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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  2003 whisper white conv. - 2003 Ford Thunderbird
  By ipsilver - September 20 - 2:00 am

  the car has guts...and hurls itself around curves..like all fords..has fogging problems in humid or wet weather..no much discernible road noise...could be appointed less austerely..although the retro baby blue gauges and the opera roof with portholes are neat...the car has a problem when removing the hard top...the web sites warn that the paint will come up...and it did on the trunk deck..close to the back window..had to be repainted..has had a brake seal leak inside of 4,000 miles and fixed with new part ..at dealership..

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  1999ford escort se - 1999 Ford Escort
  By billy bob banker - September 18 - 2:00 am

  purchased this car new. replaced the rear blinker bulb 2 times. and replaced the battery after 3 years. replaced the brake pads at 30,000 miles. i have changed the oil& filter every 2500-3000 miles and air cleaner every 3rd oil change. i had the cooling system flushed at 25,000 miles. this car has had no major problems and has performed consistently for the 5 years +. a car you can rely on.

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  Well it,s a Ford! - 1998 Ford Explorer
  By Steelersrule - September 18 - 2:00 am

  I hated Ford since the purchase date because they promised repainting due to "acid rain issue" but never followed through. Overall my XL served well but no options causes a quick lack of interest. Choose wisely.

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  Super ride! - 2002 Ford F-150
  By Mr. Skywalker - September 18 - 2:00 am

  I have had numerous F-150s over the years, this one carries on the tradition of quality vehicles. The motor has plenty of pickup, nice bodystyle, easy to reach control panels. The only drawback so far has been erratic transmission shifting (has Ford ever made a decent transmission?).

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  High Expectations...but.... - 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid
  By teddyp27 - September 17 - 6:07 pm

  I thumbed through a lot of the reviews on Edmunds.com and it seems like we are experiencing a lot of the same things. We ordered our CMax with dreams of high MPG and ruled out a Mazda CX5 solely because of it. Had I known wed be averaging low-to-mid 30s overall I think I would have bought the Mazda instead. We follow all of the recommended driving behaviors but the fact is "highway" really means 70+ MPH (not 60 when EPA standards were written) and some of the nation (even Dearborn, MI) has cold weather. We will be happy if we can get it to about 40 mpg now that we are past the legendary 500 mile "break in period".

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  Ultra-Mega Reliable and Cheap to run - 1994 Ford Aspire
  By Andrikos - September 17 - 2:00 am

  Well, Ive been driving it since it had 30k miles on it. Now it has 92k and has NEVER had any problems. Starts EVERY single time and does 40mpg to boot. Nothing better for a "beater" to drive to work. Im looking to buy a used Mercedes and I cringe at the prospect of maintenance costs. I guess the "little red car" has spoiled me rotten...

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  Started when I bought it.... - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By TashaKathryn - September 16 - 2:00 am

  When I bought the vehicle, I thought i had found the one. WRONG. I have replaced brakes 6 times and rotors 3 times. Inside light has a major problem and will sometimes not turn off. Also windows leak air. Transmissn started slipping at 90k and is now about to die @ 119k. The car is very comfortable and pretty durable, but I am disappointed in the maintence.

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  Great Commuter car with questionable interior qual - 2015 Ford C-Max Energi
  By NAIR - September 15 - 2:08 am

  Leased a 2015 C-Max. One month after the purchase, noticed that the interior trim fit and finish is on par with the late 90s Hyundais. The trim is literally falling apart. Glad that I leased this car instead of buying it. Pros : Roomy interior with a good ambience Sync is not as bad as people say it is. It does its Job and is a decent system My 65 miles round trip has been netting me 55 Mpg (Not too bad but should have been more for a PHEV) Cons Big battery look away what should have been a generous cargo space. (Better than Fusion Energi or Accord Hybrid though) Questionable interior quality NO SPARE TIRE!!! This is my first domestic purchase and will see how it holds up for 3 years!!!! Have had this car for and a half Still love this car Pros + The interior passenger volume of this car is deceptively large as a 350 pound coworker fits in this car with no issues. + Very peppy engine + Massive windshields make for excellent visibility. + Average Mielage of around 50 - 55 Mpg with a total range of 650 - 700 Miles between fill ups + Kids Love the Ambient Lights + Love the rain / speed sensing wipers Cons - Gas only mileage is lower than promised ( 35 actual Vs 47 Promise ) (I had a lead foot though) - Scheduler for charging and AC do not work even after 3 dealership visits (I blame the dealership Autonation ford for this) Over all makes a very good commuter car. Ford please update this car since competitors like Chevy volt and Prius prime makes newer / updated and better products now

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  It is a quality truck - 2002 Ford F-150
  By forkbeird - September 15 - 2:00 am

  Execpt for one rattle and one bit of warranty work this truck is excellent. The power and utility is tops. This truck fufilled every expectition and preformedjust how it suppose to. Ford does trucks right.

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  Missing my Escort - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Escort - September 14 - 4:13 pm

  Interesting drive. At first I thought it will roll-over at cornering, but got used to it. For this particular car they should eliminate the word "economy" in "fuel economy": 22.4 mpg on the highway, 20.5 mpg in town. My Escort was close to 40 mpg. Dealer just doesnt want to fix it.