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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  Its not a Chick Magnet Car!! - 1999 Ford Escort
  By dave88 - February 14 - 10:00 am

  piled up more than 39,000 miles in just over 2 years... in San Francisco Bay Area without a single problem... averaged 30mpg with automatic transmission. Change Oil every 3K...very Underrated ...its a sleeper ... drive over 85 miles daily and still holds up without a single problem... knocks on wood...

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  My Focus is a lemmon - 2002 Ford Focus
  By Wayne Hill - February 14 - 10:00 am

  Only 7000 miles on it and its been in for repairs three weeks and counting. The engine shutdown and would not start. Towed in. Two weeks in shop. Three days later. Same thing. Towed in. Ford stopped paying for my car rental. Now I have no car to drive. Last Ford I will buy.

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  Great little car! - 2007 Ford Focus
  By Kari - February 13 - 11:46 pm

  Ive owned my little car only 2 weeks but it is a blast to drive so far. I traded in my 2000 Ford Ranger pickup truck for something smaller with better gas mileage. I researched every car in the hatchback category and narrowed my choice to the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, and the Ford Focus. For the money, the Focus was the best value for me. Yes, the trade-in value will be lower than the others, but for the years I will be driving it, I have more features, a great design, and a reliable history. Plus, Ford gave $2k in rebates that made the price perfect.

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  Great small SUV - 2008 Ford Escape
  By JCDerrick - February 13 - 10:43 pm

  We do a lot of landscaping around the house so we purchased this SUV primarily to provide us a way to move larger materials around that wouldnt fit in a regular car. For that task its a great vehicle, the fold down seats in the back (though a multi-step process) provide a lot of space that allows storage/transport of most anything. We were so impressed with the quality of the Limited package weve also used the car as our primary vehicle to drive to and from work. Weve leased this vehicle, and I suspect well keep with the Escape next year when the lease is up. Initially we favored the fuel economy of the 4-cylinder, but after test driving both I was sold on the V6s extra power.

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  so far so good - 2010 Ford Fusion
  By dodgeguy - February 13 - 10:10 pm

  Solid, well made, well equipped. Excellent fit & finish. Lots of great options for the $$$. Except for a little tire noise it has a really nice smooth quiet ride. Not like a Lexus, but for 8-10K less theres not that much difference. Sony sound system is AWESOME, and the sync system for phones & ipods is great. Drawbacks....the cross-traffic and reverse parking assist features seem a little erratic. Sometimes they work good, sometimes not so good. For 29K there should maybe a lock on the glove box...and a lite inside it. All in all a great car. My first Ford EVER and Im more than pleased with it.

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  The best truck I have ever owned - 2006 Ford F-150
  By frank - February 12 - 12:26 pm

  I have had several trucks. This one is the best. There is no comparison to a Chevy Silverado. It handles, runs, drives and corners much better. The fuel economy is great. I average 22 MPG on the freeway with the a/c on. The truck is very quiet inside while driving at 75 and above. It feels like you are sitting in your living room on the freeway even at high speeds; you dont feel bumps. Off road, it cant be beat. It never gets stuck in sand. Living in the desert, I see a lot of sand. The truck takes it like you are on a city street. I have recommended the F150 to several friends and they love them also. Overall, this is by far the best truck on the road. It cant be beat.

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  one of the best! - 2005 Ford Focus
  By v foster - February 11 - 6:20 pm

  One of the best autos I have ever owned for all around economy, fun to drive, fewer problems, looks, ease of handling, and dependability.

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  A Girls Truck - 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By teresa - February 11 - 11:00 am

  The truck is great for anything a woman may need a truck for. And still have room for kids, dogs and other things we might need to haul around on a day to day basis.

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  What a Surprise - 2008 Ford Edge
  By GoIrish - February 11 - 2:33 am

  I have owned mainly imports and was hesitant. I was leaning towards the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander and stopped at Ford dealer at whims notice. The test drive sold me and I bought it that day. First thing I noticed is the styling is beautiful and not overly generic & boring as the Pilot and Highlander. The interior was the same and exuded the same luxury as the RX330 I previously owned. The acceleration was amazing and ride felt confident and supple. There is something about this car that I love over every car I have owned. Hard to explain...it has soul and does not feel like an appliance. I get compliments everywhere I go. I see more and more of them in Atlanta.

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  Comfort, safety, beauty - 2003 Ford Crown Victoria
  By Hazel F - February 10 - 6:30 pm

  Ive owned it for 1 year now. Have had no trouble at all. Im a tall heavy woman and the electronic adjustable seats are wonderful. Love to take it on long trips. Gas mileage about 27 mpg. Not bad for this size car.