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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  Worth a look! - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Kone - March 8 - 9:53 pm

  My Focus is a daily commuter over highway and suburban roads so Im in it a lot. The car has good extras, good pep, handles fine, has been reliable so far, and was reasonable to get into. Id even go so far to say that its fun to drive. Make sure you include it on your shopping list.

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  Versatile vehicle - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By yepthatsit - March 7 - 12:40 pm

  I like the fact that it rides higher than a car, it carries gardening and other materials and it is comfortable on even long trips. It has plenty of leg room for taller folks in the front or the back. It has a great cool style.

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  Great Commuter Car! - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By Chris - March 7 - 2:53 am

  Had a very bad experience with a Hyundai, traded it in for this Fusion. 4 cyl, 5 speed auto, black on black cloth. The car rides extremely well, offers a controlled but supple ride. The engine has enough grunt to get you from point a to b, I bought it as a commuter car and mileage was my primary concern, so Im pleased with my 25 mpg city and 30+ highway. High quality cloth seats, my only gripe is that the door panels dont feel sturdy. Just hoping it wasnt a complete lemon like my Hyundai was.

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  This car saved my life! - 1999 Ford Crown Victoria
  By Stacey B - March 5 - 5:20 am

  The first thing that attracted me to this car was that it was a used police interceptor. I soon fell in love with the smooth ride and the way it drove. Hardly any problems with it, I have maybe replaced under $500 worth of parts in it. It was racking up around 120,000 when I hit a tree. I walked away fine from that accident, because my car took all the force. If that was a smaller car, I would be in the hospital or dead. I love this car so much, and even though I cant drive it because its smashed in, it still starts!

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  Classy and cute! - 2016 Ford Escape
  By C.T. Cardone - March 4 - 10:37 am

  Found just what I wanted, beautiful color and what I needed inside. Very smooth driving and not the first Ford I ever had, therefore, always satisfied and why I went for the Escape this time around. Very happy purchase. Had two Explorers previously and also have a truck. All great vehicles.

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  2001 Taurus SES - 2001 Ford Taurus
  By slbogt - March 4 - 10:00 am

  The new design of the Taurus is a great improvement over the previous generation. Clean, crisp lines abound from all view. Legroom is great, as is the ergonomic layout of all controls. It took no time at all to get used to this car and feel comfortable driving it. As a previous owner of 2 early generation Sables, I can truely say that this car has come a long way. Improved performance and reliablity are two traits which come to mind.

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  03..... Year of the Mustang - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By Mr DJ - March 4 - 10:00 am

  The 2003 mustang has everything in one package: comfort, thretening POWER, and evil looks! The 5 speed manual shifts nicely, although the clutch travel is long. The car rides smoothly and quietly on the 17 rims and hugs the road. Convienience is OK with a few places to store change and so on, but the glove box is small even to store the owners manual in or CD cases for the 6 disk changer. The 4.6 liter V8 is awesome with great power and pick up.Anyone who thinks they can take it on with just a proformance muffler on a 4 banger is in for an embarassing suprise!! Care is easy, with not many places for the wash cloth to get stuck in when washing.

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  Great mini SUV - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By George - March 3 - 10:53 pm

  The seating arrangements are fabulous, the size is great, the ability to fold all the seats down , make it an excellent carrying vehicle. Just an overall great car, like it better than the Windstar. All the "bells and whistles" make it NO.1 in my estimation.

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  Escape from the others in its class... - 2005 Ford Escape
  By rantraca - March 3 - 2:30 pm

  I have owned my 2005 Escape XLT since July and have already put 8000 km on it. Thus far it has done very well in all areas. The ride is excellent and quieter than I expected. There is very little roll when cornering quickly and the stability is impressive. The 3.0L V6 is surprsingly torquey and I have no problems on steep hills. This wouldnt be the case pulling a heavy trailer. Mileage is only okay and Ford needs to smarten up here. My family of 4 fits easily but plan on using the roof rack for extended vacations. The sound system is superb. Engine idle seems fast on cold start (2500-3000) but Ford techs tell me its normal. I disagree. All in all, I really like my Escape.

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  Smooth - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By M Krebs - March 3 - 1:23 pm

  Third row is hard to access when the optional 2nd row bench is ordered. Car averaging 25 mpg in mixed driving; not bad for 7 passengers with A/C on. Ride is butter smooth, not a squeak or a rattle, CVT transmission very smooth. Car rides very much like a Volvo for quite a bit less money. Great brakes. I would recommend driving the Freestyle before purchasing a competitors offering. This is the best Ford yet.