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 It! - 2000 Ford Ranger
  By rgattic - July 31 - 9:03 am

  Bought is two years ago and so far so good! I get about 26 MPG (mostly highway miles on the 2.5L engine). I also use often for home improvement. I built a deck with it and have carried some heavy loads for my landscaping and the truck is holding up great!

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  2007 Sport Trac - 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Jenni - July 30 - 6:36 pm

  Ive had the truck for 3 months now, and love it today just as much as the first day I drove it! Quiet ride even at high speeds. Quiet engine and handles well. I enjoy the bed extender and the little extras like compartments in the truck bed. Truck looks nice and has a relatively smooth ride especially for a SUV. Very comfortable. Love the mounted controls on the steering wheel and dual climate.

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  Great family vehicle - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By Stephen Butenhoff - July 30 - 3:36 pm

  We love our Freestyle! we were looking for something to hold our family (5)+ friends, go camping, carry sports gear and get through Minnesota winters. We got all this plus our 70+ year old parents can easily get in and out without a step ladder. Its quiet, comfortable and roomy and gets great mileage. I have never been stopped by so many people who want to know about my vehicle. Keep up the good work!

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  Ive waited 40 years for this... - 2007 Ford Shelby GT500
  By Mitchell Bateman - July 30 - 1:10 pm

  I am 53 years old and owned older Mustang muscle cars in the 60s and 70s but nothing like this car. When the TCS system is disengaged, the raw horsepower is frightening. You better be ready for whats about to happen when you step on it. Its hard to drive it and not put your foot in it every time you stop and take off again. Ive never ridden on the space shuttle but I cant imagine the rush being any greater!

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  Great Family Car - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Brad Busque - July 30 - 12:01 pm

  We leased our Freestyle back in 2005 because the CVT worried me. Its now 3 years latter and time to buy or move on. After looking around at other makes, it has become apparent what a great car the Freestyle is. We always liked the car, and after shopping around for a replacement decided to buy out our lease. Even three years later there is no other vehicular the size of the Freestyle that can provide the gas mileage we are getting. With gas prices still around $4.00 a gallon we will be sticking with our 22MPG city , 27 MPG highway FWD Freestyle. The car has been rock solid, very dependable, and great for our trips to Home Depot. Per our mechanic the CVTs have been great.

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  2010 Ford Fusion Sport - 2010 Ford Fusion
  By Horton MD - July 30 - 8:40 am

  I have owned several Lincolns,two Jaguars and numerous Ford products over the years and the 2010 Sport is probably the best put together most fun to drive vehicle Ive owned in years. Not to mention the best in fuel economy. Build quality is a 10! I compare a new vehicle to something I have owned in the past and this beats out my 2006 JaguarS-Type for the ride,fun to drive and gas Mileage. Huge rear leg room and ample trunk. I cant say enough about the 2010 Fusion Sport.

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  Great Changes - 2008 Ford Escape
  By Rob - July 30 - 8:03 am

  We have a XLT 4WD and what a dramatic difference from the older versions...especially the interior...thank goodness. This new version is so much better in my opinion. Dramatically quieter and more comfortable and the prices are actually lower than last years model. We have some very steep hills in our area with gravel roads and the all wheel drive handles them with ease without any loss of traction and the transmission does all the braking on the way downhill with little effort saving my brakes the wear and tear. Love this CUV!

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  Todds Hybrid - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Todd Harbron - July 30 - 5:06 am

  I am so happy I spent the extra money on this car. It rides nice, is comfortable, and gets good gas mileage while it helps to save the air quality. The only issue I have it the steering wheel should cascade as for my long legs I have to stretch to reach the steering wheel. This was not a problem in my Sport-Trac or Ranger XLT. I highly recommend it though!

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  You need to know how to drive a Hybrid. - 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By Al - July 29 - 6:39 pm

  If your going to drive without regards to mileage this isnt the car for you. Its totally different the gas only. When you come to a stop light ride the brake softly 500 feet before you stop. Regenerating brakes slow down the car gradually. When you stop at the last minute your brake pads have to grab the brake rotor causing them to wear out like a normal car. If you use brakes properly you should never wear out your brakes. On short trips to the grocery store 2 miles car will not get high mileage because the gas motor is not warmed up yet. Your efficiency goes up the longer stretch you go. The car loves 55 miles per hour. I get 48 to 50 mpg. On the freeway I get about 40 plus on short distances. From Melbourne Florida to Savannah Georgia I get 44 to 45 mpg. Here in Florida the hot weather affects mileage also so I keep the air con. @ 75 degrees, why not my house is 78 normal in Florida. This helps greatly since the air draws a lot of electricity. Advantage of Hybrid no leaky transmission only a reliable belt drive, change oil every 10, 000 miles never need a starter motor because hybrid motor starts the car instantly. Way less maintenance than a gas only vehicle. I forgot to tell you when my wife drives the hybrid she gets around 36 mpg. She guns the car a lot when it doesnt need that and slams on the brakes at the last minute. The gauges on the dash show how many gallons used, how many miles on EV Electric only which is about 50% of the time. Also when you get more miles on the gasoline motor and get it broke in it will make a difference, Id say 30,000 it should be broke in. I save about 35 to 40% on gas used average. Hope this helps you.

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  Great Car - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By Dave - July 29 - 3:59 pm

  Ive been driving a 2006 Mustang GT for nearly 3 years, primarily using it for commuting only. As fun as the Mustang is, the mpg was a killer in so I needed to find something fun to drive that got much better mileage. The Fusion seemed like a good alternative and after driving it, I was convinced. Although I have essentially half the horsepower of the Mustang, this car makes up for it in handling, the way it drives and substantially better gas mileage. I would recommend the Fusion to anyone that is considering an Accord, Camry or Altima. It looks better than the others and the build quality is as good or better.