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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  Ive owned my Ford C-max for a YEAR - 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid
  By klovors_mom - March 16 - 9:37 am

  I loved this car at first But now it has locked me out and wont start I got over it the first and second time but now we are on the eighth time Every time I have taken it to the ford dealer i bought it from(this is the third time) they give me a different reason and say it is fixed after they are done They even said it was my remote start i had put in even thought it did it twice before I put the starter in They told me i had to remove it cost $177.00 Oh and that remote start cost $650.00 to put in But I live in the country we have a lot of hills I am trying to get rid of the car because I have a two year old and need something that is reliable

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  Overall a good family vehicle. - 2008 Ford Taurus X
  By Susan - March 15 - 7:36 pm

  I swore I would never be an M&M, a Minivan Mom). This vehicle kinda looks like a station wagon. Not a big fan, but the chrome helps. I own a 2000 Ford Taurus sedan. I was set on buying another one until I saw the Taurus-X. 2 problems so far. The first is the knocking sound that comes from the engine. Ive been told that this is normal. The second is the manual latches on the seats. Ive had nothing but problems w/the 2nd row driver side. It is very difficult to release and does not operate properly. They have not fixed or replaced the seat. I think they are waiting for my warrantly to run out. Other owners have had the same issues. Im hoping enough people will complain to prompt a recall.

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  Great Car with Recent and Alarming Issues - 2008 Ford Edge
  By JJ - March 13 - 7:00 pm

  I have a 2008 Ford Edge with 55k miles - 3 Times in the Last year when I have been attempting to accelerate- All of my warning lights turn on - My spedometer gets stuck at zero, and I am unable to accelerate above 5 miles per hour for a significant, and dangerous amount of time. Took car into shop and they were unable to find any issues. Looking online it seems many other people have had the same problem and ford is unable, or unwilling to address the issue. Very Dangerous.

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  Got it the other day... - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By FreestyleSilvah - March 13 - 3:50 pm

  Just got a Ford Freestyle, SEL, its niiice! :) Superb size/capacity, pretty good on gas, especially hwy, comfort and style, LOTS of "technological doo-dads." Well worth it to get the extras, especially with the family deal Ford is running. Also they give $1000 extra off; a $30,000 dollar vehicle for a $23k or so price :) Very, very happy.

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  Better EV Range Than Stated - 2014 Ford Fusion Energi
  By odtenchi - March 13 - 3:20 pm

  I just took delivery of my Fusion about 3 weeks ago and as the weeks got warmer, my EV range started getting higher. Without the climate control on when I first drove off the lot, my EV range was 22 miles only. Now with the warmer weather, its holding steady at 32 miles after each full charge. With the climate control on, I loose about 4 miles, but I still get more then 25 miles in EV mode. I got a lot more for my money than expected which is great. Its super quiet, smooth, sporty ride, plenty of leg rooms for rear passengers and the best part, sneaking up on people :) I would recommend this car to anyone especially to fellow car enthusiasts out there since were so picky about everything.

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  Solid, fun little car - 2012 Ford Focus
  By dan397 - March 13 - 1:26 pm

  I recently took a new job involving a long commute, and decided to look at the Focus and VW Golf TDI as commuter cars. Coming from a BMW 335i, I have high standards and the Focus (so far) has lived up to them. Its no BMW, but its a fun car to drive and has enough bells and whistles that it doesnt feel like a penalty box even when compared to a far more expensive vehicle. The engine, chassis, and tranny arent quite as refined as the Golf, but the car is still very solid and fun to drive with a good trade-off between handling and comfort. The Focus blows the Golf away in feature content, and both have very nice interiors for the price.

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  #1 vehicle to own - 2005 Ford Escape
  By britsmom - March 13 - 10:00 am

  I love my Escape, I have owned 2, and I dont think Id ever own any other kind of vehicle ever again!!

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  Remorseful - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By chilidog - March 13 - 10:00 am

  Features, style and price is impressive with other comparable vehicles however the GAS MILEAGE IS HORRIBLE. We will be trading this in very very soon. I had Jeep Gr Cherokee for years and I got tremendously better mpg.

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  SEL I-4 5 Speed Rocks! - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By Metallicat - March 13 - 3:30 am

  So far, after 600 miles, I am really loving this car! The 5 speed manual is so much more fun to drive than an automatic, and the 4 cylinder is both smooth and torquey at low speeds and offers decent passing power. It drives and looks like a much more expensive car. By far the best looking Ford car in the stable. I was thinking about a Focus before I bought this car, and I am happy that I went with the Fusion. I am averaging 27mpg combined city and highway driving. It is so fun to drive that I find myself looking for excuses to go to the store just to be able to shift through the gears and enjoy the driving experience that this car offers.

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  Retro to the Max - 2007 Ford Mustang
  By Allen Lussier - March 12 - 10:43 pm

  This car is awesome. I have to look under the hood periodically to believe its a V-6 and not a V-8. Great retro look. Adding the Pony Package looks great and says "This is a car that Im proud to drive". If you love Mustangs, as I do, youll love this model year.