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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  2014 shaky focus hatch - 2014 Ford Focus
  By Bill - August 2 - 7:56 am

  Transmission is worst Ive ever seen. Auto that feels like its slipping. Terrible lag. Dealer (Freeway Ford) says thats normal for this type of transmission. JUNK transmission. Dont buy an automatic Focus.

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  My 2nd Ford Focus - 2013 Ford Focus
  By TNugent - August 1 - 7:10 pm

  My 2013 Ford Focus SE hatchback is a terrific vehicle. We still have our 2001 Ford Focus ZX3 hatchback - 250,000+ miles and still a very reliable vehicle. Both are manual 5-speed transmission. The 2013 performs well in acceleration, road handling and on ice/snow. The only complaint i have about the 2013 SE hatchback is the quality of the "cargo cover". Its been falling apart (on the ends/connection) since a few weeks after I purchased the vehicle in August, 2013. I sent a note to Ford Motor Co never received a response. It gets 28-35 mpg normally the max mpg was about 50 mpg when driving a country highway for 30-40 miles at 50 mph. Overall, I like the head room/leg room for driver/front passenger, sunroof works well I purchased the winter package. Overall satisfaction is 9.5 out of 10.0 (due to cargo cover being poorly designed/materials).

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  Great car but for your butt - 2015 Ford Edge
  By Al - August 1 - 7:01 pm

  My new Edge has the ecoboost 4cyl with trailer package. My experience is that it does everything well EXCEPT FOR...... (see below). It provides a comfortable confidence inspiring ride. The interior is well done. Road noise, rattles etc. are negligible. Fit and finish is good. It tows very well. Gas milage is very good 14mpg towing 3,000 lbs and 23mpg otherwise. EXCEPT FOR ...... The front seats are not comfortable. They appear to be designed for children and Twiggy. I am an average person, 59" 170 lbs, the seat is too narrow for me. Someone got carried away trying to put a racing type car seat in this model. The seat bolsters on the side of the seat are too pronounced without adequate room in-between. The result is that there is not adequate room for you butt. The side bolsters squeezes your bum together just like a pair of too small shoes squeezes your toes together. My front seat passengers have also complained of this condition. As I like this car, I will take it to an automotive upholstery shop and have the seats redesigned. I wish the dealt steering wheel would be more adjustable - - my wifes Dodge Caravan adjusts wonderfully. Butt I dont think I can swap that out :-)

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  JUNK!!! - 2012 Ford F-150
  By Brian - August 1 - 12:44 pm

  More problems than anything I have ever owned! Engine was replaced under warranty before I bought the truck (I was not told about this at the time I bought it. Dealer "didnt know"). After owning the truck for 2 years, it STILL does not run right. Tired of taking it to the dealer. Transmission is GARBAGE. Very sloppy shifting and has developed a slipping problem between 2nd-3rd gears. Numerous squeaks and rattles throughout cab. Rear window defroster overheated and caused window to shatter. Had to fight with Ford to get SOME of the cost covered under warranty. Very sloppy repair job, broken glass in the bed and under the back seat when I picked the truck up. There is rust all over the body, the truck is impossible to align. I am sure I am forgetting a few other things as well. Warranty support from Ford is WORTHLESS!! Either they cannot duplicate/diagnose problems or Ford will not cover the repairs under warranty. Do not let them fool you with "bumper to bumper" warranty coverage! Ford should be embarrassed!

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  I should have heeded warnings. - 2014 Ford Focus
  By MollyRose - August 1 - 12:07 pm

  We purchased the Titanium package 2014 Focus in August 2014. It was sort of a rushed purchase because of a situation we had at home. At first we loved it. It was comfortable and efficient and looked pretty decent for a 4-door sedan. It now (Aug 2015) has about 4000 easy miles. It has always been babied and garaged and serviced regularly. We were thinking all along "why are people complaining about the Focus?" NOW we know. At the low mileage of 4000, last night the car showed us its real performance. It started jerking and fluttering and stopping and starting, really scary on the road. Then the engine light came on. We made it home thank goodness. Were taking it to the dealer Monday and I am already anticipating a scene or non-help from what I have read on numerous reviews. This really irks me. We bought a brand-new car thinking it would last at least 10 years for us (like most of our non-Ford cars have always done). This is our very first "lemon." What happens remains to be seen, but I am not optimistic. The salesman looked us straight in the eye on the day we purchased this car and smiled and said, this is a "great little car." What a joke. He HAD to know the problems.

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  A lot of bang for the small truck buck!!! - 2003 Ford Ranger
  By BillD - July 31 - 3:56 pm

  Ive owned my 2003 4 door super cab tremor edition edge ranger since it was new. The truck rides like a Cadillac on the highway and it aint so bad on a dirt road. Ive owned S10s with the Vortec 4.3 litre V6 and I swear I dont see a lot of difference in my Rangers 3.0 power plant. The truck will pull a heavier load that the S10s ever thought of. The sport side is just plain sexy to look at and the alloy wheels that came on the truck are good enough that Ive never thought about custom wheels for this truck. It hauls what I need it to in the back bed including all my camping gear and 4 Wheeler. Ive pulled heavy loads up hills through crappy roads ect and it does a wonderful job. I just rolled 202,000 on the odometer and the only thing Ive done to this truck is change the oil, plugs and wires and air filters. Its a little beast of a truck and if you take care of it itll take care of you. I live in Georgia and I wouldnt be afraid to fire her up and drive to Vegas because I know she will get me home. The only complaint I have is the jump seats in the back. Forget hauling 4 grown ups in the cab but two adults ride in comfort. I!m 63" and it fits me well. I highly recommend this truck as a definite buy if you find a good used one. They last forever.

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  Perfect Car for Me - 2013 Ford Taurus
  By LouA - July 31 - 2:05 pm

  Ive had a BUNCH of cars - a little fickle. Most of them have been Fords, not because I dont like other cars, but because I usually find that I get more for my money through Ford. In the Ford family, Ive had two Explorers (probably my favorite automobile of all Ive owned), a Thunderbird (old style), a Fusion, a Mustang and a Focus. My husband has a Bronco and is on his second Expedition. All good cars. My preference is to drive an SUV. When gas prices went up, I scaled down, but found that a smaller car didnt suit me, especially when I had to put a car seat in the back for my granddaughter. I purchased the Taurus used with about 24K miles on it. Ive had it for a year and a half, and I have 62K mile on it. I have a very long commute to work, so I like to be comfortable. The toys arent bad either. The Taurus is perfect for all that - it gets good gas mileage, plenty of space and a trunk that will hold a couple of bodies. Love the way it handles. I have a rear camera on mine, and I have to say that I would really struggle backing up without it. The ONLY one tiny thing that I dont like (and it is a very small issue) is the directional stick. Its got variable options so you can blink the directional only once, three times or full on. I find that whenever I want to turn the signal full on, I guess because you have to push it a little harder, I frequently end up flashing the person in front of me. I have to really concentrate on making sure I dont pull forward on it with my finger when Im putting the direction on. Stupid, I know. Other than that, not one complaint. If I end up buying another sedan when Im ready to trade, I would get another Taurus. Perfect car for me!

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  A Truck for those that need a real truck - 2015 Ford F-150
  By RLW - July 31 - 12:08 pm

  This new truck is fantastic. I traded an ’09 XLT I purchased as a second vehicle four years ago to serve as a tow vehicle for a travel trailer. I rethought my situation and sold a two year old car to then make the truck the primary vehicle. I wanted a bit more upscale but lived with the XLT. Recently I purchase a 2015 F150 Lariat 4x2 with every feature minus adaptive cruise, dynamic park assist and 4x4- pretty much loaded. I am a very critical shopper and compared the competition and read the reports with the understanding that my conclusion trumps reviews or opinions. I read the recall info on all makes and the safety tests. Consumers have to be careful as there is bias in everything it seems LIKE in the safety tests I found that from the source, IIHS.org, that all pickups over the past years and present do not have all the tests performed yet they claim 4-star overall etc. except the Ford. Check the source and NOT all the safe car websites that misrepresent the facts. A quick summary of my grades on pickups that led me to the Ford: The Silverado was a nice truck but it did not appeal to design-wise. The large cut out wheel wells were overdone and showed underpinnings, etc. The Square front reminded me of a 70s vehicle. The RAM 1500 was, by reviews, a strong contender until I drove it and was strongly influenced to not selecting the eco diesel by the dealer. The reason? When he found that my towing requirements were 7000# with a tongue weight of 1000# plus scooter and camping equipment in the bed. The killer was the low max payload of 1400#. The Toyota was the last option and it was nice but sparse in feature set related to functionality. While looking it really brought the issue to the front- aside from any upscale features the truck has to do its job without being overtaxed or at its max or have a high MPG penalty. That factor alone eliminated the RAM and Tundra requiring their highest numerical ratios and biggest engines to meet the need. Then I visited the Ford dealer. The statistics told me that the supercrew had the payload capacity and tow ability but each truck I looked at was different. Finally I found a Lariat with a 3.5 ecoboost. Interestingly the 2.7 with HD payload and max tow would have met my requirements but at the max as the other brands. The 3.5 gave me some breathing room. I drove the vehicle and found it to be light footed and quiet. My 2009 was NOTHING like this. The steering was tight and required less turning. The ride, which I read “how horrible” was very comparable to the others. BTW the RAM was heavy (by 1000#) and it was felt driving it. The F-150 does have a rear end jitter over bumps BUT compared to the ’09 it is vastly improved. That, in my opinion goes with having the better ability of performing as a truck- payload and tow ratings. I came away very impressed and knew it was the one. That said, I am critical. I took delivery in the evening and found a mark like a cut in the edge of the dash on my way home. I also found an odd hard place in the center of the rear seat bottom as something had happened to the leather above a seat heater. I took it back to the dealer who is presently taking care of it. I know that each of us must shop and come to our own conclusion. I would highly suggest an F-150 as it is, in my opinion, the most capable truck with car-like features and the best mpg for the power to do what a truck is designed to do. THAT SAID, if you only plan to haul mulch or have a jet ski or small trailer item, compare the F150 Lariat 2.7 eco and Dodge Laramie eco-diesel as both seem to make good moderate-ability choices though the gas F150 does not require DEF and gets about the same mileage.

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  My 2003 Ford Mustang Gt Deluxe Coupe 4.6 V8 - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By Carrie - July 31 - 11:18 am

  I absolutely love this car to death, with American Muscle to order my parts from, I have the baddest car ever. They say the mustang is the poor mans sports car, well! Id take my car over any other car on the planet. Thank you Ford! Thank you American Muscle!

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  Feels like a MUCH larger car - 2015 Ford Fiesta
  By Ted Schmitt - July 30 - 5:14 am

  First, I will preface this by saying that I traded a Miata for the Fiesta ST, so yes this car feels MUCH larger than it is. I bought the ST with the Recaro package, and I can understand how some people would say that the seats are uncomfortable, especially if the person is of larger size (Im 5-9 and 175lbs). These seats grip you like velcro in ALL situations, especially hard cornering - try them BEFORE you buy the car. I love them, but I drive "enthusiastically". They take some getting used to in the getting in/out process and I can easily understand how some would hate them. Im 54, and after a Miata they are really NO problem. The 6-speed manual transmission shifts like rowing a knife through honey, with very smooth clutch action although it does engage a bit close to the floor (this might change with more wear). The 8-speaker stereo does sound a bit tinny or thin on sound, but money spent with Crutchfield will fax that eventually. The exhaust note, while louder than lesser Fiestas, is not quite as "racy" as it could be given this cars mission, but that is entirely my opinion. Handling is top-notch (again, I came from a Miata), being extremely smooth and predictable. Corners can be taken at MUCH higher speeds than you think the car will handle due to the roll stability control (which can be switched off) you would swear it was rear-wheel-drive with gobs of grip. The car car has numerous safety-related add-ons, none of which I will address here - I didnt buy the car for being safe. If youre considering it, check out Fords website or Edmunds for the list of standard safety equipment. The best thing about this car? Turbo power. The rush from the Ecoboost engine is absolutely ADDICTING. That, combined with the engine sound coming into the cabin will have you feeling and driving like youre back in high school (and I mean that is a good thing). Bottom-line, if you want some "civilized" performance while being able to carry three passengers and you want to buy a domestic car (yes, I know the Fiesta is assembled in Mexico) with top-notch quality, your search ends here.