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:

• 

  Ford Escape - 2004 Ford Escape
  By T Klotz - August 21 - 1:53 pm

  Very good reliable vehicle, until at 60,000 miles a "faulty" fuel pump had to be replaced, as well as the clutch. The emissions light came on, but only a switch was required to fix it bought extended warranty, but only has covered the fuel pump so far - the car has been hit three times from behind and the bumper and whole exhaust system had to be replaced. Car paint is still shiny like a brand new car, interior is holding up well, as well as electronics - may consider buying another after this car is paid off, will have to see what other problems it has down the road.

• 

  TERRIBLE MILEAGE - 2004 Ford F-150
  By GARY ADAMS - August 21 - 10:00 am

  I HAVE OWNED FORD TRUCKS SINCE BEGINNING TO DRIVE, ALTHOUGH THIS IS THE FIRST FULL-SIZE TRUCK I HAVE OWNED IT IS BY FAR THE BEST ONE YET. INTERIOR RIDE AND LAYOUT IS AWESOME ALTHOUGH A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR MORE THAN 6 HOURS AT A TIME, BUT WHAT VEHICLE ISNT. MY ONLY GRIPE IS THE MILEAGE IT GETS--I CAN ONLY GET ABOT 297 MILES TO A TANK OF GAS, OR ROUGHLY 13 MILES A GALLON. THAT GETS EXSPENSIVE AT 1.85/GALLON GAS PRICES. ALL IN ALL IT IS A GREAT TRUCK WITH A " SUPER-DRINKER " ENGINE.

• 

  Fun car but lots of problems! - 2000 Ford Focus
  By KTW - August 21 - 8:00 am

  I purchased this car used 2 years ago. I love the look and feel of my car but Ive had to totally replace the air conditioning as well as 2 of the power windows. Now my key will not go into the ignition and from everything Ive been reading this is a common problem. I dont feel safe driving a car that may leave me stranded somewhere. I hate to get rid of it because its really good on gas and very nice looking. :-(

• 

  Luxury Truck - 2018 Ford F-150
  By Dave OBrien - August 20 - 11:25 am

  I just purchased a 2018 Platinum with the 3.5l Ecoboost and rolled over the 1,000 mile mark this week. Let me start by saying there’s a lot to like about this truck. I’ve been a longtime Toyota fan but have to say the initial build quality appears to be on par with anything they make. We’ll see how it holds up over time. There are also so many cool features on this truck it takes awhile to learn all of its capabilities. My favorite things are the awesome sound system, the large moonroof and the feeling of blastoff when you stomp on the accelerator especially at higher speeds. A couple of not so fun things are the turbo lag - yes it’s noticeable from a standstill start and the stupid auto-stop feature that’s now on all Fords. It’s a pain to hit the disable button every time you get in the truck but someone figured out if you put a trailer test light in the rear it won’t activate. You can avoid the turbo lag by going with the V8 version. On the positive side again are the that handling and ride feel really solid and it’s a downright pleasure at highway speeds. Some of the paved roads I drive are pretty rough but the truck absorbs the shocks pretty well (but not as well as my Mercedes SUV). It won’t let you forget that this is still a truck that’s capable of towing over 12,000 lbs for goodness sake. As far as mileage it’s averaging around 20 mpg in mixed use so far. Overall I’d say I’m very happy with the first thousand miles and would buy the same truck again. My primary advice to you as a buyer is to make sure you compare the V8 feel and Ecoboost feel and capabilities before buying so that you’re making an informed purchase.

• 

  Better than your average SUV - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By Gang Green - August 19 - 12:36 am

  This is first American automobile purchase and so far I am very pleased. Did alot of research and comparison to the Highlander(Toyota), Pathfinder (Nissan) and Pilot(Honda). Liked a little bit of everything in each vehicles but not enough to purchase them. Then one day I decided to test drive the Explorer thinking there has to be something great that made it the top-selling SUV in 10 yrs. Well, I was genuinely surprised by the strong performance of the V8 engine, spacious interior, comfortable ride and great handling. Anyway, 5 months/7000 miles later its going great!! Better $$ bargain as well. The service (including oil change) is great too and it beats my Acura(ex-car) experience.

• 

  FX4 level II - 2006 Ford Ranger
  By Matt - August 18 - 8:06 pm

  I purchased my 2006 FX4 II about a week ago. I have never been ashamed of myself for doing so. I have a five-speed manual and the 6-cd MP3 system. It goes right up to speed, runs around 2500rpm at 75, and has one heck of a sound system.

• 

  Poor MPG and Getting Worse - 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By larrysfl - August 18 - 11:49 am

  Ive had the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid since last November (nearly 10 months) and previously owned a 2010 Fusion Hybrid that I drove for over 3 years. I know how to drive this Hybrid to squeeze every ounce of fuel economy out of it. Driving this car for maximum efficiency, with 100% efficiency on Braking, Acceleration & Cruising resulting in an average 33 MPG. It was physically impossible to operate this vehicle under any conditions to get more than 35 MPG. The dealer told me it needed a 5k mile "break-in". So I waited and drove. After 5k - NO change whatsoever in MPG. Then they installed a new "Fix" for the MPG the Ford released and now my MPG is WORSE! Now I can barely get 30 MPG!

• 

  Great Car - 1996 Ford Explorer
  By Mike - August 18 - 11:30 am

  We just passed 195,000 miles on this car and it still runs great. It has served my family well. The only problem weve encountered is a squeaking noise in the suspension that we cannot get rid of. Its a "cosmetic" problem as it doesnt affect the ride or handling. The body is great, not a sign of rust on the car that spent its first five years out in the elements of the northeast 24/7 (no garage).

• 

  Good vehicle- but do the maintenance! - 2000 Ford Expedition
  By Robertthegreat - August 18 - 11:24 am

  Bought used in 2003 to replace 1995 Astro van that we had crashed. Has been a really good vehicle with no problems. When I bought it the dealer said that they had serviced the vehicle with a major tune up and transmission service. Recently when you push on the gas the car started to pull back in power. The first thing i thought was the transmission, so i had it serviced and the tech said it had never been serviced before, but was very clean. Well that wasnt the problem, a master mechanic finally found the problem as an arcing going across the distributor wire. So I paid for a major tune and had everything replaced. $700 dollars later, runs good now. Not a very cool car for Laguna Beach!

• 

  Brand new - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By arturopc - August 17 - 10:00 am

  Just bought it for my wife after an extensive research and test drives and she loves it.