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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  Nice car! - 2004 Ford Escape
  By e lopez - May 24 - 10:00 am

  Based on the experiences shared by other Ford Escape owners vis-a-vis the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Suzuki Vitara, etc., I recently bought an Escape. Alas, I am happy to have decided to get one! Driving one proved to be an experience and I am sure that with the service and parts availabilty support provided by the local dealership network, maintaining this wont be a problem. I had such a terrible experience with my Honda car as spare parts and service is controlled or even manipulated by their local dealership here. My maintenanve costs did not do justice to my owning said Honda and good that I was able to dispose of it fast.

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  I regret getting this car - 2004 Ford Taurus
  By joe shmoe - May 24 - 10:00 am

  Let me just get over the good stuff first.Pretty nice-looking car from the outside and smooth ride...Thats it! This car is SLOW. And talk about a POS engine: a 3.0 liter V6 that ONLY makes 155hp?! thats ridiculous, only 52 hp per liter. The interior looks as if Ford designers TRIED to make it look cheap. It handles terribly and feels like its going to fall apart above 70 MPH. My wife was car shoping and test drove the taurus only because she thought it was pretty. The day after, she brought me to the dealer and we bought the car. She rushed into it and now she hates the car too. The car was only $19,000, so I guess you get what you pay for eh?

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  Awsome Car - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
  By johna - May 24 - 10:00 am

  Honestly, I am a pretty crazy driver. Being a crazy driver, I would need a reliable vehicle that can handle hard turns, speed, fast breaking, and things like that. My 2001 Ford Explorer Sport has done these things and a whole lot more. Thats why I would strongly recomend this vehicle to anyone.

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  Hmm...Good car - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By piratesboy85 - May 24 - 10:00 am

  This is my first new car, everytime i saw it on the street it was my favorite, but getting it seemed much different. IT had the looks from the exterior point of view, but the interior needs some work. Overall, its a great car, spent a bit more then i would of liked, because it was leather. But, it gives you the noise a sport car has, but maybe too loud. Fuel is going to be a problem on this car.

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  Life with my new expedition - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By bbr - May 24 - 10:00 am

  So far I have found the ride and handeling to be exceptional, especially for a vehicle of this size. The one issue was a very slight vibration intermittently in the steering wheel. My dealer provided me with a rental car and is replacing the steering gear after a series of tests to rule out tire balance etc. The fit and finish are very good.

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  Amazing MPG! - 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By bacartr1 - May 23 - 4:00 pm

  I have read other reviews on the 2013 and 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid and saw the many complaints about the gas mileage. However, I am happy to report that with my 2014 I am currently averaging 47 mpg. There are 2 things to keep in mind: 1. If you are looking at purchasing this car it is because you want to save money on gas and increase your mpg. To do that, you must learn how to drive the car in all conditions and learn how the hybrid motor works to maximize your mpg. 2. It is not meant to be driven like a regular gas motor car. If you can adapt to this and want to maximize your fuel economy, this is the perfect car for it. The interior is absolutely amazing and comfortable too! Go look and se

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  FPs Objective Review - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Fpilch - May 23 - 10:33 am

  Overall a great vehicle, while I have driven SUVs for years, gas prices were killing me. At first I was moving towards a new car then I seen this and BAM it hit the spot the room of a SUV, ride of a luxury car and compared to the usual SUV great gas mileage. Acceleration is a little sluggish off the line but once going it hauls. My recommendation though is go with all the options and a SEL the price difference is insignificant compared to the comfort and convenience.

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  2008 Hybrid Escape - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Dad Fish - May 23 - 8:13 am

  I love this vehicle (I traded a Chevrolet Suburban), especially the gas mileage. It rides smoothly, has good torque for passing and merging, and is a pleasure to look at in the driveway. I miss the room of my Suburban - but not the terrible gas mileage (14-15 MPG). The one thing that I dont think was engineered well is the rear hatch and glass. It rattles and is not sound proofed well at all. Also, the door windows could have used better guides - they rattle in the door when you close it if they are not rolled all the way up. Other than those two minor gropes, this vehicle is designed well and built with quality workmanship. I would definitely buy it again.

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  Wanna love it - 2014 Ford F-150
  By KTK - May 23 - 6:08 am

  Leased a 2014 F150 STX supercab in white with sharp rims, I like the look and I do love driving it. Was considering buying it at the end of the lease due to the low miles I have on it but have had some issues which concerns me with the reliability. The first happened around 7K miles. Intermittent noise, sounded likes marbles in a jar. There is apparently an issue with these truckswhere the vacuum line or the solenoid fails (moisture related) and it tries to pull the hub in while the truck is moving basically shredding the gear teeth. Fixed and ran fine until 2 days ago when driving began hearing a grinding hum coming from the front. Was worried driving would cause more damage or the truck would stop running. Had to have a truck with 13K towed. They believe it is a bearing in the front drive train. All I know 2 days without a vehicle, not happy.

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  I brought this truck from auto nation fort lauderd - 2015 Ford F-150
  By Andy - May 23 - 5:06 am

  This truck is the worst and the dealership is the worst. I over paid for this piece of aluminum. I should have brought the Toyota Tundra