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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  My 2006 Ford Fusion SEL V6 - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By XMan - March 9 - 4:30 am

  A great fun-to-drive car for the price. It has been so comfortable for me as I travel a lot for school and work. The styling is very nice and stands in a class of its own.

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  great truck - 1990 Ford Ranger
  By joeb. - March 8 - 10:54 pm

  Well i bought this truck last summer for 2500 with about 158,000 miles on it. i am just about to pass 165k but it is actually running better now then it was when i got it, i take the thing off roading pretty much every weekend and get stuck very rarely only because of the low front dana 35, but i pulled out a 98 chevy silverado extended cab with a 6 in lift and 35 inch tires. the truck was buried to the frame and i pulled the giant out. It is my daily driver and i love the thing to death even though i had the fuel pump relay go out and had to pay 200 dollars for a tow and had to have a new alternator, but will probably drive the truck till it runs no more

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  Great suprise - 2005 Ford Crown Victoria
  By great car - March 8 - 8:13 pm

  Suprisingly great ride, handling, economy, and dependability. The v-8 delivers a significant amount of power and consistantly averages over 22 mpg. Although a good looking car, the style is becoming a little outdated. I have put over 40k miles with absolutely no problems with the vehicle. I strongly recommend; comparability equal to luxury sedans costing thousands more.

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  Decent - 2009 Ford Ranger
  By Steve - March 8 - 6:59 pm

  All around a very decent compact truck. Off road traction is very good, perfect for work around a small farm. Much less road noise then i expected. Gas mileage doesnt seem to add up to EPA, but still very good for a truck. The biggest problem for me is the lack of leg room makes it uncomfortable for long ride.

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  Ya Baby - 2009 Ford Fusion
  By MGSoldy - March 8 - 2:58 pm

  Weve owned the car since November and continue to be impressed with it more as time goes on. Fun to drive, plenty of power, front seats are excellent, built tight, looks great, lots of extras, terrific value for the money. At 50 years old, Ive owned well over a dozen vehicles in my life and this Fusion is my favorite by far. Its a welcome suprise after all these years.

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  Great SUV - 2005 Ford Escape
  By escape guy - March 8 - 2:12 pm

  We have really enjoyed our escape the last month. We got a great deal and for the money we couldnt have asked for a more useful SUV. Its great for us because where we live there isnt much room to park. We enjoy camping and the wilderness so the 4x4 will work out great for that.

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  GREAT - 1998 Ford Escort
  By tink - March 7 - 8:58 pm

  I bought this car used 3 years ago i had to do very little mechanical work the major thing that went wrong was the timing jumped i am getting ready to buy a 2nd ford escort if that tells ya how much i loved this car my son(teenager) drives the one i bought 3 years ago and loves it i would reccommend this car it very realiable and trustworthy

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  Solid vehicle - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By cannon03 - March 7 - 11:29 am

  My Fusion is as solid as the day I purchased it. With just over 45,000 trouble free, squeak and rattle free miles. It drives nicely and has a solid road feel. Ford did a great job on this vehicle. I plan on keeping this vehicle for a while. I am very happy with its performance/quality/fit/finish. I strongly recommend to anyone.

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  Great Car! - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By stl23red - March 6 - 4:33 pm

  Super car, a great head turner. The only performance problem is that with the automatic it is very, VERY slow off the line, it will not spin the tires. All said, I LOVE my Mustang.

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  buy one if you have the chance - 2007 Ford Escape
  By 07escape - March 5 - 7:17 pm

  I bought this 07 escape used with 40,000 miles on it. I now have 46000 and i am loving it. I came from a ford fusion which got considerably better fuel economy, however the added cargo space and go anywhere ability are well worth it. I get about 18+mpg and i plan on getting a K&N airfilter which i have been told by many vastly improves the fuel economy, but increases some road noise. I love this vehicle and know that its been better then a Jeep i got around over my friends Jeep Wrangler with out a problem.