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:

• 

  LOVE this car - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By Kenneth Conrad - March 21 - 10:00 am

  It was either this or the Suburban. But almost all of our friends own a Suburban, and the style is ho-hum. But the Expedition is fantastic -- great bold exterior. We originally selected this car because of the independent rear suspension. Even though its still an SUV, it doesnt feel as much like a truck as the Suburban. The 5.4L is a must. The power-fold and roominess of the 3rd row are excellent. It is missing the power recline, but the memory option is great for 2 drivers. The backup alert is also a must -- already saved my wife from running over 5 people who werent smart enough to wait for her to back out. And best of all, it probably saved my marriage ;)

• 

  Fun for the whole family - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Hefhay - March 21 - 10:00 am

  What a great all around vehicle. The versatility is unmatched in any other vehicle available. Good room in all seats. 4WD rips through snow and really helps on wet surfaces. Bed is great for family sized hauling (mulch, bikes, weekend get-a-way bags, etc.)

• 

  Love It! - 2004 Ford Expedition
  By sanddollar1 - March 21 - 10:00 am

  I especially like the larger mirrors- handy when towing our Holiday Rambler or my boat. The 4WD with the advancetrac is surefooted on the way to the slopes, something our autoride-equipped Suburban was not. Much better interior quality than my sisters 2000 EB Expy 4X4

• 

  Cant be Beat - 2007 Ford Fusion
  By Ched - March 21 - 9:50 am

  I purchased this car after looking at the Camry, Accord, Altima, and G6. This car blows them all out of the water. You cant beat what you get out of this car. Especially considering it cost less them all its comparable counterparts. What can I say, Ford nailed it with this one.

• 

  A Fun to Drive and Satisfying Ride - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By Matthew - March 20 - 10:00 pm

  I have owned my Explorer for almost two years now and I absolutely love to drive it! My Explorer has the 4.6 liter V-8 and I would definitely say that it is powerful as well as useful for passing slow cars. Some of the reasons why I bought my Explorer were that I liked the plush leather interior, the two tone paint oxford white (body) and silver (trim), and the premium sound system that included a subwoofer. I am very satisfied with my Ford Explorer and would recommend it to anyone looking to buy a midsize SUV.

• 

  Cant Believe I Got One - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By Howard - March 20 - 10:43 am

  For the price paid I couldnt find anything as much fun on the market. The only thing that surprised me at first was the acceleration with the V6 and 5 speed. I thought it would feel faster and I started to be disappointed until I looked at the speedo and saw how fast I was going. This is going to take getting used to if I want to obey speed limits.

• 

  More suv than expected - 2006 Ford Expedition
  By Ronnie Moses - March 20 - 8:59 am

  I am an old school suv/truck guy (Bronco) and have never been an independent suspension fan, but this Expedition has pleasantly surprised me. I ordered the offroad suspension package and love the ride and drive of my Expedition. Overall this thing is like a Swiss army knife, you can do almost anything with it and it actually does go offroad pretty good too. The Ford Expedition is one awesome 4 wheel drive suv.

• 

  Great handling, sporty, good price point - 2006 Ford Escape
  By dave_7248 - March 19 - 8:07 pm

  Responsive handling, manageable size, and sporty look have been satisfying. After researching and test driving at least 12 vehicles (RAV4, Forester, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Jeep Liberty, etc.) for more than a year, I finally decided on the 2006 Ford Escape. The combination of being fun to drive, the safety canopy package and the price point kept pointing me back to the Escape. Ive rented the Escape at least four times, and have always been satisfied at the end of my trips (despite having a bad back). My concern has always been the Ford name -- will the Escape be reliable? Im a big Consumer Reports fan, and they gave the vehicle a great review for reliability.

• 

  Nice truck with many styles - 2004 Ford F-150
  By jetfighter - March 19 - 4:13 pm

  I like their CD review of truck frame comparing it to others (Dodge, Toyota, and Nissan). It appears to be built so that the frame is more solid than the others are, which has to be good. Overall, I would have to say that it is an impressive truck. But I have not driven the others only read reviews and I have only had this one for a bit, so only time will tell on the quality.

• 

  dream truck - 2005 Ford F-150
  By rick w - March 19 - 5:10 am

  Only had it for 3 weeks but love it. Beautiful, powerful, luxurious. Went with a spray-in bed (negotiated a credit for the plastic liner part of the package) and a aluminum fold down tonneau cover (Fold A Cover) and solved the storage space issue. Fuel economy is not good (15/18) but fits my situation.