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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  Great budget CUV! - 2016 Ford Escape
  By Chad Hargis - August 25 - 1:37 am

  My wife and I purchased a base model Escape S with no options except alloy wheels. Even in base trim, the 2016 Escape has some nice features. A backup camera, bluetooth connectivity, Ford Sync, Applink, power windows & locks, keyless entry, and full color screens on the dash and instrument cluster....all standard. In order to get some of these items, you have to step up from the base trim (the 2016 Kia Sportage is a good example...you cant get a backup camera in base trim). I was so impressed with the vehicle that we replaced my Ford Fusion with one. We now have two Escapes in the garage! For a performance standpoint, the 2.5L naturally aspirated four cylinder is just adequate. Meaning its not dangerously under powered, but its no powerhouse either. It is quiet, smooth, and proving to be fuel efficient. Its also NOT direct injected, which should help avoid the carbon build up on the intake valves so may GDI engines suffer from. My wife never notices the engine being an issue. She just happily drives along oblivious to the fact that she has the "base model" engine. Myself, on the other hand, am a bit of a speed freak and the 2.5L is not winning any races. Just appreciate it for what it is...an old school, tried and true design thats been around in some form for many years. Its a workhorse and has proven reliable. It also has chain driven cams, so no worry about timing belts. The Escape has a playful character. It rides a bit firm for a vehicle in this class, but having driven the Honda CR-V, which like all Hondas, is the equivalent of riding a dead horse. Very boring and isolated. If you like a little fun feel in your cars, the Escape wont disappoint. The handling is not sport car sharp, but it acquits itself nicely. When driven is the manner in which it is designed, it is above average. Steering is nicely weighted, especially for electronic steering, and feedback is good as well. The ride and handling of the Escape give it a fun to drive factor that is missing in most other CUVs. Inside things are very nice for a base model. Soft touch surfaces abound, including on the tops of the door panels where tall folks like me rest their left arm. The center armrest is nicely padded and well located. Underneath it is a smallish bin that is deep and narrow. If the Escape falls short anywhere, its in the center console. Two cup holders and a hand brake consume much of the space, with a 12v outlet and change pocket for those who have a toll to pay on their route (in which case a pass would be a better option). The new 2017 Escape is going to an electronic brake and moving the transmission selector to the side a bit to offer more storage space in the console. A welcome change! Seats are nicely padded and even for my long legs (36" inseam) offer decent support. Legroom is also very good. I have no problem finding a comfortable driving position as the seats have plenty of adjustment and the tilt and telescoping steering wheel all conspire to fit even the most oddly shaped driver. Ingress and egress are nice. Not pickup truck high or sedan low....really the "goldilocks" of heights...just right. Doors open wide and offer plenty of room for even a big guy such as myself. On many cars my backside hits the steering wheel or the B pillar when getting in, but not on the Escape. Plenty of room for those large of stature. The Sync entertainment system on the base model is not the touch screen driven system which has received so much negative press. In fact, if you get a 2016 Escape with the touch screen infotainment system, it is the new Sync3 system which is no longer made by Microsoft. Initial reviews have been very positive, but I have no first hand experience. Sound quality from the base system is, well....pretty poor. This is the case with most base level audio systems, so Im not picking on Ford here. Its a price point audio system for sure. There are kits available to allow you to step up to an aftermarket system if you like, so if you are an audiophile, you have options. If you listen to mostly talk radio like I do...its not a big deal and it works fine. There is bluetooth audio and hands free functions as well as USB connectivity. If you hold down the Sync button for a couple of seconds, it envokes Siri on your iPhone and even displays "Siri" on the center mounted dash display. The system works fine with no glitches, but I think Ford got a little button and menu happy. The standard AppLink integration works great and allows you to voice command many apps on your smartphone. I particularly like the AccuWeather app which will reach me the weather over the cars speakers. So far, Im really impressed. My wife and I drove almost every CUV offering, and while some were much nicer, they had a much higher price too. A competitor worth looking at is the base model Hyundai Tucson. Its very comparable to the Escape in features and comes with a longer warranty. You can buy an Escape for less thanks to discounts.

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  Highly Enjoyable - 1999 Ford Explorer
  By Ravenugc - August 24 - 10:00 am

  I have to say that I love this vehicle. Drives great, feels great, and gets me where I need to go. Has a bad wrap for some reason, but for me, it does what I need it to.

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  ZX3 Rocks - 2001 Ford Focus
  By akbossman - August 24 - 10:00 am

  Great from the get go. I have found it to be as much fun as a Mustang! Many companies already make items for you to make your custom wild or mild. Dont bother buying the power windows etc you can reach them with no problem. I spend 2 1/2 hours a day in this fun little car and I m 63"

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  Great Truck - 1997 Ford F-150
  By NPLM - August 24 - 10:00 am

  My F150 is a 97 Ext. cab SB Lariat (exactly like the one in the photo section of this site) with 76,000 miles. It is a great riding truck with plenty of power from the 5.4L V8. It is smooth as glass on the highway. Ive noticed that the ride actually improves when adding load or towing. Interior design is elegant as well as user friendly, and the build quality is top notch, with little wind noise or rattles. Has had no problems since new. My only complaint is the 5.4L engine is thirsty, getting an average of around 15-16 MPG,(city driving). I would recommend the 4.6L unless you really need the extra power. Overall great truck.

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  big is better - 2003 Ford Excursion
  By sammyk - August 24 - 2:00 am

  This is the second Excursion Ive owned. The first had the V-10 and really bad mileage. The 6.0 diesel is very powerfull and gets GREAT mileage for the size of the vehicle. On the highway, I average 24 MPG at 75 MPH. My Jeep Wrangler gets a paltry 15 MPGs. We have had a few minor, but annoying problems, particularly electrical ( A/C looses power.. just shuts off ) but far less than the problems we had with the 2000 V-10 ( also electrical, interior lights would blink on and off everytime it rained and it rains a lot in FLorida ). Overall, this vehicle represents the best value for people / cargo around.

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  Pretty, but high maintenance - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By Rob in Peoria - August 23 - 2:00 am

  I liked the looks, but wish I had done more homework before buying. In little over a year weve put more money into this car than we paid for it - new tranny, brakes (twice!), and tires. Hopefully I can help someone else keep from getting sucked in by the sporty appearance - if you love your mechanic, or more specifically, love making his boat payments, buy this car. It also rides rough and is noisy (wind noise is terrible)

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  Love It! - 2004 Ford Escape
  By Jim in MD - August 22 - 2:00 am

  Very nice vehicle overall. I went from a compact sedan to the Escape. Overall driving experience took a bit of getting used to. But I think this is a good choice for anyone looking for something thats "larger than normal" but not a road tank. The individual who compared this FWD Escape with the Jeep Liberty doesnt understand that FWD does not = 4WD. There IS a 4WD version available. So if thats what you need then maybe you should have asked your company to purcase that. And I can report that my doors have not fallen off, contrary to another reviewers statements. Indeed, Ive had no build defect/service issues at all.

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  most reliable car Ive ever owned - 1994 Ford Escort
  By dot29 - August 20 - 2:00 am

  At 200k+ miles, this ten-yr.-old wagon still runs like a champ. Apart from normal maintenance, it has not required any big-ticket repairs. No frills, but good heat/AC, good cargo space, and surprising get-up-and-go. Perfect for errands around town.

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  Decided best of comparable models - 2004 Ford Escape
  By M2004 - August 19 - 2:00 am

  After much research between the Escape, Liberty, and CR-V, Ford seemed to offer the best features and reviews amongst the three. ABS, Gas mileage, and mechanical performance were my priorities I test drove the Liberty first, then the Escape. I knew that the Escape would perform better for city driving, and if that is what you are going to use the vehicle for mainly, stick with Ford. The seats take some getting used to, though there are a number of adjustment options. Overall, as a first time SUV, the Escape is great and is a good transition between a coupe/small sedan and truck. The car overall feels pretty strong.

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  So Far So Good - 2004 Ford F-150
  By Ron - August 18 - 10:23 pm

  I bought this truck overstock in January. Needed Yellow for my business. This is a loaded 4X4 in shocking yellow and I think its great. Bug shield and step bars really set it off. Engine could be stronger but the weight due to extra size makes it worth it. I do feel and hear a not so subtle drive line rumble at about 62 mph. Other than this it is a very smooth and comfortable truck with a capital T.