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! - 2009 Ford Focus
  By Kennon - December 23 - 3:07 pm

  I drove Mazda 6s from 1988 till now. I drive a lot of miles every year chasing my hobbies, kids, and getting to work. For me a car must fit my body with arm rests and foot rests properly placed. I spend a minimum of two and a half hours driving every day. My cars mus not be hard to handle in windy or wet conditions. Great mileage with enough power to run cruise control on long hills are a must. This little Ford is a pleasure to drive and ride in. Mileage 37 Summer 33 Winter 87 Octane. Less on E10 by 2mpg Mixed driving. Best 41mpg on I-80 in August, Worst 29 last week at -6F

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  Very disappoint with Ford Customer Care - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By Hami - December 23 - 1:24 pm

  My husband and I purchased this vehicle two years ago (1 1/2 yrs old at the time) as a trade-in for a Ford Mustang. We were quite please with it until this year. We replaced all tires at 38,000 miles (Oct.), an alternator at 39,000 miles (Nov.) and I just broke down on the highway three days before Christmas, only to find that the transmission needs to be replaced! The car has 40,000 miles on it and of course its past the 3yr./36,000 miles warranty by 5 months and 4,000 miles!!! Even the dealerships said it shouldnt go that soon, yet Ford seemed unwilling to help us. I registered a formal complaint and will be following up. No more Fords. My Corolla is 10 yrs old and no problems!

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  Best Car Purchase Ive Made - 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By Trey - December 23 - 1:22 pm

  I bought this car Certified from a Ford dealership, 4 years old with 50,000 miles on it. I bought it specifically for the gas mileage of the hybrid. I had seen several reviews of the hybrid saying that they werent getting the rated 44mpg city in the real world. Still, I figured Id have to save a lot of money on gas upgrading from my old vehicle, so I went with it. I couldnt be happier with the gas mileage. I am a volunteer firefighter, and if Im making a run and really accelerating hard (not all the way to the floor every time, but still asking for a lot of power), I see around 37 to 39mpg from a trip. If Im really trying my best to increase fuel economy, I regularly get near 50mpg, no problems. And if Im driving along as usual and not paying attention to my gas mileage or acceleration, Ill get around 46mpg, maybe even a little more. There are all kinds of driving aids and tips that you can configure on the dash to help coach you in getting the best gas mileage, and at the end of each trip when you turn the key off, it tells you how many miles you drove, your fuel economy for that trip, and a few other fuel economy related items about the trip. It didnt take me long at all to get used to driving the most efficiently for this car. I drive between 100 and 200 miles a day usually, between work, school, the firehouse, and any other driving I do, and Id say overall I average around 46 or 47mpg. I bought the car hoping for great gas mileage, but really Im getting even more than I expected without really trying. So with gas mileage, I am more than happy. Moving on, I love the look of the car, inside and out. My mom (who has owned a Mercedes before) told me she would have thought it was a Mercedes getting in the passenger seat. Its really a very appealing car by looks, both inside and out. Mine has the touch screen and heated seats and Im very happy with the value and what all options I have (which Im still discovering as I go on). I feel like Im driving a luxury car every day. One random thing Ive noticed is that you dont need to turn the A/C on to have cold air blowing. And Im usually the person who will have the A/C on 11 months out of the year. With the Fusion, I rarely turn it on. I find myself getting chilly in the car with only the regular climate fan turned on and turned to Lo. Somehow, it cools the car down more than my old cars A/C did, without me ever having to turn on the air conditioner, which again saves fuel. My only two things I can point out that Im not the biggest fan of (and this is only because Im really looking for a downside to report, its really not a big deal) are: 1) the bluetooth will lose connection with my iPhone 7 fairly often, to the point where I dont use the car to make phone calls because it will almost always cut out during the call, and 2) Id rather have physical buttons than touch-sensitive buttons for controls on the center-stack, because I have to take my eyes off the road to adjust the climate, I cant just feel for the buttons or knobs. But really, thats just personal preference, and not a knock on the car itself. Overall, I am thrilled with the car. The gas mileage is better than expected and the only reason I can think that others arent seeing these numbers is because theyre driving the car like a regular gasoline motor without following the tips that the car gives you. It only took me a couple short drives to get the driving down, and now I do it naturally. And its not like Im driving extremely slow or anything. I got a ton of compliments on the car the first day I drove it to work. It looks and feels like a much more expensive car than it is. I love the car so far, I have an extended warranty and free scheduled service on it for a couple of years, so I really expect it to be cheap to own and drive. And a big shout-out to Jim ONeal Ford, everyone there was more than helpful with me, with no pressure, and I cant thank them enough. Absolutely no regrets with this car!

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  2001 Mustang GT Premium Amazing!!! - 2001 Ford Mustang
  By LT1Killer01GT - December 23 - 11:55 am

  This is by far the best car i have ever owned.From day one i was in love with this car and 3 girlfriends later i still own it.The Modular V8 is Fords most reliable motor hands down.The "NEW EDGE" body styling is my favorite of all the Mustangs.I dont drive this car year around but i have owned it for over 2 yrs now and its at 99k with no issues what so ever! Besides normal maint and such..On top of the great vaule and the aftermarket parts are just unlimited so i decided to add some bolt ons JLT CAI,Accufab 75mm TB, Diablo Tune,STEEDA Pulleys,BASSANI O/R X-PIPE,BASSANI SS CAT-BACK,Bullitt 315s with Nitto Drag Radials runs mid 13s all day!Does need a better stock shifter and bigger trunk h/w.

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  Surprisingly Good - 2008 Ford Focus
  By Harry7 - December 23 - 6:30 am

  What can I say? Ive never really liked many of the Fords Ive owned, but this one is an exception. Solid, quiet as a crypt, comfortable, excellent road manners, great MPG, Sync, Sirius, huge trunk.

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  Conflicted - Love it but frustrated too - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By Lucky One - December 22 - 9:07 pm

  06 Fusion V6 SEL - I have had this car 3 yrs now & I really love it for the most part however, I am very frustrated with all the little things that have gone wrong with it. I have had to fix the ac temp control, rotors, passenger grab handle, 2 interior door handles, trunk gas shocks & the headlights need replacing because they are yellowing & seem like they are cracking. The moonroof is rusting also & the windows dont seem sealed tightly. I dont like the tilt & the fact this car doesnt have the peddle adjustment as an SEL. Increased the tire pressure & it finally turns alot better. Gas mileage not what I wish it was. Very roomy & comfy overall with a husband & two growing boys.

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  Fun little truck - 2007 Ford Escape
  By Philippe T. - December 22 - 7:50 pm

  FUN little truck. No repairs since new. No complaints!

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  Good car, made like a tank - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Philippe T. - December 22 - 7:38 pm

  Didnt want a minivan but needed lots of space for the expanding family. The driving experience is superb, theres a real feeling of security white driving this car, its very stable. When you take a look around the car, you notice its made strong + lots of protective panels/rubber here and there. Performance is low, but who wants to race a 7 passenger car? Fuel economy is good on the hwy. Its has 70k miles with no major issues. A couple of repair on the suspension but previous owner drove a lot on unpaved roads, so I guess its normal. Generally love this car and recommend it. Saw a couple of internet complaits about tranny prob. I tow a 2000 pound popup tent and its holding up pretty strong.

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  Could have been better - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Tom D. - December 22 - 2:56 pm

  This vehicle replaced a 8 year old minivan. I needed cargo space for traveling, wanted better mileage and was motivated by the "Crossover" concept. I found the following: The overall ride and handling is excellent though the suspension is stiff. At interstate speeds it is very stable and the steering has excellent avoidance response. The cabin could be quieter. Fit and finish appears good and doors and frame have a very solid feel. Engine is adequate but I prefer better acceleration. The CVT is very smooth. The rear and center seat folding/storage flexibility is adequate. Automatic air conditioning very good especially in rear. Actual mileage is 18.5 local and 22.4 city

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  New road car, yellow mustang - 2016 Ford Mustang
  By Papa - December 22 - 2:42 pm

  Waited 47 years for my first sports car.