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 styling, comfort, & reliability - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By tommycee - June 15 - 7:13 am

  I have had my Freestyle for 7 months. I really love the styling because it gives you the ride of a car but the feeling and styling of an SUV. There is plenty of interior room and comfort. The 3rd row seat is suitable for an adult. The stadium seating allows my kids to see the exterior view without being blocked. I always get remarks about what a great looking car it is. Most people are surprised by the room inside. The car is very sturdy and the cabin is sealed tight so that there is minimal exterior noise. I couldnt be happier with the Freestyle.

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  50th Birthday present - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By Mike Spence - June 15 - 6:33 am

  I have my 1st car, a 68 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT that I have owned for over 30 years, Black, dual quads, Cragars, Goodrich TAs, all the usual suspects. It turns heads every where I go but, as for driveability it gets a D-. The only thing keeping from getting an F is it does go straight really well. Now I have my Mustang GT (also black) and it turns heads equal to the Cougar but now I can actually take a corner at speed without fear of sliding into the road shoulder, Oh, it also goes straight really well! You can imagine my dilemma when the sun does make its rare appearances (I live in Oregon) on which car to drive. People tell me all the time "Saw you in your car today and youre still smiling."

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  Edmunds Got It Right - 2002 Ford Taurus
  By hombregrande10 - June 15 - 3:46 am

  I had no intention of getting a Taurus when looking for a lease, but Ford has a program offer to good to refuse. Edmunds review, it is right on. A perfect blend of price and good attributes. A whole lot of goodies for the money (spoke wheels, leather seats, etc.). Leather seats are not as comfortable as the fuzzy ones, and the base six could be a little more peppy. Sometimes, not often the transmission gets fooled.

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  Impressed - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Dan - June 14 - 10:03 pm

  This is a nice vehicle. Great for hauling kids and groceries. AWD is very nice, especially in winter. Great drive too.

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  Love it! After shopping for 2 years - 2006 Ford Escape
  By TGs - June 14 - 9:00 am

  I wanted a small SUV since the Liberty came out in 2001, but I hated that back swinging door. I loved the Escapes cargo space and when they modified the front lights in 2006, and with Fords Family plan, I just had to buy it at long last. I love it, my big dogs love it and its just the right size! I get compliments on the beautiful Titanium green exterior color, and Im finding that my gas mileage is averaging about 27 mpg; most of my driving is highway miles, so the Hybrid did not fit my bill. I love this car so much!

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  Fits me Like a Glove - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By igot12 - June 14 - 8:46 am

  Its the best car that Ive owned. It has the versatility of the SUV, the comfort of a sedan, and seats seven like a minivan. It seems that whatever I need to do, the Freestyle accommodates. No matter what you call it, SUV, Wagon, Sports Utility Wagon Van, no matter, I just love it.

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  The best SUV Ive owned...with 2 issues - 2013 Ford Explorer
  By Bob - June 13 - 10:43 pm

  I’ve been happy with every Ford I’ve purchased and this Explorer is no different. I am thoroughly happy with my purchase and was surprised with what this vehicle has to offer. I expected the XLT to have the very basic options and was I wrong. I’m a 6’-2” 240lb man that is used to driving full-size trucks and SUVs and this one has plenty cabin room. This is the first Explorer I’ve purchased because I never cared for the exterior of older models. In my opinion, Ford nailed it with this model. Ours has the black leather interior with the Ford My Touch system. It has all of the bells and whistles that a premium SUV would have at an XLT price. I’m sure the Limited and Sport additions have more to offer but, this one fit our family perfectly at a good price. We have 2 teenagers (14 & 19) so we’ve never used the third row. They’re typically stowed away. The heated seats are great and the rear-controlled AC/Heat keeps the kids happy. The panoramic sunroof is great and operates easily. Road noise is noticeable but bearable. There is plenty of storage and the cubby under the touch screen is practically bottomless. The instrument cluster is easy to read and the steering wheel mounted controls look like something you would see in a fighter jet. You can control just about everything from the steering wheel. There are secondary displays (secondary to the touch screen) inside the cluster that shows all sorts of information that you can scroll through with the controls on the wheel. It took me over an hour to go through all of the options (bit of a gadget geek here). With that being said, the My Touch navigation is horrible…even after updating the software to the latest version. The voice commands are useless, the lady in the NAV system is a nag and everything dealing with the NAV system is slow. I’ll just continue to use my cell phone. The entertainment, climate control and cell phone connection portions of the My Touch are great. The Bluetooth connects flawlessly and Sirius connects with no issues. I love the various connections (USB, SD Card, AUX) and you can charge the entire family’s cell phones at the same time. Climate control is easy to use by either the My Touch or by its own touch sensitive controls. As mentioned above, Ford nailed the exterior styling with this model. I’m always getting comments on how good it looks and when family and friends sit inside, they are amazed at the interior (I know…sounds like a commercial). Ours came with a tow package (typical 2” receiver and light connections) and has a 300lb bumper rating (enough for my son’s motorcycle and carrier). One thing I would change is the tow hitch receiver cover. It’s kind of cheap looking and you can easily see the indentions made from the receiver. Nothing big, but it’s mentionable. Also, the rear window does not open separately from the hatch. Most SUVs I’ve owned had this feature which was nice. Not sure if this is what all manufactures are doing. Again…not a big deal to me. The standard 18” wheels are stylish but not too much. For an SUV, this one handles better than any other SUV I’ve owned. You don’t feel top-heavy when taking corners and traction is pretty good, even in wet conditions. Ground clearance is typical for an on-road SUV and getting in/out of it is easy. The biggest issue I have with this SUV is the acceleration…it’s like a worn out rubber band. I know it’s not a sports car but come on. This could be a turn-off for some people. I’m averaging 19 MPG with mixed city/highway driving (Atlanta, GA). It shifts smooth and the exhaust is quiet. Overall I’m happy with my purchase and would recommend this SUV to family and friends.

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  FAST Ecoboost Pony - 2016 Ford Mustang
  By Troy - June 13 - 6:32 pm

  I have the new 2016 Ford Ecoboost Mustang with the premium and pony package. This car was love at first sight. There are so many things that Ford added as little eye catchers that make it very appealing. The new Ecoboost engine is very quick off the line and with 310 HP and 320 FTLBS of torque it is competitive with most muscle cars with bigger engines. The Sync 3 with voice navigation is excellent, it will read me my incoming text messages from my iPhone 6. I am 62" and I fit well in the drivers seat but there are times that my foot will catch the door while getting in or out. The rear seat isnt for the tall folks on long drives. There is a cutout design in the headliner and seat backs that accommodate a few more inches of room but anyone over 59" will have the head hitting the top. The traction control modes are excellent. I live where we get snow and the snow/wet pavement mode gives you the feeling of comfort, the tires with the pony package also help with this feature. I have less than 1,000 miles on it and driving around town the gas mileage is awesome. The different dash instrumentation layout options with color is a neat feature. I would buy another tomorrow if given the option. The only issue or challenge I had before buying was the stock exhaust sound. No worries there, there are so many aftermarket exhaust options that I am sure I will get the sound I like. Additionally, the mods for this car you can see on youtube and ecoboost models are already hitting the 500HP mark... awesome car, turns a lot of heads, and very fun to drive.

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  The Best SUV on the Planet - 2007 Ford Edge
  By Charley - June 12 - 12:10 pm

  Ive been driving a midsize SUV and been waiting for this kind of fuel efficient crossover long time. Test-drove Murano, but heck, its too overpriced. Finally I test drove an Edge and just I was sold to it. The fuel economy is much better than I expected and the vista roof gives me a huge view to the sky, which is terrific. So nice looking outside and very BIG inside. The inside space is one of my favorites. The gauges and controls are convenient and friendly. V6 and auto go very well together. I love to drive my Edge everyday. Its fun to drive. The trunk space is also very generous and 2nd row seat is big enough for my 6 5" son. 18" tire is a good idea, too.

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  its a great car - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By badboi904 - June 12 - 10:00 am

  its a good car but sucks up alot of gas you guys need to find a better way to reserve gas but other then that it is an excellent car.