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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  i love my suv - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By ferg - June 22 - 10:00 am

  i had a 1999 ford explorer i liked that truck,was sad to see it go. but now i got my 2004 ford explorer, dont miss the 1999 any more

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  Smooth Daily Driver - 2017 Ford Focus
  By KAM. - June 22 - 12:46 am

  I needed a daily driver to replace my previous 16 year old sedan without breaking the bank. My primary concerns are reliable and economical with a secondary for fun to drive. Hence, I found an anomaly, a manual transmission on the dealer lot took a little effort and Google to find. The 3cyl turbo is weak at low RPMs, but comes alive from 3000-6500 and can be quite fun. Pedal placement is atrocious for heal-toe shifting, but the after-market has a fix to realign the throttle pedal. Overall, the engine is raspy and fun at high revs while economical at normal speeds. EcoBoost folks: You get Eco OR Boost... pick with your right foot! This engine isnt even broken in yet but has achieved amazing combined fuel mileage despite the occasional floggings.

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  Ford Tough - 2005 Ford Escape
  By whowe417 - June 22 - 12:03 am

  Love the V6-pep, get-up-and-go of my new SUV Escape, very reliable, stops on a dime, makes me feel safe out on the road, handles like a dream, nice headroom for taller people which is quite nice, roomy interior, very nice exterior in body style, I like the Ford warranty on the Powertrain, love the safety features as well, very happy with my new Escape SUV...thanks FORD!!!

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  Better than you think - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Cysfans - June 21 - 8:42 pm

  We have put 40,000 miles on in 2 years. The ride is superb, handling is excellent for a near 4,000 pound vehicle. 2nd row seats actually hold adults comfortably. Very good cargo capacity. The 3.0 liter engine is adequate or better for the job. Rated at 27 hiway/20 city MPG, on a 3900-mile trip from the midwest to New England and back, we averaged 28.2 MPG, including 2- lane mountain roads in Vermont and New Hampshire. It was loaded with 2 weeks of stuff. My wife drives this vehicle daily and at every chance she says she loves it!! The sunroof helps with ventilation.

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  Great Ford Car - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By Brittany - June 21 - 8:09 am

  Purchased brand new, so I was able to receive the full experience of the car without any wear and tear already. Had a Ford previously so I could easily compare and tell how Ford stepped it up on a better model of a car. Performance was the issue on the previous Ford I had, yet not on this one. I am very pleased with how after a year it has still held up like new. Just do the routine maintenance to ensure it will stay in pertty much tip- top shape. I receive about 28 MPG on average and travel far on the weekends near DC on I-495, where speed is around 70 mph for the most part. But in my city during the week its hovered around 50 mph. I am very pleased with the car!

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  Good Job Ford! - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By RWoodrum - June 21 - 5:40 am

  Have had the Fusion for about a month now and have loved every mile I have put on it. Great ride, very quiet. The seats are awesome, very comfortable, almost too much so. I got the V6 and so far have averaged 28 MPG. Not bad. Only flaw is that reversing in the car is a bit of a challenge; the back seat sits high and makes for a challenge to back up. Overall though Ford has done an excellent job, totally giving Honda & Toyota a run for their money.

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  What a great Escape! - 2005 Ford Escape
  By TXRangers - June 20 - 1:36 pm

  We were looking at moving from our Windstar to a small SUV when we discovered the Escape. We were hesitant about giving up some space, yet we have been very happy with the Escape. The V6 is quick and powerful and the ride is car! This is the most FUN vehicle we have ever had! The only negative we have is that we wish there were a little more padding in the door armrest. Other than that we really love this SUV! This is a little bottle rocket!!!!

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  Why Such A Poor Rating from CR? - 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid
  By htw - June 20 - 4:10 am

  I hate the design of the wheels. Ford could better on the wheel choice and replace the bar grill with something more sporty. But...... Ford needs to change the bolt pattern to match the Mustang. I think the car is great; I love the seats, and the sitting position. I want these seat in my 2012 Focus. My C-mac is used in business - sometimes 100 miles per day, bought in Sept 12, it has 24K miles on it. Daily mileage is 43-45. Road trip - milesage under 60 is 44 mpg; over 65 38 mpg. The location of the air filter sucks - it took 41 minutes to change it and I had to remove that large piece of plastic. If you dont know cars, you have to take it to the dealer.

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  A Quantum Leap Forward - 2008 Ford Taurus
  By PJ - June 19 - 10:10 am

  This is a great car. The engine and transmission are enough to make it a quantum leap over the 500 that it replaced, but the interior refinements, cabin quiet, and overall feel are as impressive. The name change was not significant to me but the car is a home run. It is very responsive, very fast and very smooth.

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  Weight issues - 2004 Ford F-150
  By Passion - June 19 - 1:40 am

  This is an excellent truck in all aspects. I wish that automotive journalists would realize the weight of this truck is what makes it so able to do its job. The hefty structure is why the F150 performs so well in crash tests; it enables it to out-perform its competition handily in load capacities, towing, off-roading and on road handling. Some of the extra weight is also sound proofing material which gives the F150 a very quiet ride.