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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  Doh! - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By honkalu - June 21 - 9:40 am

  Purchased @ 83,000 miles. Replaced the crank shaft pulley, now the radiator is leaking. After reading about other problems and shelling out over a grand in my first year of ownership, I am considering selling. Have an 2002 civic I have done nothing to with 130,000 miles

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  Solid car but sync support is terrible - 2011 Ford Fusion
  By snowfire20 - June 20 - 2:48 pm

  I love the car. It drives great the handling and performance are perfect. The only issue is Fords sync support. There is none. There support staff know nothing about when or if they will upgrade. They dangle adding pandora or applink but no date has been set. Its been 2 years. Ford may have been the first to start with sync but there last place when it comes to customer service on sync.

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  I love this car - 2010 Ford Focus
  By bstraw - June 18 - 1:42 pm

  I needed to downsize from the Trailblazer I had and needed something that was a lot better on gas milegae so I looked at the Focus. Ive had mine for a few months and really like it. Other than the road noise which I read may be either the factory (kumho) tires or rims and the fact that my ignition coil went out at 40k thousand miles I love this car and would defintely purchase another one.

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  2001 F-150 XLT SCrew, 4x4, AT, 5.4 Triton. - 2001 Ford F-150
  By norsechild76 - June 16 - 3:38 am

  I bought this truck used in 2011 with 185K on the odometer. It needed shocks and tires, also went through and did brakes, fluids and rebuilt the front end with Moog parts. Very happy with the truck and paid $5k for it. I expect to get 250K out of this truck without any issues. Front seat pad needs replaced, but that is expected.

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  Great Little Car for the Money - 2009 Ford Focus
  By kendrixjr - June 11 - 2:06 pm

  Purchased the car new in July 2009. Replaced an F-150. Took a while to get used to small car however when I saw the savings at the pump, loved the car. Other than scheduled maintenance, no out of pocket expense except tires. Currently has 53,000 miles and running great. Material on the seats seem a bit cheap but other than that, fun car to drive. Perfect for only 1 or 2 people. Back seat is a bit small but would be ok for someone with small kids or someone who isnt very tall. Would recommend this Focus to anyone. Just make certain that the maintenance has been up to date. The maintenance is extremely reasonable for this car. Would definitely buy one again...

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  Good, but.... - 2011 Ford Edge
  By 123max - June 10 - 7:35 pm

  I have owned the vehicle for over 1 year in the Republic of Panama. It´s very nice to drive and have a reasonable fuel consumption, considering a 3.5 V-6 engine. Unfortunately the dealers in Panama are not making noticeable efforts to improve post sale service which will make any excellent manufactured vehicle a nightmare soon or later despite the fact that the vehicle sensors are there to advise when maintenance is due.

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  Great Car! - 1999 Ford Escort
  By yaknow - June 9 - 7:07 pm

  My familly has owned a ford escort sport zx2 from 1999 to now. of the course of its life a huge tree has fell on it and still it runs. however some of the accessories arent doing so well, cd changer and cassette tape doesnt function perhaps because the wiring is faulty after being repaired from the tree. It is now my first car and it is great. i love how it rides. i usually dont like carpeted interior but this car wouldn be what it is if it didnt have the carpeted interior. I encourage everyone to buy it unless you are like 6 feet tall cause it has a low roof.

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  Love the Flex - 2012 Ford Flex
  By mowog - June 8 - 10:51 pm

  We chose the Flex for its interior space, exterior styling, and 4,500 pound towing capacity. We think the red with white roof combination looks stunning. We were concerned that the non-turbo engine would struggle pulling our 3,200 lb. camper in the mountains, but the standard engine has worked just fine -- including a tow through the Eisenhower tunnel at 11,138 feet. Mileage commonly runs around 26 mpg on the highway, and 16 mpg pulling the camper at 60 mph. We love this vehicle.

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  Faithful Family Hauler - 2000 Ford Taurus
  By popperoni2 - June 7 - 5:06 pm

  I bought my wagon used in 2002, with 18,000 miles on it. It now has over 163,000 miles and is my 24 y.o. sons daily driver. With routine maintenance, Ive never had any major failures. Still has the original tranny. AC blows cold. I commuted 35 miles (each way) daily for 3 years with no problems. It survived three years of being a primary driver for 2 different high schoolers, and four years as a frat beer hauler. Its been loaded for multiple college move-ins and move-outs. Even hauled a trailer full of furniture from Mich. to D.C. Still looks good, inside and out. Just today, it completed a 120-mile trip without a hitch. Its a great car.

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  Great Entry Level Car for the Value (Sedan, Auto Trans.) - 2012 Ford Fiesta
  By sarah0509w - June 7 - 12:24 pm

  This was my 1st car purchased new, and I love it. I dont understand peoples huge annoyance w/ the shifting. Its an economy car, so of course its not going to be as responsive and zoom off like some of the higher level models or like a sports car. Yes, the shifting can seem a bit indecisive and shaky at low gears, but it really depends how you drive it. If you are a shy, offensive, accelerator-tapping driver it will probably bug you. As long as youre not shy and you drive with purpose (Im not saying to squeal out or be reckless), its surprisingly responsive and fun. The sedan is pretty spacious, and everyone comments on how big the trunk is. AND I get an avg of 33mpg city, 39-40mpg hwy!