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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  fun driver - 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By stevie straight - May 24 - 2:00 am

  this replaced my 91 ranger as a highway travel vehicle. liked that truck and kept it for local running around. the 4.0 is an outstanding engine. have 239k on the p/u and still going strong. tranny feels solid. ride is as expected for a p/u bed vehicle. overall performance is quite good. steering is excellent . brakes are quite good and responsive. I like the 16" tires. the composit bedliner is a great item. interior is roomie and comfortable, although for long trips the drivers seat starts to feel like it needs more bottom cushion support. altogether, this vehicle tickles me pink and will be around for a long time.

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  LX Sport-Worth a look - 2004 Ford Crown Victoria
  By gigfy60 - May 24 - 2:00 am

  If long distance driving is part of your normal commute to/from work,than look no further,this is the vehicle for you.Ford continues to fine tune a proven,yet dated platform and still make it a viable alternative when choosing your next car.Although the gas mileage isnt great, 20.7 MPG it is still better than some SUVs out there.Comfortable driving is what this auto is about.

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  great car! - 2004 Ford Focus
  By muffin - May 24 - 2:00 am

  great car! no problems thus far ... nice cup holders ... i like the color and the edgy style ... perfect performance from the engine!

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  2004 Freestar (Limited) - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By theoneilclan - May 24 - 2:00 am

  We bought the Limited fully loaded and with DVD add-on. My wife likes the easy foldup middle seats, and the pop-in-the-floor rear seat. The steering wheel controls are very good, the interior styling looks much like a BMW, and the center-dash controls are very good too. She likes the separate driver/passenger auto-air setting. As the husband, I like my wife to be driving with the 2nd generation air-bags, the air-canopy systems and the self-sealing tires. We traded in a 3yr old Windstar w/ 26K in order to get this van.

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  Flex my Christmas Present - 2009 Ford Flex
  By Bigg Will - May 23 - 5:20 pm

  I love my new Flex SEL (previously owned by George The Iceman Gervin). The bold new look is great, I love being different and the Ford Flexs design is just that. The comfort of the seats and the ah of the interior are excellent. Even though the vehicle is not that high and appears to be low to the ground, once inside the vehicle you feel like you are in a standard size SUV. The stereo system is wonderful and the hands free sync system is a great addition also. I welcome the tight turning ratio of the car, it mirrors my Volvo XC90. he ride is firm, sturdy and comfortable, a lot of fun to drive. I turn heads everywhere I go! Never thought I would own an American made automobile!

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  C MAX First Impressions - 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid
  By seymour_bears - May 23 - 4:51 pm

  5 days now with the car; 850 miles: 650 interstate and 200 local roads. Ford advises car must be driven a couple of thousand miles before accurate MPG can be determined, but what Im seeing now is 44 MPG city (lots of stop and go, and hills) and 37 interstate. Surprising that cold tire pressure is 38 PSI. Dealer was flexible on price, even though this is a new model. This is an SEL model with just one option: premium white paint. Car is a pleasure to drive: sporty feel, comfortable seats, quiet cabin, excellent driver interface with gages and displays. Build quality looks good.

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  Awsome truck even in harsh winters - 2007 Ford F-150
  By rondee1374 - May 23 - 2:21 pm

  I really wasnt in favor of my husband buying this truck off the show room floor but it is a workhorse! No problem in the 3 feet of snow that fell in one day the first year we owned it, have never had to put extra weight in the back. Im not a truck person but this truck is AWESOME and fun to drive.

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  Drive one - 2009 Ford Fusion
  By 4Fordgarage - May 23 - 8:49 am

  We traded our 2006 Ford 500 for the Fusion and it was a great switch.Just turned 1000 on the odometer on have enjoyed the car tremendously. We went with v-6 after trying the 4, just to noisy.The ride quality is better than the 500.The only negative so far its been pulling to the right when braking will contact dealer for fix.Other than that I would say give it a try.

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  Love my baby - 2009 Ford Fusion
  By Jack D - May 23 - 12:44 am

  I just bought the Fusion 09 and LOVE IT! Compared it to Lex 250, Toyota Solora, Audi A4, Volvo s30....LOVE IT! Absolutely saw it and was speechless....

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  Best Car I Ever Owned - 2003 Ford Escape
  By ThePhantom - May 22 - 7:37 pm

  I went to buy a replacement Windstar in the fall of 03 and drove home in a red 2WD Escape. My wife and I fell in love with it immediately. Since then we have changed he oil and filter every 2500 miles and replaced filters and belts. The factory tires were horrible and screamed and moaned. I replaced them with Michelins and turned the Escape into a whole new, quiet, smooth-riding vehicle. Other than that the car has not been in the shop. It has required ZERO repairs in 65K miles. None. Zilch. Nada. This is far and away the best, most dependable automobile I have ever owned.