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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  rating - 2003 Ford F-150
  By Roly - April 29 - 10:00 am

  Its a vary nice truck and roomy

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  fun-fasti-car - 2007 Ford Freestyle
  By Funfasticar - April 28 - 3:38 pm

  We purchased our 2007 freestyle, fully loaded, leather, sun roof, 5 disk cd- mp3 player,key less entry, security alarm,dvd,GPS-love it,and much more,in aug.08.got an outstanding price 15,280 (talked them down about 3,000 and got the warranty extended from 36,00 to 75,000) w/ 26,000 miles on the car. So far so good. pleanty of room for our family of 4. Kids love the seatsand that how they recline and roomy space, the car is comfortable, (lots of leg room too) for short and long trips.

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  Great car and mpg - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By Nice and good MPG - April 28 - 10:02 am

  Ive owned different makes, and this is the best car Ive ever owned. It handles great, slightest turn of the wheel, suspension, and power for a 4 cyl. Have 2 videos, 1st with 4 passengers and large suitcase, CC set to 65 after fillup and got 35.7 mpg. 2nd with wife and I doing 55 and got 36.2. Love it, thanks Ford.

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  Im a Believer - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By ImAbeliever - April 27 - 10:40 pm

  When I saw the commercial on TV comparing a Ford to Camry and Accord, I just laughed. I knew there was no way an American manufacturer could compete on that level. Boy was I wrong. Much to my surprise, my company selected the Fusion for this years fleet vehicle. This is a quantum leap ahead of the Taurus they issued us i years past. The car feels extremely solid. I corners and accelerates well, and is just plain fun to drive. The hidden gem is the Sync voice activation system. The voice recognition is nearly flawless. I spend a lot of time in the car. Being able to have complete control of my iPod and cell phone without taking my hands off the wheel is a huge advantage.

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  Ruby Red 2017 Ford Fusion SE 2.0 Ecoboost-Wow! - 2017 Ford Fusion
  By Redskins_Fan - April 27 - 5:08 pm

  Wow, what a ride! From the outside in, this 2017 Ford Fusion is a head turner and heart racer. I have purchased many cars over my lifetime, but hands down this the best car my family has ever owned. I have paid for cars that have cost more and I have paid for that have cost less. However, I cannot believe the overall cost and performance for this car. I have owned a number of Ford vehicles from 2005 to 2009 but left. However, with the Fusion I will be a Ford owner for life!

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  2009 sel (auto=trans ESC ) - 2009 Ford Focus
  By Cliff M - April 27 - 1:17 pm

  I now have about 12K on this car, Ice Blue w/black leather, the seats are great,after (2) 14 hr days on our trip to El Paso,Tx in Sept ,2008. Mileage was 37.5 overall with 1 tank full getting 42.2, the only problem Ive had is with the junk Perrelli Tire that came on this car, they ended up replacing 3 of the 4 before getting a decent ride. Car gets 28.5 in city but I know it dors much better on the open road. IM 63" 235LB NOTE-OUTSIDE TEMP AND COMPASS IS NOW AVAIL AS OF 1- 2009 ALSO AUTO TRANS USES A SPECIAL FLUID, (LV) LOW VISCOSITY AND IS GOOD FOR 150K MILES

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  Nice job Ford! - 2006 Ford F-150
  By Rob - April 27 - 12:00 pm

  Traded in my 04 Tundra that I had been leasing to purchase the F-150. The King Ranch model could not be matched by any other truck. I had considered the Titan but found that the reliability on the Nissan was less than acceptable. The Dodge had the most horribly unstable ride (felt like I was on a boat) and the Chevy is just plain dull looking. Overall my F-150 has been a real pleasure to drive, you almost forget youre in a truck. But, when you need to pull a trailer or haul a load, the Ford performs like a champ. Not the fastest truck 0-60 (due mainly to its hefty weight) but it will pull just about anything. My biggest complaint is the ride can be bumpy at times due to a short wheelbase.

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  Vroom! - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By chris - April 27 - 9:56 am

  We purchased this vehicle and absolutely love it. It is the first new car weve ever owned and what a way to start. The power is unbelievable. Its 300 horse power is awesome. We would highly recommend the vehicle. The soft boot takes some time to get used to. But with a little practice you can master it in no time. It has a very soft clutch which makes driving easy even for the less experienced manual transmission driver.

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  Fun Car with great interior and engine - 2009 Ford Escape
  By Benji - April 27 - 2:06 am

  The 2009 Ford Escape is an outstanding value. The interior is spacious and well thought out, and the seats are comfortable. The buttons on the center console are pretty crowded. Its a good thing Sync is such a powerful tool, because navigating some of the audio menus during driving could be dangerously distracting. The V6 feels powerful and has great get up and go. Fuel economy is just as advertised at this point. In traffic-clogged downtown Madison, WI Im getting 19 mpg. Its much more efficient on the highway however, as it edges towards the advertised 26 mpg. Sunroof is a particularly great addition in this car. Really opens up the car. Light interior also makes the car open up "bigger"

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  Janices pony car - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By Janice Waldrip - April 26 - 9:06 pm

  The Shaker 1000 stereo is loud but the CD player needs to be completely redesigned. It skips, and shoots out CDs; very sensitive, only plays certain CDs. Ive had 4 so far and mine still doesnt work. We are waiting for a fix from the dealer. The front end pops when turning hard. I love driving it and the red/black color combo is great! I have the My Color on mine and just love the entire Mustang experience.