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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  Sporty & fun to drive - 2002 Ford Escape
  By Ron Christopher - August 31 - 10:00 am

  We just returned from a 1,200 mile drive on vacation. This suv/truck/ sports car was an absolute pleasure to drive. We averaged a little over 20 mpg which is great for this strong V6. I highly reccomend the leather seating, the no boundries roof rack and the 16" sport wheels & tires, it`s gives the vehicle a little more class.

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  One of the Greatest trucks - 1998 Ford Explorer
  By Daveh - August 31 - 10:00 am

  This is one of the greatest trucks Ive owned or driven. All of my friends also agree with me. It drives great, and the interior is second to none. Its no BMW, but it is one of the best built American cars today. Once again, Ford out does GM.

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  love my ford - 2002 Ford F-150
  By amanda - August 31 - 10:00 am

  i love everything about my ford. it is so fun going places in it. i bought the silver, it shows noooo dirt. it handels very well. the fuel economy is great. i can leave west tn and go across the state into the carolinas. the only disadvantage i have is that i should have bought a 4x4 since i have a farm

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  Fun Truck - 2002 Ford F-150
  By AraS - August 31 - 10:00 am

  This truck is outstanding, best in the market. It is fun to drive, it is very comfy inside and it makes you feel like a king. Great handeling, speed and overall performance. Its a must have. For 32 thousand, this car is a steal. I would of paied up to 50 for this truck.

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  Hill Country TX Review - 2006 Ford Escape
  By Canyon Lake, TX. - August 30 - 10:49 am

  Prior to our purchase, we test drove Chevy HHR & Equinox (neither impressed us), Suzuki Grand Vitara (lacked performance) Saturn Vue (lacked style) Jeep Compass (poor quality). Were happy with the Escape. Handles the hill country well, excellent quality, ride, performance. We also like the appearance over competitive makes. Nice features, but gas mileage in our 4WD model is not impressive (16 mpg) and we need darker window tint to handle the Texas sun. Impressive driveability on wet & dry roads.

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  Great Car - 2003 Ford Escape
  By JohnG - August 30 - 9:52 am

  This vehicle has met my expectations since my very first test drive. It was great to feel the smooth acceleration as I stepped on the gas and listened to the mighty little 3.0 come to life. It handles the road and curves like something that you might expect in a European concours. Its been loyal and fun to drive and my girls, the 100 lb. yellow labs, love it too!

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  Great small SUV - 2007 Ford Escape
  By Jerry R - August 30 - 6:38 am

  The Escape is a relatively inexpensive, fun-to-drive small SUV that also happens to get pretty decent gas mileage. It has more cargo room than I had anticipated which has been a very welcome surprise.

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  Wow, the best of the suv world - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By Tim - August 30 - 12:48 am

  Fords only problem with this vehicle is that it doesnt have the ad budget that Ford puts on its other vehicles. We drove a lot of suvs and crossover vehicles. The first thing we noticed is the ease of getting in and out of the vehicle. You dont climb in, you just get in. Ours has every option I could dream up. If you have kid, get the dvd option, it makes long trips much more bearable. I did a lot of research on this vehicle before we bought it, the only real comparative/negative that I could find was it was under powered compared to other crossovers, (Buick Rendezvous, and Chrysler Pacifica). We drove those. With the Freestyles CVT transmission it doesnt need 245hp. Passing is scary fast.

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  Perfect car for Anybody - 2000 Ford Taurus
  By JCD II - August 29 - 8:25 pm

  My mom bought this car new. It is so comfortable to drive and operate. I am 16 and I know plenty about cars. My mom bought a new 93 Taurus at the same dealership we got this one. We hated to see our old one go. It had over 200k on it, yet it still ran perfect. The Taurus is perfect for long vacations or just to go to town and back. Either way, this is the best car we have ever had. When I graduate in 2008 Im taking this car to college. Its probably going to have 200k on it then, but I dont care. I have faith it wont skip a beat. Its been such a reliable car, I can always be sure that when I turn the key, the ol motor will start right up. I will always recommend a good ol Ford Taurus.

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  underrated car - 1994 Ford Probe
  By c_hustle - August 28 - 10:00 pm

  This car has been very reliable. Ive had it for two years and havent had any major repairs yet! Great car.