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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  Great Compact SUV! - 2013 Ford Escape
  By ykolettis - December 21 - 1:21 am

  Got this as a second car to spare my 11 M3 winter wear and tear in the Midwest. Test drove the Santa Fe, RAV4, CR-V and CX-5 before settling on the Escape. Have had the car for five months and still very much enjoy driving it daily.

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  Automatic - 2014 Ford Fiesta
  By carolwright15 - December 17 - 7:13 pm

  I have an automatic 2014 Fiesta S. There is an issue with the lock/unlock button being in the center of the console. I dont have an automatic lock and unlock key so this can be very hard to unlock the car, then get in and push the button in the center of the console to unlock the rest of the doors. I also dont have cruise control. This should be an option that is automatic to the new cars. Other than that I love the car.

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  OK car......BEWARE OF THROTTLE BODY - 2010 Ford Fusion
  By jdcort95 - December 4 - 11:32 pm

  Dont get me wrong, I like my fusion. Especially as far as the sporty yet conservative look to it. The ride is very smooth and quiet, much more like a luxurious ride than expected!!! Unfortunatley, as MANY have previously mentioned, THE THROTTLE BODY!!! Apparently this year and model have a HUGE problem with this. And its about $415 to fix..not cheap. And as others have stated its very scary when it goes off and EXTREMELY dangerous...but for some reason ford doesnt want to recall it?!?! The throttle body is the only major repair Ive had to do on it so far. The check engine light comes on a lot and the transmission seems very unpredictable.

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  05 v6 auto - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By crack007 - December 4 - 1:11 am

  Good reliability but the dash cluster sucks everyone I know that has one has went bad. The mpg for a v6 is horrible a v6 should get high 20s, I drive 84 miles a day and get 23 tops. The 2000 I had got 28 same drive.

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  Has some flaws, but its a great car over-all. - 2013 Ford Fiesta
  By brandonhill17 - December 2 - 9:06 am

  My mom bought her 2013 Ford Fiesta SE in October of 2012. It has the SE Appearance Package which includes some interior and exterior upgrades. The interior space is pretty good for its size. Although the back seat is a bit of a pain. With me being 5 9" I have tilt my head a little bit to fit. The gas mileage is not prefect though. My mom drives only in the city, so mpg may be lower. She averages 25-27 mpg (100% city). Its not to bad, but could be better. The exterior design is fair. Its a bit on the boring side, but its an economy car. It also has the 6 Spd Dual Clutch Powershift Auto Gearbox. When on slight inclines, it tends to roll back, which is a little annoying at times.

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  Excellent Large Sedan - 2008 Ford Taurus
  By snarlyyow - November 30 - 8:11 pm

  I had originally intended to purchase a Honda Fit from the used car dealer. One thing led to another and I dug this Taurus sitting on the lot. It was a handsome design and, honest to God, I didnt even know they still made Taurus. I did some homework and bought the car a few days later with just over 80k on the engine. Its been over a year since then Ive put nearly 40k on the engine in the last 15 months. The Taurus has been through its paces, thats fer sure. And at this point I think I can give it a half decent review. Pros: Its been totally reliable. Ive recorded 26 mpg with the AC running. And it looks real nice washed up. Cons: Its abundantly dull to drive.

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  Impressed - 2008 Ford Taurus
  By jrhd97 - November 30 - 1:19 pm

  We traded an 04 Chevy Impala on this in July 09. What a great decision. The Impala was a rolling malfunction. We bought this car with 50,000 miles on it. It rode and handled great then. After replacing the tires with a much better tire the ride quality and noise level both became significantly better. Now with 130,000 miles on it she still runs like new. The only repair transmission oil cooler at 80,000 miles. The drivers side heated seat went out ( normal ) and havent bothered to fix.

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  2013 Fusion 1.6L Echoboost W/Sync Leather etc - 2013 Ford Fusion
  By markwiz - November 25 - 1:46 pm

  I picked up the Blue fusion with the tech package that included backup sensors and camera and the sync system. I really like the sync system. I am a technical guy so it did not intimidate me. Actually I found it very intuitive once you understand the lay out. The only issue I have is the backup sensors are flaky. They only work around 20% of the time. I will be bringing it back the the dealer to be fixed. Otherwise I really like the car. It handles great. The 2.0L engine was really nice but was out of my price range. The gas mileage is around the same as my little 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The car is very quiet on the highway. So far so good.

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  Nice American Sedan - 2012 Ford Fusion
  By kingkole02 - November 25 - 1:19 pm

  The overseas market is going to lose its edge if the American car manufacturers keep building models like these. I trade a bad Japanese model for this one and made my life much better. The Fusion has power, great handling, comfort, and a great sound system. Very pleasing to drive all around car. The only downside is the ridiculous headrest system which does not work well and failed and the passenger side. I would see replacing these headrests over time if frequent adjustment is required.

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  So Far So Good - 2014 Ford Fusion
  By alphadog731 - November 17 - 11:54 am

  I traded in a base model BMW 328i for this Titanium Fusion because I wanted a longer wheel base and a better ride with more amenities. I have driven the car on one road trip that used to kill my body in the harsh riding BMW. There was no comparing the ride quality. Im not comparing vehicles here just how my body reacts to the different road feel. All I can say is I have no regrets on the switch despite the odd looks from my neighbors and the dealership staff. This car drives every bit as well as my BMW and my VW CC prior to that. Its a bit more substantial than both of them which is exactly what I was after. The handling is tight but not harsh and I love the increased size of the car.