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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  500 dollars well invested - 1992 Ford Taurus
  By DSCES - February 20 - 10:07 am

  We bought the car used and for only $500 dollars. When you buy something for that price and at that age things will go wrong. We have had it for almost a year now and the car still starts and runs. We had to do two repairs on it but nothing to serious. 1st thing was a oil leak and second was a MAF sensor. Other then those two things it runs great. So I can trust my teens in this car to drive because its big and dependable

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  Dorf on Trucks - 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Dorf - February 20 - 10:00 am

  Practical as a Truck and yet I can haul 5 adults comfortably. Gas mileage is decent and interior is quite comfortable. Left leg room is limited with steering wheel so close. Overall a very useable/practical vehicle.

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  Bad Paint - 2003 Ford Escape
  By LauraD - February 20 - 10:00 am

  I love to drive my Ford Escape and the interior is good except that the gear shift is in the way of the radio controls. My problem is that the paint has not performed well at all. I took it to a car wash (big mistake) and it is covered with swirl marks! I am shocked at how bad they are. After fighting with the car wash people I was actually forced to make a claim to my insurance to have it repaired, and they thought it was bad enough to pay. So now I have a brand new vehicle with paint that looks ten years old. I even paid to get the stupid paint protectant from the dealer. My first mistake.

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  Too Few Made For Ford To Care - 2003 Ford Focus
  By Sloopy98 - February 20 - 10:00 am

  With only 4800 made for the US, Ford does not want to invest in fixing an idle problem common to many SVTs. Lots of little problems - stalling, poor low-end torque, fog lamp with condensation, loose plastic buzzing in engine compartment, backfires on deceleration.

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  A Car for all season-reasons - 2003 Ford Focus
  By majorette - February 20 - 10:00 am

  Very comfortable and easy to drive. Well equiped and fun to run.Too early to judge reliability and fuel economy. Best $CND for car of this class.

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  NICE TRUCK - 2003 Ford F-150
  By Steve456 - February 20 - 10:00 am

  I just bought this truck with a 5.4L engine although edmunds didnt give me that choice...people if you are looking for a truck your search has just stopped. One of the best..spend the extra money and get a 5.4 instead of a 4.6. Great all around truck

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  Good car for the money - 2007 Ford Taurus
  By Laneau - February 20 - 9:42 am

  I purchased this car for my wife. She loves it & so do I. It has good looks in & out. The 3.0 engine is peppy, tranamission shifts smoothly & we average 27 to 29 mpg & we live in the mountains of NC. The front seats are firm, yet confortable. We recommend this car for a great inexpensive & confortable ride!

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  My Favorite Car - 2007 Ford Mustang
  By Kyle - February 19 - 11:36 am

  This is my 4th car in two years; Ive had an Accord, an 86 Camaro, a Camry, and now this and I LOVE IT! Its as fast as my V8 Camaro was and the handling is impeccable. I live in Colorado and it even does well in icy conditions given my previous training with rear-wheel drive. The interior is comfortable and smart looking and the exterior is simply HOT. Gas mileage is decent at around 21 mpg compared to 14 mpg in my similar performing V8 Camaro. Though only complaint I have to say quip about is the quality; Ive had it since November and it squeaks like a wild horse. I played the stereo too loud and now the glass in the side view mirrors is loose and rattles! The cheap plastic can cut you.

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  Why buy anything newer? - 1995 Ford Escort
  By yellowtail3 - February 19 - 9:30 am

  Good car, very low cost of operation. The wagon is roomy. If youre shopping for one, get the 5spd - it will give much better performance & fuel economy that the automatic. Wagon is roomy think of it as a 35mpg SUV, without the ground clearance. Run tire pressure little high - 40psi or so, and drive gently - and youll see regular high-30mpg in town, and over 40mpg on highway. It can be done, Ive done it. Fairly easy to work on. Good ergonomics - the wheel/shifter/pedal relationship is good, much better than the 95 Caprice I owned prior to this one. Escort Wagons are a great used car value, if you find a 5spd.

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  Reliable cost effective transportation - 2001 Ford Taurus
  By TJM - February 17 - 8:33 pm

  Nice mid size transportation that can be bought inexpensively after a year or two. Car has been very reliable with the only exception being the suspension springs. They recalled the front springs but not the back. In my opinion the front and back were defective. Other than that a nice car to drive and ride.