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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  A Great Machine - 2007 Ford Mustang
  By WebNews47 - December 21 - 10:14 am

  I had a 1987 Firebird (red, with a 2.8 V6) and kept it for six years. So, 20 years later, here I am with a red V6 car, but a much better one. Its a real beauty, and Im almost afraid to take it out of the garage, I confess. But I do, and have to avoid just getting in and driving for the sake of driving.

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  Yellow Glove Treatment - 2003 Ford Taurus
  By JIM MADDEN - December 21 - 4:40 am

  I like my Taurus with the DOHC engine and leather interior. I thought that there was a design problem with the fuel pump as I personally changed 3 in three years of ownership. On installation of the 2nd pump I bent the float arm so my gauge has been incorrect for almost a year. So this time I completely removed the tank from under the vehicle, carried it to the garage bench and low and behold I found a yellow workglove floating inside the gas tank. This car must have been built on a Monday with a disgruntled worker assembling the gas tank.It should run a little better without the restriction on the suction side of the fuel pump? Note: the interior dimensions are kind of small for a carsobig

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  Good, not Great - 2000 Ford Ranger
  By TruckMan92 - December 19 - 3:49 pm

  All in all, a pretty good truck. By no means the best in the mid- sized/compact class. The truck is a lot of fun to drive, and gets the job done. The seats are comfortable, the extended-cab is functional. The towing/payload capacities are about as good as anything else in its class. I have used this truck for everything. Its reliability is great, never had a problem. The interior design is very plain, nothing special at all. The exterior is nice, but again, nothing special. The quality is good, everythings sturdy, its a Ford. The performance and drive are great. It handles turns well, breaking is nice, acceleration is suprisingly good. The fuel economy is terrible, 14 MPG!

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  Great Car. - 2008 Ford Taurus
  By Midwest Dude - December 18 - 10:19 pm

  Ive put about 4,000 miles on since October. My first Ford and very impressed with the combination of space and mileage. Very quiet car on the road. Were able to stick 3 car seats in back which is very important for this young family. Ive been driving on snow and ice recently and it feels very secure in those conditions. The ergonomics of the car are quite nice. My only complaint is I wish it had a telescoping steering wheel. Lots of soft surfaces inside. The auto climate control has been the surprise feature for me. It works great and the fans are really pretty quiet. You set it to a temperature you like and never have to worry about messing with controls again. Good Job Ford!

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  Family Focus - 2004 Ford Focus
  By Inhispeace - December 17 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle has great driving ability, I do not know about its reliablity because of the fact that I have not owned it, but just under 3 months.

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  Snake - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By Aquarius - December 17 - 10:00 am

  If your looking for a rush with instant speed this is the car for you. The paint job is very interesting and most people like it. Head turner. Only 1000 production cars made and no more after 2004.

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  Not worth it! - 2002 Ford Expedition
  By matt - December 17 - 4:05 am

  I bought my expo for the look, size, and extras but soon realized that I made a horrible mistake. I have had the air conditioner worked on 4 times with hot air coming out of the rear vents, celinoid has gone bad, possible cracked head gasket, pass side mirror will not adjust to set position, and oh yeah the gas mileage does hurt duh. The room is great and the interior is fantastic but the little tick tack problems are killing me leaving me stranded in 13 degree weather twice. Oh well, live and learn!

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  2017 Ford Escape SE 2.0L - 2017 Ford Escape
  By RushMan - December 16 - 11:56 am

  I built a spreadsheet comparing comparable vehicles, and the Ford Escape SE came closest to my old car at a much lower price than the price of my 2004 BMW X3 or a 2016-2017 X3 or even the smaller BMW X1 that I considered. I chose the 2.0 l turbo engine. Performance is surprisingly good. I did test drive the 1.6L 2016 model which had an odd dash interference with the shift lever and disappointing performance. Many of the new cars are overly techno oriented to the point of being a distraction and a hazard as bad as texting while driving. The Escape with Sync is a good compromise. I do not like the Auto-Stop-Start feature even though it saves gas. BMW can defeat that permanently. Ford requires a dash button push on every start. I found gas mileage is below the EPA estimates, and comparable to my old 6 cylinder non-turbo BMW X3, even using the Auto-Stop-Start on the Ford. 16 city/23 highway. 20 mpg average on my mix. Ive never had a car, until this one, where I didnt beat EPA mileage figures, even brand new. The savings is in using regular vs Premium in my old car. Ride and sound are both better than my old car, although the seat back somewhat hard.

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  Great, but - 2007 Ford Edge
  By CliffsEdge - December 15 - 8:34 pm

  We own or have owned 2 competing vehicles this year. Picked the Edge based on payment & 98% on looks. My 07 Hyundai Santa Fe & 08 Hyundai Veracruz are leagues above the Edge in build quality, refinement & pamper level. Edge is quite quick, handles nice. Lots of looks, comments from other drivers. But if one doesnt care so much about looks, the Santa Fe or Veracruz are simply night & day in quietness, refinement, smoothness & quality. A difference likened between Toyota Rav4 VS BMW X5 V8. The Edge is nice to drive & acceptable. The Hyundais are simply impressive every time you drive them. Id have to say they are 3 - 5 tiers above the Edge.

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  Still going strong at 217k - 1996 Ford Explorer
  By Brenrher - December 15 - 10:00 am

  Bought this vehicle new. To date about $4k in other than routine maintenance, replaced a fuel pump, replaced front end components a couple of times, replaced the alternator and battery recently. Same plugs, etc., did have a new belt put on at 150k. The handling and comfort is great with Michelin tires - replaced the Goodyears at 75k. The 5.0L engine is fantastic. All in all, I have been fortunate with this vehicle, and hope to get to 300k without a catastrophic and/or expensive failure. Love this one so much I bought a used 1999 Explorer XLT.