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:

• 

  Good car - 2003 Ford Crown Victoria
  By Mike T - August 26 - 1:10 am

  No real problems so far. Generally good performance & economy. At 73000 km both are starting to slip a bit but its due for a tune up & sits a lot, so ethanol in fuel could be playing havoc with injectors. In warmer seasons,gets about 20 mpg city cdn & 30-33 on hwy. Wife has severe back problems & finds car very comfortable. But ride could be smoother. As someone else said, trunk lid holds water & soaks you when you open it. Pins & bushings in front door hinges worn out. Car is very well maintained - go figure? For 1/2-1/3 price of high end used import, take the Vic! Read consumer info! Fuel consumption in line with larger imports. With proper maintenance, I expect to have it a long time.

• 

  2005 Freestar - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By kevin walsh - August 25 - 4:29 pm

  Excellent vehicle, purchased from dealer certified with 12K miles & 1 retail owner. $15,600, cant beat that. We like the 2nd row captains seats. Drives as minivan should, solid & rattle free. Completely satisfied.

• 

  Melbourne Florida - 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By aebner1 - August 25 - 12:17 am

  Owned a 2006 Ford Fusion SEL and loved it. After 93000 miles I decided to trade it on a 2012 Fusion Hybrid. Wife and I looked at Prius Hybrid but thought the interior looked cheap and my wife and I decided we like the comfort the Fusion offered, plus 0-60 in 8.6 second instead of 12 seconds for the Prius. Fusion is very fast off the line. Good for passing. We bought the car the 4th of July and are learning how to maximize gas milege. We average 39 mpg over all. Today I got 45.9 mpg on 45 to 55 miles an hour driving. Some people said they get 36 average. My wife was hesitant about buying a hybrid at first but now is a believer in hybrid. We both like all the bells and whistles.

• 

  Great to Drive - 2006 Ford Escape
  By Stan - August 24 - 10:53 am

  Very agile, peppy 4 cylinder, well designed interior & dash, lots of room and passenger friendly & comfortable.

• 

  First Pickup - 2001 Ford F-150
  By Eric Novak - August 24 - 8:50 am

  Bought this truck almost 5 years ago and have been extremely happy with it. It tows our ski boat like a champ and has always run well for us. Has interior like a large car and bed for the weekend building projects and yard work. We have Lariat with heated seats, moon roof, leather, etc. Still looks brand new with good care. Have gone through 2 sets of tire and brakes with 112,000 miles...which I feel is good and fair. Change oil/filter every 5000 miles, air filter etc. I just had the plugs replaced at 110,000 miles at dealer and although it did not run rough...it runs smooth like new again. Have had transmission fluids changed as manual says and no problems. It is a great truck period.

• 

  great car - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By jon - August 24 - 5:16 am

  Makes me a believer in hybrids. Great mileage (averages 30) and well built. Have had no problems. Only negative is the ride is a little hard but it is a 4 wheel drive small truck.

• 

  Cant stop driving it - 2006 Ford Escape
  By Butch - August 23 - 10:23 am

  I had a 2000 Blazer before my 06 Escape. What an improvement. Ford put together a very nice vehicle. Such a fun car to drive. Front wheel drive, independent 4 wheel suspension, big tires, a well balanced suv. Responsive V6, no rattles, quiet, handles very well. Gas mileage is very acceptable. 21 city, 24-25 hwy. As I mentioned, I cant stop driving it. Being on a fixed income, its hard to not get in it every day and put on 20-30 miles just enjoying it. The $3.00 per gal is hard to handle but hay, ITS SO MUCH FUN TO DRIVE! Being a previous suv owner, I can say this vehicle is a winner.

• 

  6 month evaluation - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By City driver - August 21 - 3:06 pm

  Ive had the vehicle for about 6 months. Bought the top-of-the-line and enjoyed it very much. It looks good, get great mileage (31 average). About a month after I bought it, it would start. Turned out there was a loose wire in the built in security system Last week, wrench light went on. Had to have a vent to cool the batteries replace. Hope this isnt a sign of things to come.

• 

  My Focus - 2000 Ford Focus
  By chainmail - August 21 - 2:32 pm

  My Focus has given me excellent driving pleasure for 6 years. When delivered it had a small oil leak in the transmission casing. The dealer replaced it and I have had no trouble

• 

  13 years of lil red - 1993 Ford Ranger
  By Dave Stewart - August 21 - 1:58 pm

  This Ranger was purchased new right off the truck. It had 9 miles on it in 6/93. Its now 8/2006 and it has 185,674 miles and still going strong. It still has the original motor and transmission. The V6 3.0 is great, the only thing its needs is a new paint job, no rust on it.