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 so far - 2003 Ford Explorer Sport
  By Dan from Denver - December 23 - 10:00 am

  Im a Ford fan, and still own a Bronco, Bronco II and just sold my Lincoln. Test drove Toyota and Honda - no comparison. Sport has power, good handling, tight construction, nimble steering, good extras. Dealer gave a great price. Dont need 4 dr anymore. Im having fun with it. A little clunky to look at but so are all the other SUVs. Can tell mine from a mile away and thats a plus.

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  I am glad I made this choice - 2003 Ford F-150
  By brandon1984 - December 23 - 10:00 am

  I had a 2000 Ford Expedition XLT 2wd and traded it in for this new truck. The best choice that I made as far as a vehicle purchase, I know understand why Ford has the best selling truck.

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  great - 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By cdc - December 23 - 10:00 am

  new owner - perfect for family trips.

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  I would love to purchase a focus! - 2004 Ford Focus
  By student of cet - December 23 - 10:00 am

  I never purchased a focus before but in due time Iwould to buy one so that i can injoy the luruxy of an focus and is a perfect car for me sense i have no kids yet!

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  Rattles - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By Pork Pie - December 23 - 10:00 am

  This is the most disapointing vehicle we have ever owned. Its not that it is a bad vehicle, but for the money we paid we had certain expectations, and it just does not live up to them. The rattles started at 250 miles and have got worse since then, rattles in the doors, roof, dash and seats. Trim pieces that dont fit. After six visits to the dealer some are resolved and some never will be. The good news is that there is a partial fix for the doors, there is a TSB from Ford, which consists of replacing the door locks and door seals, unfortunately it took 4 trips to the dealer before they found the TSB.

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  leaking seals - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By Robert W Gray - December 23 - 10:00 am

  Very disappointed! Had the oil pan gasket replaced at 3000 miles and now at 6000 miles just had the main rear seal replaced.Front tires constantly dirty from brake dust(really poor design). Climate control doesnt seem to run as smoothly as my wifes 2002 Mercury Sable. I had a !998 Ford F150 Lariat and never had a problem with it, wish I had it back.

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  2017 Escape Titanium AWD 2.0 Rocks! - 2017 Ford Escape
  By Fred Flintstone - December 23 - 7:32 am

  Try to use a buying service like Costco or True Car or X-Plan. With rebates this vehicle gets cheaper than a comparable CRV. I love the stellar performance of 2.0 engine with quick acceleration. Great braking too. Im not looking for 34 mpg, so I turn off the start-stop feature and get 21 mpg. Thats fine for me. Ive been driving this Escape for over a month now with zero problems or complaints. My favorite feature is Sync 3, along with Ford Pass, and Apple Play. Im afraid some people may not understand all the technology that comes with this vehicle but its awesome. Sync 3 reads my incoming texts to me plus I can easily respond by voice. Remote start either through key fob or phone app. Plenty of storage, if Id needed more I would have bought an Edge. I love the back up camera and cross traffic alerts. Blind spot warning is great too. My last car was from 2007, so this was a major tech upgrade. All around its fun to drive and easy to get used to all these features. Love the Sony 350 watt premium sound with subwoofer, no need for aftermarket upgrade. Memory seat means spouse and I can now easily share car with seat and mirror settings. OH, and the ambient lighting is really cool! Great job Ford!

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  Whats not to like? - 2006 Ford Escape
  By LaWanda R. - December 23 - 2:06 am

  The interior is awesome, the 200hp reacts almost instantly, I receive 24.5 miles per gallon, and the interior is comfortable and spacious. My message center reports any problems ( which I havent had yet). It handles excellent in the winter time. This truck didnt slip once, or if it did, I didnt feel it. We had 5 feet of snow in Michigan this past winter, and the Ford Escape handles excellently. I am truly impressed. This truck is also perfect for long road trips because I get 392 miles on one tank of gas. This sound system is very impressive, oh! and the moonroof is just lovable. The best part is the 4WD system, it works always, I dont have to press any buttons, and it has great traction.

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  My European sport sedan - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By DMS - December 21 - 10:00 am

  Oh man when I first saw the car I said whats a 500? A friend had to tell me about the old name plate and I remembered so when I traded in my 97 Olds Aurora I was so impressed with the 500 with the look and how it handled, cause I only care about performance and how a car handles and the look was Awesome,while most of my buddies bought European Cars I bout a FORD FIVE HUNDRED AWD LIMITED,they were impressed also. havent had any problems and I bought it used with 41,000 I just put brakes on and new tires on it.I just want it to be more sporty but the car is the best SPORT SEDANAmerican I have had. My motto is "drive now, drive forever, drive Ford. Thanks Ford this is my first one.

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  wish me luck! - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By eric tangert - December 20 - 1:46 pm

  I sold a 94 Explorer with 140,000 trouble free miles so I could get a 2002 model. I like the styling and the smooth shifting 5R55W transmission. I bought this truck used with 49,000 miles on it, so it shows a little wear, but the price was right so I went for it. The 4.0 OHC V6 runs great and everything works and is tight. The rear gears whine a little at speed but I understand this is a common complaint. As I own a transmission repair facility, correcting any drivetrain problems should not be an issue for me. I would recommend an Explorer (used of course, love that low resale value) to anyone who wants a nice truck at a great price.