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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  New fusion sport - 2011 Ford Fusion
  By vengeance1 - November 30 - 2:00 am

  What a car for the money,build quality and performance are good. Bought the sport and it compares good to my Mercedes c-350 for about $9,000 less. Only complaint it wont synch to my garage door opener call in to ford and they said pre 1996 openers it wont hook up to.Ford come a long way.

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  2007 Ford F150 SuperCrew - 2007 Ford F-150
  By Hagmedic - November 30 - 2:00 am

  Truck has been 100% reliable. The 4.6 liter engine is great for day to day driving and average payloads and towing. Not good for towing above 5,000 pounds (except on level roads). Overall a great truck!

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  Good for me - 2010 Ford Escape
  By Ks0901 - November 29 - 2:00 am

  I just got the ford escape and so far everything has been decent. The gas mileage is a bit low for me but it is better than most SUVs. Whenever youre on an interstate or hwy you can hear air from the outside so its not totally quiet inside. Cant see with rear view mirror without taking the middle head rest off in the back but easily fixable. I love the way it runs (I have a v6) and the sync and keyless entry are great. I havent had any problems with the engine or electronics. Im in college so i drive home sometimes and i need a reliable car so far the escape has not let me down.

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  Excellent Vehicle - 2011 Ford Fusion
  By RevTBone - November 29 - 2:00 am

  This is the first Ford I have purchased and I am very pleased so far. The ride is excellent, the interior feels and looks solid. The interior does not have a cheap feel to it. The exterior of the car is sharp. When driving there is very limited exterior noise. One of my favorite features has to be SYNC! The SYNC service is great. You can get weather, directions, news, stocks etc all voice activated. The way that SYNC connects to my phone and allows for phone book downloads, reads texts, etc is fantastic.

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  Dont get a Fiesta - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By rm - November 28 - 2:00 am

  The car is in the shop right now after putting in only 100 miles.I have an engine light on and a traction control. The technician told me that they have to change the whole engine. They have to order the engine first and it would take probably two weeks to fix it. I bought the car because I read a lot of good reviews from this car. Im very disappointed!!

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  The Pony Express - 2011 Ford Mustang
  By Eric Goodman - November 27 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I have now had our first Ford Mustang for approximately 1 1/2 months with just over 1900 miles. The car is the bomb. Kona Metallic Blue, auto and the car has plenty of power. No need to spend the extra $ 7,500 dollars on the 5.0. The V-6, 305 is plenty fast for the non dragster. Heck, the 2010 GT had 315 HP, 10 less HP and that was the cats meow last year. The duel exhaust sounds great and has a nice growl to it. Handles great and very comfortable on long trips. I get 30 mpg on highway with cruise control set for 70 mph and thats using regular fuel. Overall, Bang for Buck, the best pony car on the market to date. Ford did its homework and look out camaro.

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  Worth every penny - 1997 Ford Explorer
  By Drives American - November 26 - 2:00 am

  I have 304,000 miles on my Explorer. Replaced the transmission at 290,000. Replaces heads (cracked) a year ago. Dealer told me that there was no "gunk" in the heads which meant the motor runs clean. This car has raised two children and has been phenomenal! Plan on trading it in on the Ford Edge in a few days. Hard to see it go but Im ready to get better gas mileage.

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  Ford vehicle - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By Kathy - November 26 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle w/40,000 mil. on it. Had to return to dealer within 1 month with transmission problems. The transmission has had problems ever since. All the dash lights keep coming on from abs, airbag, 4wd to engine light. Rear end problems as well as bearings. I loved my first explorer which was a 95 and I never replaced a thing, drove it to 200,000 mil and it still ran. This vehicle is a lemon, I hate it. Cant wait to replace it. Side mirrors dont work, back up alarm doesnt work, tranny slips, noisy and has been to the garage 2 times for quitting and not re-starting. I know many people with the same problems as mine. I feel the ford quality has really slipped!

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  Cool little car - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By Frisco - November 26 - 2:00 am

  Just hit a little over 3000 miles on my fiesta and so far so good. I love the handling and fuel efficiency. My friend who owns a three series BMW was in my car and we had many of the same features (he didnÂ’t have sync or ambient lighting). One problem has been that the usb and auxiliary jack are too close together. Also I would of liked more horsepower. Overall this is a great little car. Great Job Ford

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  One month and lovin it! - 2011 Ford Edge
  By Dudley - November 26 - 2:00 am

  Our Edge is just one month old at this point. We absolutely love this vehicle. It is quiet (traded a05 Highlander) and much better ride than previous SUVs.The MyFord Touch system has a rather steep learning curve. I am sure it will come in time but at this point we are still learning. Getting about 20 around town and got 31 on a recent 70 mile trip (speed limit was 55)We have been stopped numerous times by people admiring this car. Looked at Lexus, Cadillac, GMC, Honda Toyota but kept coming back to the Edge.Paid invoice and got a fair trade in amount. FYI, the Ford "holdback" is 3% and the advertising allowance is approx. 1 1/2 % So even at invoice the dealer is making about $2000