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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  Good basic truck - 2001 Ford F-150
  By jrm - October 18 - 2:38 pm

  120k miles, only minor problems. Have replaced the clutch and a set of tires (original brake pads still going strong!). Mazda 5-speed is not a smooth shifter but has been a solid gearbox. V6 is noisy and doesnt have a lot of power but seems to be a solid little engine, no issues with it at all in 7 years/120k miles. Did have a lean condition due to upper intake gaskets, but that was easily fixed in an afternoon with $60 of parts.

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  Mom of 2 in MI - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Fordwife - October 18 - 3:43 am

  I have had this car for 18 months and love most everything about it. With 40,000 highway miles I have had plenty of time to drive it. My biggest complaint is the brakes had to be replaced at 30,000 miles at at cost of almost $400. I was not happy. One minor recall to date and the dash is bubbling a little. This car has been driven from Michigan to Florida with absolutely no problems. Very comfortable in the rear seat for my two children. Gas mileage is respectable and the trunk size is awesome - no more borrowing my husbands F-150. Overall, very nice car.

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  Get one while you still can - 2004 Ford Focus
  By slothbert - October 17 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car at MSRP; with current Ford rebates, its a steal...but not for much longer, 04 is the last year for the SVT Focus. Its a terrific drivers car with superb steering, handling, and brakes, and a strong engine (though power delivery could be better). Early Focus problems seem to be worked out; build quality is great and the SVT is tight as a drum. Its a blast to drive, but works as a practical, roomy hatchback too. Im surprised it hasnt been more popular--its price and quality make it superior to Civic Si, GTI, etc.

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  Great dog-hauler, but amenities back to 1980s - 2013 Ford Transit Connect
  By porchsteps - October 17 - 9:14 am

  Heres my huge complaint about this vehicle: It doesnt turn off its own lights. The problem is that I havent driven a car made since 1990 where it was even possible to leave the lights on so that the battery ran down. Other things they NEED to improve: can only unlock the rear cargo doors with key fob. Its impossible to lock the keys in the car (good) but keeping the fob handy at all times is annoying. Back seats: can fold down one, or all, but cant leave 1 up and fold down 2, which would be my preference. Otherwise, its nimble, pickup is good enough for my purposes. I miss some other amenities of my 2006 hhr but the price was good here.

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  Nice - 2009 Ford Mustang
  By scook5 - October 16 - 11:27 am

  I wasnt looking for this car because of practically reasons of having a small child and winter driving but decided to take a chance and leased one. My 4-year old likes the car and there are no issues with him and using the back seat. The ride on extremely bumpy roads may be of concern for some because of the solid rear axel but even in Michigan. Classic vehicle design stands out and the interior upgrades have improved on the prior poor looking base interior. So far the experience has been real good. Ill just have to see how the vehicle performs in the winter!

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  SVT time - 2001 Ford Mustang
  By cobraetti - October 15 - 8:35 pm

  I have owned one for over a year and am pleased. They are "finiky" and require a close eye (oil level) but seem to have a solid base. I am proud to be one of the few SVT owners! andrew

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  Id do it again - 2002 Ford Focus
  By In a ZTS - October 14 - 8:13 pm

  I bought my car new in 2002 and Id do it again. It has pep and rides and drives great. The controls are easy to operate and the overall comfort is nice on trips. The few minor issues were corrected within warranty. Maintenance has been easy and thats a lot said at 100K miles. I have considered trading recently, but with the economy being so volatile I am quite comfortable staying in my Focus. I have every confidence in it getting me where I need to go. The mileage is OK: 26 average in town and 29- 31 on the hwy. Ive had 2 fairly major accidents and feel confident in the safety of the car.

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  Great fast car - 2007 Ford Mustang
  By luckydawg003 - October 14 - 4:21 pm

  I bought my GT back in 07. After adding some mods to it, like a cold air intake and a tune. It is truly a fast car. I ran a best of a 13.6 at 103mph in the 1/4 mile track. I get horrible gas mileage, about 14-16mpg. Mostly city driving, and I race my car everywhere. Its just to fun, not to speed in this car. Ive had a lot of good races, and smoked a lot of fast cars. The only thing that is bad is the resale value of this car. I prob. lost $10k if I tried to trade it in today. But it has a great exterior, and the interior is nice to.

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  Great Kid Car - 2002 Ford Escape
  By MIKEH - October 14 - 12:36 pm

  I bought a fully loaded all Black XLT as my daughters first car. The car had 60K miles, and had one owner who obviously took good care of it. My daughter loves her first car and I feel secure that she has some size around her. While the gas mileage isnt great it is far from awful (about 18mpg). We havent had any issues with the car. Bottom line, no complaints from either of us.

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  Excellent redesign - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By paulb - October 14 - 10:00 am

  As close you are going to get to a luxury sedan ride in an SUV. The independant rear suspension really helps the handling and ride along with allowing them to come up with best designed third row seat in any SUV. I owned a Durango previously and once my son grew over 4.5 feet he outgrew "his" 3rd row, which was an innovation at that time. After the first year Ford should put some more thought into the interior features. Have not tested the off road performance...yet.