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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  Sedan Thats Fun to Drive - 2007 Ford Fusion
  By Big Jim - June 3 - 3:40 am

  The Ford Fusion is not the most refined or most powerful sedan, but it is adequately powered and handles better than any sedan in its class. If you are looking for a car that is fun to drive and looks great, you should at least give the all-wheel drive Fusion a test drive. This car responds to steering input instantly and it just sticks to the road. The Fusion not only handles great, but it also has a very comfortable ride. The interior is not flashy with a lot of gimmicks. It is a simple and straightforward design that I have always enjoyed from Ford. The seats are comfortable

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  Freestyle - Freewheel - 2007 Ford Freestyle
  By Mick Reeves - June 3 - 12:29 am

  I echo everyones comments here, but I have one piece of advice to up your fuel consumption. As Im from the UK but live in the USA and we have gas selling at almost $8 a gallon we have to find ways of driving to save or stretch gas as far as we can. So, first off, get a light foot. Second, dont race to the next set of lights if they are red. Third, Dont excelerate from a stop to fast, be gentle with the pedal, back off once you reach the speed you want. Forth, When you have a good hill to go down, knock the thing in to neutral and coast, slot it back into drive when you need to. Fifth, try to drive without using the brakes to much, braking costs energy. Last, use cruise, always, everywhere

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  Very Happy - 2009 Ford Flex
  By Jonathan - June 2 - 11:48 pm

  I grinded over this decision for two months. I looked at Mercedes, BMW, Honda, Mazda,GM, VW,... I have never owned a Ford. I have owned all of the above. I think we made the right choice. We git unique styling, a functional interior, tons of space, decent mpg, and a great value for the vehicle at the price. My wife disliked the head rests, but they are are removable and or reversable. The adjustable pedals take care of the steering wheel telescoping issues. I am proud to buy American again!

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  Even 15 Years later a GREAT Car - 1994 Ford Mustang
  By GeeTee - June 2 - 2:10 pm

  Bought a 94 GT with the 5.0 V8 and AODE Tranny with 28k Miles on the clock, now not even 1 year later i have little more than 40k miles on the clock, because its a blast to drive. Powerfull even with the 2.73 Gears, could be quicker on the line but its because of the LOOONG gears, swap with 3.73s or 4.10s and you think you add a power adder )

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  Great little car - 2006 Ford Focus
  By Shelley - June 2 - 1:42 pm

  I love my Ford Focus and am so glad I purchased it last year. It getsÂ’s great gas mileage and drives well. The only drawback to this vehicle is that it isnt great in the snow beyond that I have no complaints. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a reliable inexpensive automobile as long as youÂ’re less than 6 ft tall, my husband is a bit uncomfortable in the drivers seat. It has all the bells and whistles you need without the expensive price tag.

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  best truck on the road - 2009 Ford F-150
  By klaatu - June 2 - 12:59 pm

  Having owned five F series ford trucks since my 66 long bed. I am glad i got this puppy. I had a bad experience with the T-word truck. they are not trucks, they, the toys are a joke. Ford trucks last in the long haul and can take highway punishment. The massive ford boxed frame is awsome, the equally massive suspension system is a joy to behold. the power of the 4.6L is going to get me a ticket if im not careful. so get yourself a radar detector, and use it. the cruise control is flawless. Yes, as some have said, the head rests stink, just pop em out and turn em around, problem solved. the middle 40-20-40 seat in the front, bugged me so i took it out ( 4 13mm bolts).

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  1,300 miles 5 people + Luggage= Review - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Iceman - June 2 - 8:36 am

  This is my wifes car. I own a Fusion that I love dearly. We took a weekend trip to St. Louis for a funeral. Over 1,400 miles in one weekend with 5 people + luggage. I drive fast (around 90) and still got over 20 mpg for the trip. I could easily see 23-24 mpg fully loaded driving say 65 or 70. Not the fastest vehicle in acceleration but adequate for a family vehicle. Very stable in turns at expressway speeds. Change your tires which we just recently did from the original Continentals. New Goodyears are a huge improvement. This is a great family vehicle that is good on long trips. Ford hit a homerun again. These are cheap buys on the used market.

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  164000 miles and still kickin - 2001 Ford Ranger
  By Ncbmxpro - June 2 - 7:50 am

  I bought my truck new in 2001. I have 164,000 miles on it and it still runs like a champ. Besides oil changes, tires, fuel and air filters, and some light bulbs I have only needed to replace the spark plugs and wires, and distribution cap. Not too bad for an 8 year old truck. And I havent babied this thing either. I have had body damage repaired three times and replaced a rim after hitting a curb at 50mph when the truck was only 2 years old.

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  Overall very good but... - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Juli - June 2 - 5:53 am

  I purchased my Freestyle AWD Limited in January and have 8K on it. I love the interior layout and overall design. But, it is definitely an American car. You can see the fit/finish on the interior is not quite as polished as a Japanese vehicle. Already a piece on the corner of the window has popped out of place. Plus the heated seats only stay on for 10 minutes at a time. I am still happy with the vehicle though but I think they can improve upon it. The CVT takes a while to get used to, the cruise control has a difficult time keeping an even speed on hills and the engine kicks on very high RPM going uphill if you try to maintain speed.

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  I stole it!! - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By MasterSmeat - June 2 - 4:18 am

  I just bought a 1997 Taurus LX sedan for my mom. She lives in TX, and I live in CA. Her truck recently bit the dust and she was in bad need of a car but with very little money. I stumbled upon this beauty on Craigs List, and for $400 I had to check it out. The guy told me it would over heat, so I figured that it could only be a few things. Worst case scenario, the radiator is only $84 from rockauto.com. So, I limped it home and started with the cheapest parts first, thermostat, flush, and finally a water pump. So, with two days hard work, $500 and lots of grease and grime, my moms got a very strong and reliable car which I drove 1300 miles to her without a hiccup!