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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  , - 2002 Ford Focus
  By ewwerweqr - July 21 - 2:00 am

  My car has been in the shop over 12 times in the past 6 months for the ignition switch problem, leaky trunk and squeaky breaks. Ford cant fix the ignition problem. Ive now contacted the Attorney General.

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  JP - 2000 Ford Focus
  By J.P.P - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Motor runs good but not even. The onboard computer makes the purformance go up and down.

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  Great SUV for the money - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By eaglesfan - July 21 - 2:00 am

  We like the ride and handling of the 2002 compared to the 1999 xlt we recently sold. Highway trip was great vehicle performed well and suspension is mcuh better than our 99

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  Fantastic Value Ford Escape for 2003 - 2003 Ford Escape
  By hammysdad - July 21 - 2:00 am

  There is only two Ford Escape for 2003 that I find other vehicles in the same class beat our vehicle with: 1. rear cargo shade that insert like a toilet paper roll is cheaply made and does not have a handle like many others to pull toward you to cover your cargo 2. the storage in the rear cargo is not as nicely appointed as others. Other than that nothing touches it for style, quality, and value.

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  LOVE My New Truck - 2016 Ford F-150
  By Berlyn R. - July 20 - 1:17 pm

  Let me just say that I grew up in a Chevy household and I previously owned and loved my Ram. When it came time to replace my 00 Ram 1500 I was positive that I would be buying a new Ram truck. My husband convinced me to drive the new F150. I found both an F150 and the Ram 1500 online at my local dealers, both had comparable options and pricing and I scheduled the test drives for the same night. At the end of the night my mind was easily made up. I went back the next day and bought the Ford F150 Lariat FX4. I am in LOVE with this truck. The quality of the interior is superior, the handling is amazing, both when I am towing and when Im not. The cab is super quiet, the ride is great, especially for a truck and it drives like a truck. I like that. It does not drive like some oversized car. I have the 2.7l V6, and gas mileage is better then I expected. I get about 15-16 mixed driving and 19-20 highway. I live in Southern California where we base travel on time not distance, because traffic here sucks, so Im pretty impressed. LOL! The truck has enough power to get out of its own way, nice acceleration getting on the highway, but handy enough to mange the traffic and get in and out of the parking garages. I purchased the Super-Crew Cab and there is more then enough room in the back for my 64" son. The back seat floor is flat, so when you fold the seats up you have a ton of room to transport items that you might not want to toss in the bed. I have the 501A package and all the options included in that are fantastic. I love the remote start and keyless entry. I did have the dealer install running boards. Even as tall as I am (59"), I didnt want to break down the edge of the drivers seat climbing in and out. Overall I love this truck and would recommend to anyone looking for a new vehicle.

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  2017 4WD 2.0 L Titanium Very Impressive - 2 - 2017 Ford Escape
  By Chuck - July 20 - 8:52 am

  I test drove the 2017 4WD 2.0 L Titanium version but the Edmunds pull down menu has not been updated to include that as a review option. Excellent car. The only serious negative is that there is a lot road feedback on the steering wheel. The 2.0 L is an excellent choice with the 4WD as it never felt like it was lagging, very powerful. The interior is very nice and reasonably quiet in terms of road noise. A couple of things to me should be standard at this price point: the side mirrors should power fold, the rear seats should have pulls from the trunk that would let them fold down like the Subarus, heated steering wheel and vented/cooled seats like Hyundai/Kia offer (I have this on my Kia Optima now and with leather seats in the summer its a must).

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  Gotta drive it! - 2009 Ford Flex
  By Flex It in GA - July 20 - 4:56 am

  A friend told me to try it out and it was love at first drive! Got a great deal but then the issues started - body panels out of alignment, shimmy in front end upon braking, large paint chip, brake fluid leak, Sync electronics went dead in two days - all on a car with 9 miles on it! After 3 days in the shop, all bugs have been fixed and this car can run with the best of them at a great price. Mileage higher than posted both town & highway, comfort features galore, unbelievable Sony stereo, but we too opted for a $10 cooler instead of the $730 refrigerator. When you go to the dealer to drive one, have your trade cleaned out and ready, cuz you wont want to leave the lot without it!

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  Just Bought One - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Tim Fukuda - July 19 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased the SEL model of the Five Hundred. It is very roomy and comfortable, and has enough power to get me up to speed quickly. It handles well, and is fun to drive. I love the leg room and head room. The faux wood paneling is very nice, and accents the interior very well.

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  Think Twice Before You Buy! - 2003 Ford Focus
  By mffswebmaster - July 19 - 10:00 am

  As the webmaster for the MyFordFocusSucks website, my feelings on this car should be quite clear. Although initially fun to drive, the repair nightmares and shoddy build quality have changed my mind forever about Ford. As the owner of five other Ford/Mercury products in the last four years alone, they have lost a significant amount of future business!

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  Its a Fun Car w/ tons of extra Gear! - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Clay Brooks - July 19 - 10:00 am

  I have enjoyed my new Focus. At first when my friends ask me, " Man what did you get." I replyed sheepishly FOCUS. But once they drove it or even caught a glimpse of all the gear it came with like the power sun roof and 6 mp3 in dash player, Everyone has agreed this was a smart purchase.