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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  Best In Class - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Scott C. - July 16 - 10:13 am

  I spent several weeks trying to find the best car in my price range. I am the type of person who has to be sure I am satisfied before I spend a large amount of money. I test drove and researched every other car in this class and price range. Safety was a big concern and there is nothing better in the same class. It beat the Camry, Accord, etc. The Five Hundred was designed by Volvos top structural and safety engineers and the crash test results reflect it. The car has adequate power and rides like a luxury car. I have seen some reviews that said this car would appeal more to the older crowd. I am 33 and two other people bought a Five Hundred while I was there and they were even younger.

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  500 SEL with a little extra - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Robert - July 16 - 4:03 am

  I really like driving this car a lot, it handles very well and rides smooth and quiet. This car is very roomy inside for the family and has a huge trunk. The Continental Tires that came with it were garbage, good for summer and smooth roads, but horrible in wet/snow/icy conditions. I put a complete set of Goodyear TripleTred on it and it handles great in the wet/snow/ice conditions as well as a bit more responsive on turns. This car replaced our Grand Prix and it gets a little better MPG and still has the getup and go, but a lot/lot/lot more room inside. We have the individual temp control for driver/passenger which also came w/6cd MP3 player/superior sound system, a nice addition.

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  another poor design by grandmas at Ford - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By jman - July 15 - 8:26 am

  I purchased this car and at first it had that cachet that made me buy it. I should of taken it for a longer test drive. Every time I got into the car something else would be missing on it. A cover, or cap. This car feels very plastic; something my son should be driving around in my front yard. The nimble effect it had when I first bought it turned into mushy handling.

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  Bills Escape - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Bill - July 15 - 7:33 am

  I brought the car because I wanted to do good for the environment. And to get good economy. From the first day I started to drive it, it was a fun car. Its room, and can fit 4 adults comfortable. I especially like the navigation system. Too bad it was not true GPS. Now is it basically useless. I do like the roll out cover behind the 2nd seat. If you have to carry something and you dont want it to be seen, rolling out the cargo cover, hides everything back there. As long as it is not taller than the cargo cover.

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  Space Age Technology in Your Car - 2016 Ford Edge
  By Dave G. - July 14 - 7:52 pm

  We looked at a variety of smaller SUVs... downsizing from an 11 year old Tahoe Z71. We waited for the Ford Edge 2016 to gain the Sync 3 and Drivers Assist package. The Sync 3 is very easy to navigate. My son has a 2015 Explorer Sport with the Ford Touch and its not near as user friendly. I must admit it was a bit unnerving the first time I started to change lanes on the freeway WITHOUT turning on my turn signal and then have the steering nudge me back into my own lane. Now I remember to use the signal. LOL. The Edge is an extremely quiet ride and the interior is nicely appointed with soft surfaces everywhere. We got a Pearl White Titanium AWD with all the options with the Ceramic interior. We special ordered the Edge and it was well worth the wait.

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  Love my truck - 2005 Ford F-150
  By julia cancio - July 14 - 12:20 am

  We looked at all the trucks in the market . Drove them all this truck is so quiet you can drive all day an never get tired. In the first week we put 2500 miles on it . My husband love it so much he got one too. The best thing about it was the day we test drove it and did a quick stop and the salesman hit the back of my seat. It stopped better than the Tundra; we almost hit a car in that test drive.

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  darn good so far - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Joe Blow - July 13 - 10:30 pm

  Just bought this car a few days ago and I am impressed with the ride and handling. Great price with rebates. Ford employee pricing $17,600 Canadian. Not getting great mileage yet but will see when engine gets broken in. Love interior space and a lot of bang for the buck. Civic and Corolla cant match price and financing rates are twice as high. Figured with rebates and financing costs the Focus was about $5500 cheaper than Civic or Corolla.

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  big blue toy - 2014 Ford Shelby GT500
  By dan_patterson - July 12 - 1:49 pm

  I got my GT500 a few days ago and have driven it all of 45 miles so far. Im a big guy and I was worried that the Recaros might pinch, but they dont. Still getting used to the shifter/clutch and being very gentle with the loud pedal. Shifter has a fair amount of mechanical resistance. Ride is very stiff, even with the Bilsteins on the soft setting- havent played with the driver-assist controls yet. On the freeway, its just waking up at 75 mph.

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  Beautiful Car For Its Day - 2012 Ford Mustang
  By I Love My Stang - July 12 - 7:49 am

  The car in white, immaculately detailed, with its classic lines made for a head turned all the five years I owned it. Great for straight line runs, mediocre handling in the curves, wonderful exhaust note. Good all around gas mileage around town and better on the highway. Stock Michelin tires prone to blowout at highway speeds (2 in under 23K miles) and gave good traction in wet conditions. Wonderful brakes. Speed limited at 112 MPH. Not the best as far as reliability with throttle body replacement at 20K miles, complete HVAC under-dash replacement at 18K miles, and front lower control arms went bad at 16K miles. This is an old school car that is lovely and fun to drive. It doesnt compare well to the next generation that replaces it as they are entirely different animals.

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  Ford Hits A Home Run - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By Mike - July 12 - 4:30 am

  The vehicle is built extremely tight, no rattles, no wind noise. The styling speaks to the heritage of the Mustang; no longer is it just the next generation, it has started a new trend in the classic style. The attention rating is off the scale. The sound, the style, the aggressive look -- it is the car to have.