major radiator failure at 26k miles and had to have it completely replaced. I also had to have all the weatherstripping replaced before 20k miles. With 38k miles currently, the car has huge amounts of rattles and squeaks and the front suspension feels like a school bus over bumps.

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  A GREAT TWO YEAR CAR - 2009 Ford Mustang
  By MIKE - March 10 - 11:04 pm

  It was great when NEW. However, over time, you will be in the repair shop a lot. Ive done major repairs on the suspension, two clutches, motor mounts, interior panels, wiring, etc. The engine is great. Everything around it lacks quality and durability. Having TWO separate fuse boxes that overlap in function is beyond frustrating.