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 the All wheel drive - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By ASA203 - October 27 - 4:00 pm

  I have never owned an all wheel drive vehicle, but this car has shown me how great they handle in poor conditions. Last winter was mild, but it is great to be able to pull out on wet roads without spinning. The ride is wonderful and with plenty of room for 6. I recommend this vehicle for families. It compares to the Volvo XC90 but at a much lower price.

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  Best Yet - 2006 Ford F-150
  By GLB - October 27 - 1:19 pm

  Driving this truck has been a great experience so far. The acceleration of this truck and the handling are beyond the back seat of this truck very compare. The interior has been put together very well. The flow of it keeps the truck from looking like a box. I have 3 children and they fit into comfortably with plenty of arm and leg room. A lot better fuel mileage than my F-350. The layout of the instrumentation is a lot better than in the past. Very easy on the eyes. I truly enjoy driving this truck.

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  Great Family Car! - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By Pugliese Family - October 27 - 11:47 am

  We have only owned this car for about a month. We did not see many on the road where we live and were wondering why Ford didnt advertise more about this great vehicle. Thank goodness for customer review sites like this one. We were shopping for a 6-7 passenger vehicle but did not want a big SUV or a van. When we were in Italy this year we rented a 6 passenger wagon and we were hooked. As soon as we got back to the USA we started shopping for a 6-7 passenger wagon. Ford Freestyle offered a spectacular car. It is easy to park and drive and seats 7 very nicely. The gas mileage is much better than my Explorer.

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  lovin it - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By kevsilb - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I just bought a fully loaded Eddie Bauer Expedition and have already put 1000 miles on it in two weeks! It is much better than I even thought. I was between this and the Sequoia and chose the Expedition purely because of the fold flat power seat. Happy I did it and would recommend this truck over and over again.

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  I Love My Escape Hybrid - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Sklmarm - October 27 - 9:33 am

  I love my new Escape Hybrid. The last time I had so much fun driving a vehicle was as a college senior when I got my first new car. (I have a college senior and junior of my own now). The car drives and rides beautifully and I feel that I am doing my part to help our environment. I am an SUV kinda gal so am thrilled that Ford came out with one that has decent gas mileage. I am averaging 32 mpg which is a lot better than my Explorer was getting. I do get a kick out of the "stealth mode". OK, I taught kindergarten for years so I still have a lot of the kid in me. I think it is pretty cool that my little SUV can sneak up on folks who are walking down the middle isle of a parking lot.

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  2nd Explorer - 2005 Ford Explorer
  By specialawp - October 27 - 7:02 am

  The Explorer is all around fun to drive. It handles like a car, but still feels like an SUV. Highly recommend leather!

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  Solid car, good buy - 2006 Ford Taurus
  By Ken - October 26 - 6:55 pm

  Easy on the eyes, meaningful amenities without all the extra toys that go bad on up-scale vehicles. Plain, solid performer with comfortable seating, good heat/air and reasonable sound. Quiet as a cat.

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  Awesome! - 2007 Ford Fusion
  By Justin - October 26 - 6:50 pm

  I have loved this car since it was introduced in 2006 and when I got the chance to get a new car, I immediately looked for a Fusion. Its a great car, fun to drive and very reliable It packs a large punch that you might not expect from a V4.

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  Best of the Best - 2005 Ford Crown Victoria
  By Glenn1149 - October 26 - 3:53 am

  This automobile is without a doubt the best overall vehicle I have ever owned within this class. It has looks, performance and serviceability like none other on the market. It is great in the economy category too. I just came off of a trip that I exceeded 26.5 miles per gallon on for the second or third time in two months. This with a V-8 that runs like nothing I have ever owned before or since the Sixties anyway. It has been a long time coming but I do not see how anyone can buy a smaller car in this price range with a V-6. You get less space, less performance and less economy. The comfort is beyond belief and this vehicle is absolutely fun to drive.

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  Ford better idea - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By dave - October 25 - 5:26 pm

  Ive driven it for 1 year. Ford did a bad job advertising this one. Weve made trips; Mobile, AL, Nashville,TN, the mountains of PA. The car handles great. The selling point for us was the seven people seating. You can actually put seven tall people in this one. Handle great in snow rain and sun weather. Weve done them all. The cvt tranny works great, but not advertise well. Car has good power. I set speed at 70; it will do it over hill or level. It works very good back home in the hills of south western PA.