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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  Love my 5.4 Excursion - 2000 Ford Excursion
  By shannon - September 3 - 9:47 am

  I purchased this from a friend who didnt need it anymore. I love this vehicle, and really dont see what the big deal is about size. This is the same chasis as a crew cab short bed truck and there are tons of them on the road! Dont dismiss this little gas engine either. Not only does it have enough power for trailering, it gets over 14 mpg average. I wish people wouldnt have bashed this as badly as they had. I will look for more of these trucks to replace this one when it wears out.

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  Good little SUV - 2007 Ford Escape
  By JMM - September 3 - 1:03 am

  My wife traded her 2005 Focus in for this because we were having a baby and the car seat didnt fit well in the Focus. The car seat fits nicely in the back of the Escape. The Escape seems well designed for a family with a couple of kids. The AWD will be perfect for getting around in winter in Minnesota. The handeling is great. Gas mileage isnt the best in class. Its also missing some high end technology stuff, and side curtain airbags found in the 07 Japanese alternatives. You have to pay more for that stuff though. We test drove a Saturn Vue, and liked the Escape better. he Escape looks better than any other small SUV in my opinion. I am biased toward buying American

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  Drive Circles Around Competition - 2001 Ford Focus
  By Kevin - September 2 - 8:45 am

  These cars are an amazing, theres no way I could have bought a better car. I had a few issues at first and got very upset. All my issues stopped as soon as I fixed the problems myself.

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  Very good truck - 2008 Ford Ranger
  By George Dibble - September 1 - 6:29 am

  Very good truck. Ive had this little ranger a little over two years and Ive had no problems with it whatsoever. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a small pick up. The only downside is that its towing capacity is Limited by its four-cylinder engine.

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  Pretty good deal, but a few small flaws - 2014 Ford Focus
  By Brett N. - August 31 - 4:16 pm

  First off, I dont have the transmission problems because I drive the manual version of this car. My gas mileage is great. I drive a little more highway miles than stop and go, so it my averages are skewed on the high end, but it has to get ~33/39 (I average about 37) in the warmer months and ~29/35 (I average about 33) in the winter months. The original price of the car is good and my car payments are definitely manageable. I havent have to have any repairs. My bluetooth connectivity acted up once, but all it required was pulling the fuse, starting the car, turning off the car, and putting the fuse back in. Overall, I do wish to change a few things: during winter, the wipers sit really low, below the reach of the defrost, so if its really icy and they freeze, its impossible to dethaw them. Also, the contours of the car mean you have to wipe away snow above the door or else it will fall onto the seats as you open them. Apart from winter worries, if you have a passenger, the bar between the passenger, the seat, etc. block the blind spot more than I am used to. Also if there is a tall cup in the frontmost cup holder it interferes slightly with the gearshift. Overall these are minor flaws, and overall I am very happy with it.

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  the most bang for your buck - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Mike - August 31 - 8:03 am

  Obviously the Ford Focus isnt a luxury model. You get what you pay for. But I purchased a 2005 ZX2 SES om July of 05 (the day before Ford decided to do employee pricing). I also added the upgraded sound system, side impact air bags, and moonroof ... I paid $13,150. I believe that dollar for dollar you get more for your money that Toyota or Honda. Remember you are paying premium price on those two cars because of reliability. Ford has worked out the kinks and I believe its not worth paying an extra $6,000 for a Honda just because a Ford MIGHT break down and a Honda MIGHT not.

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  The Honeymoon is Over - 2003 Ford Escape
  By juniper jenny - August 29 - 10:23 pm

  I purchased the car used with low mileage. I felt very safe driving it and it was a fun car to drive. It had a very loud ride. I paid a lot of money for new tires to make the ride quieter. Ive replaced numerous belts on the car and an alternator in 2005 right after my warranty ran out! The car has had 2 recalls in 2 years too. At 63,000 miles the tranny went. I owed $7,000 on the car and a new tranny was $4,000. Ford gave me a great deal on a trade-in and now Im trying out the Explorer!!

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  Ford 500 Limited AWD at 125K Miles - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By pkfloydlvr - August 29 - 8:52 am

  This car has been dependable and almost bullet proof. Will likely drive to 225K miles or more. Transmission - I have the CVT transmission and service every 60K miles as per schedule. No issues at all. Local dealer shared stories of failed CVTs, but poor/late or no service led to problems/failure. Dealer has some fleet cars approaching 300K without CVT issues. Brakes - The weakest system on the car, IMHO. Replaced brakes at 18K (warranty) and 32K. Recall took care of rear brakes. Went to aftermarket brakes and rotors and harder compounds. Longer life, but poorer performance. Currently getting about 65K on brake sets. Ride - Original suspension.

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  High end feel in a mid range SUV - 2016 Ford Edge
  By Dan - August 28 - 11:56 pm

  I recently purchased an AWD SE from my wife. I got to say that the overall value of the car is excellent. It rides like a much more expensive vehicle. Theres plenty of room to seat five, and the interior of the vehicle Has high grade materials. I do wish that the SE model had the sync three interactive infotainment system. The 2.0 turbo seems to be plenty powerful enough to pass in highway traffic. The Michelin tires are decent. A bit underwhelming in weather. There is plenty of cargo space. I love the overall look of the vehicle and the led lights that complement the rear of the vehicle. I find it to be a great value in the middle d size suv segment.

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  Its Great! - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By John Simm - August 28 - 11:30 pm

  I have always been a Chevy guy. When I saw the 05 Mustang I knew I would have a battle on my hands. Bottom line, I am still a Chevy guy, but I love this car!