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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  08 Mustang Bullitt - 2008 Ford Mustang
  By JVTiger - March 4 - 1:34 pm

  Balance is the keyword for this car. Handling, power, comfort are all in sync. Ive driven only BMWs for the past 20 years and was surprised at how refined this car is. I am a tall guy...visibilty and ease of getting in and out are better than my 5 series BMW. Even though it is a stealth looking car, dont get it if you dont want to answer lots of questions. Everyone wants to talk about it.

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  Love it, minus the transmission problems - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By cpdewey - March 4 - 10:32 am

  I absolutely love this vehicle and would like to keep it forever. Smooth drive, great visibility, spacious inside, and still looks great. Unfortunately I am having transmission problems. After the vehicle is warm, going from drive to reverse causes the transmission to slam into gear when I hit the gas. Of course I am out of warranty. Same issue 2 years ago, Ford fixed under warranty, but now not sure if they will help me out. Still waiting to hear, but fix is supposed to cost $2200 to $2700. Yikes! I am also disappointed that the value of my truck has dropped so much. My last Explorer held its value. Maybe the rise in gas prices is part of the problem.

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  Focus on value! - 2007 Ford Focus
  By flying dutchman - March 4 - 3:06 am

  We love our 2007 Ford Focus. We have put about 1000 miles on it in the first 3 weeks and love to drive the car. Were getting about 26mpg of combined highway and city mileage. I would expect that to improve after the first 1000-3000 miles. The car has a ton of zip around town and the highway. Its nice and quiet and just fun to drive. We have two 2006 F150s but my wife and I fight to drive the Focus.

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  grandmas explorer - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By Paul641 - March 3 - 9:33 pm

  Our 92 Caravan was getting tired and we decided to try the explorer having had ford trucks over the years. What a great vehicle! It has everything we need in a vehicle. Room,ride,power,do-dads,and quality. We love it!

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  Edge: Great Car, average navigation system - 2007 Ford Edge
  By dfayad - March 3 - 11:06 am

  I really love the car. Bought it on a trip to Maryland for a wedding. I really like the comfort, handling, and ride. Lots of bells and whistles, too I hate the navigation system. My little Garmin 550c is much, much better. I would highly recommend not buying the navigation system, if possible. You are better off with a portable model like the Garmin. The Sirius radio is wonderful as is the rest of the sound package. The speakers are average. The tire system detects low pressure in your tires. This is a good feature, however, it is too sensitive. Quick changes in weather can cause the system to activate. All in all, a very nice car with lots of fun things.

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  Roadtrippin in a Fusion - 2007 Ford Fusion
  By roadtrippin - March 3 - 2:56 am

  Im a young working professional and after the first 1K miles, Im very pleased with the Fusion. Ive been a Jetta driver the last 6 years and this car has been a nice transition from import to domestic. I put a lot of miles on my cars and make frequent roadtrips, so I wanted a reliable sports sedan that wasnt a beast on gas. I opted for the SE model with the appearence package including leather-trimmed seats with red stitching, sunroof, fog lights, spoiler and upgraded tires and wheels. The ride is smooth, the styling is sleek and the overall quality has been quite impressive. The seats are extremely comfortable and make driving very enjoyable. Cant wait to hit the highway again!

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  Love the Taurus X and our 06 FreeStyle - 2008 Ford Taurus X
  By Navycpowif - March 3 - 1:56 am

  We have owned this car for 3 weeks now and love it just as much as our 2006 Ford FreeStyle. We have owned an Explorer,Windstar and traded our 2005 F150 extra crew Lariet for this Taurus and now have the Freestyle and the Taurus X in the driveway. These cars hold a $400 to 500 shopping spree to Sams club and still the 2 kids. with a breeze. We just have to decide which one to take. Gas mileage has been great. Pickup is wonderful can really tell the difference on the Taurus X. Love my push button back lid opening. And my husband loves the Freestyle as much as his truck- Loves the gas mileage even better. You have to get the Taurus X. Will tow and packs a lot!

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  Great Truck - 2008 Ford F-150
  By Greg - March 2 - 10:24 pm

  Wonderful ride. King Ranch leather is sharp. Great ride on the highway. Handles easy in the city. Reverse sensors are a big help.

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  Nice! - 2008 Ford F-150
  By Fishraiser - March 2 - 9:44 pm

  Well I only owned this truck for 2 wks but it is the nicest one yet. Great handling, good pick up, interior awesome, exterior Mahogany color is sharp .Ive been driving Ford for 25 years & this is the nicest package yet! The real test will be coming up when I tow my 10K # boat.

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  02/08 Ford Focus SE - 2008 Ford Focus
  By kenn33 - March 2 - 9:40 am

  Im getting 38.8 ave mpg! Wow this is more than I had hoped for. The car is quiet and has a nice ride but its not a town car by no means. All the features are easy to use. Cruise works better going up hill than down on my 5 speed, it let it get about 5 mph faster down hill. We got a small amount of snow yesterday but it wasnt enough to test the traction control. The heater heats up quickly and has it very hot inside the car in about 20 minutes. The ABS stops the car quickly.