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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  Highly Recommend - 2003 Ford Escape
  By FordMamma - June 1 - 10:00 am

  I just traded in my Jeep Larado for a Ford Escape. The difference in the feel of the drive is drastic! The Ford is very smooth drive like a car. I would say the interior is the same size as my Jeep Larado only I feel I sit lower. The back window the opens up in the back trunk is an asset for a person in a hurry. The back is very roomy in comparison the the Honda CRV or the Rav4. Great air/heat system. The CD/sound is wonderful! I feel very safe in this car and saftey was important for us. Wonderful gas milage. For the price I feel I got a lot of car. I did A LOT of research and feel that I chose the best car for our family.

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  I love my SUV - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By MVR - June 1 - 7:20 am

  I love the fact that I am in a Green car and its an SUV. It runs great. I bought the 4wd with all the goodies possible; both interior and exterior look good to me. Only a few complaints, the mileage is not near what was expected. I actually do very little driving, mostly around town with lots of stops, I am getting about 25-27 mpg. The NAV system works really easily compared to my other car, however it will not allow you to program while driving. I know that is a safety feature but a passenger can program too! Last complaint is that the cruise control buttons should light up to make it easier to set at night. Other than that, love my car and glad I bought it.

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  4th One is the Best! - 2006 Ford Expedition
  By Jeff Davis - May 31 - 8:38 pm

  98 ,01, 03 now 06! I wouldnt own anything else. The heated and cooled seats are awesome. The gas mileage could be better, but I think the performance would suffer too much. Very nice sound system. Good head and leg room. 3rd row power fold seat is a must if you intend to take it shopping.

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  My Baby - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By 2005 stang - May 31 - 11:48 am

  Ive always wanted a muscle car and Im proud to own this one. I compared to other cars out there and am very happy with what I got for the price I paid. This pony peels out fast and looks good doing it.

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  SoFarSoGood - great looks, smooth ride - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By jekcartalk - May 31 - 4:36 am

  Like the overall appearance of the car; some factory defects on the back passenger doors ( looks like someone dinged the door). The power is adequate.The CVT transmission is smooooth. The interior is nicely laid out with comfortable seats (have driven over 400 miles in one sitting). The stereo system is fine. 26mpg highway and 21 city. Road noise is minimal in the Limited. Compared to the other cars I have driven (Audi, BMW, Acura, MDX) there is no clear advantage or disadvantage. The car is solidly built and for the price paid (~$4.5k less than sticker), reasonably priced for the market. For a family man with three active children it has good cabin space compared to other sedans.

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  great Ford vehicle - 1999 Ford Explorer
  By kavinagal - May 30 - 8:43 am

  My car has been a wonderful vehicle -- has always had good performance. reliability and such a good look. Its in great shape and has excellent highway mileage.

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  The Best Car I ever had! - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By H. Hamood - May 29 - 8:40 pm

  My previous vehicle was a 98 F-150. So it was about time to start looking for something else.I Started out looking for an SUV of some sort thats not so thirsty on gas.While in the ford lot I glanced over at the Fusion, took a closer look at the sticker. I noticed the abundance in features it had. Next, I took a test drive.Thats all it took. I purchased a black SEL loaded with the sport appearance package.Leather seats, moon + tune package, the works! The sporty red accents on the seats are awesome!My 12 yr old son loves the car just as much! Ford did their homework on this one. The only gripe I have is better all- season performance tires for summer as well as winter driving wouldnt hurt.

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  Love it - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Heather - May 29 - 1:30 pm

  I went from a Ford Explorer to the new 500 and got better gas mileage and more room. Love it.

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  Best car out (for the money) - 2006 Ford Focus
  By josh - May 29 - 4:48 am

  I picked this up as a commuter car to make the 140 mile round trip commute to school. Its got plenty of power, and is responsive. It rolls down the highway smooth as silk at 75-80 miles an hour. I got the cold weather package (heated seats and side mirrors), Sony audiophile package and all the goodies that come with the SES trim. For the money, this car can not be beat. Comfortable, stylish and plenty of pep from the 2L engine. No other entry level car competes with the Focus.

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  So Far the Best - 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By freeandfighting - May 29 - 12:33 am

  Yes, the best vehicle Ive purchased in my 45 years buying new and used cars. Zero defects, outstanding mileage. I think it combines the best combination of mileage, safety, capacity, and price of any vehicle in the U.S. market today. Its $3,000 income tax rebate made it a $25,600 purchase price for me plus tax and tag. Noticeable improvements over the 2008 model I test drove early in the year. You could coast for a long time between 35 and 40 mph on electric alone! Mine is still on break-in and the average mileage with AC on half of the time (Miami,FL) is 33.6 mpg. This is on a mix 50% suburban, 30% city, 20% highway; and American made to boot.