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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  Wow - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By Ronny B - March 13 - 2:00 am

  I just bought it and cant believe all the negative feedback here. I think it is an excellent car and an excellent value. I love driving it and think that Ford has done an excellent job with the 2002.

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  NIce Vehicle - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Mike6 - March 13 - 2:00 am

  this is an awesome vehicle

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  Party Wag - 2002 Ford Focus
  By weakside - March 13 - 2:00 am

  Perfect balance of economy, luxury, sportiness, and fun. You cant beat the ZTW for its price. Itll hold more cargo than many small and mid-size SUVs and get 30 mpg on the highway. And somehow, you end up having nearly the same view from the drivers seat. It rides quite high for a small car. I cant wait for its first road trip. Its just a fun car to drive.

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  Excellent Overall Full Size Car - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Mac - March 12 - 8:13 pm

  Purchased my Five Hundred Limited in mid-Dec. Fuel mileage after 600 miles ranges from 15 in the city to 23 on the highway (65 mph). Ride comfort is excellent. Traded in a 2003 LeSabre Limited. The ride in the Five Hundred is a bit firmer than the LeSabre, yet the handling is much sharper. The overall ergonomics are outstanding. The rear seat room accommodates just about anyone. The trunk is huge. Am hoping the overall fuel economy will improve as the powertrain gets "broken in." The 6- speed automatic makes up for the most part the lack of torque the 3.0L V6 has. Overall performance is similar to what the LeSabre had.

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  Great when you want a small minivan - 2016 Ford Transit Connect
  By Chris N. - March 11 - 11:41 pm

  We bought this to replace our beloved Mazda MPV after 220k miles. The MPV was small, we wanted a similar sized minivan. We test drove about 20 minivans and similar hybrids, but when I got in this, I told my wife "this is it". The forward view is so wide it feels like driving a motor coach or bus. I love the open view and light. The little details like the notch mirrors are great... but needed as there is a bit of a blind spot on the passenger shoulder area. Overall it feels very open with high visibility. Storage space is great on the 3 row model. The fold flat seats take some getting used to, but offer a very flat large storage area. A bit smaller than our MPV, but large enough to haul most of the bigger stuff from the store like chairs and tvs. The worst downsides for me are 1. slow acceleration 2. AC takes forever to cool down 3. things will roll right out of the back unless you put the optional net in because there is no storage well 4. second row seats do not recline (oddly the third row does) 5. with the third row seats up there is very very little storage room behind those seats. 6. no volume controls on the left of the steering wheel which means I cant fully drive with only one hand there on the left 7. I always find the cruise control a little confusing. 8. microsoft sync system can be a bit buggy (ive had to power down the car a few times to get it to fully restart, its done "scheduled maintenance" where its updating lord knows what for 8 min and not working) 9. I dont like that you cant turn off the proximity alerts. Sometimes they get annoying; YES I KNOW IM NEAR THE WALL AT THE DRIVE THROUGH. 10. the steering is a bit loose, its not a car that you want to steer with your knee for even a second. That may sound like a lot of bad stuff, and those things ARE annoying, but overall, I still love the car. What it gets right, it really gets right. Its comfortable, flexible, and for the most part I love the controls and sound system. There are lots of little things like bag hooks and storage nooks that just make it a pleasure to use. My wife is short and I am tall, and it works for both of us quite well. Backup camera is amazing.

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  LX Ford Vic Sport - 2005 Ford Crown Victoria
  By Killybight - March 11 - 12:36 am

  Love this car. Just did a 5000 mile trip, no problems. Love the smooth shift of the transmission. Good power. With the floor shift it is very easy to downshift to use the engine for braking. CD/am/fm/cassete player sound options. Auto-Set option on AM/FM Radio is nice on long trips. (Tunes in 6 strongest stations automatically)

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  good crosscountry - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By adamcolorado - March 10 - 7:12 pm

  I bought this truck in Tampa Florida and drove it to Atlanta every weekend for six months, I now live in Denver, co. and have driven back to Atlanta twice. No problems yet and it towed a eight foot U-Haul loaded down along with the truck bed loaded down at 75 mph across the country no problem. It is a little sluggish at altitude from 7000ft and higher. Does really well in deep snow for a two wheel drive truck, and the heater is great!

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  2002 Ford Explorer - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By 2002 Ford Explorer - March 10 - 5:23 pm

  Traded 2007 Mustang GT for a 2002 Ford Explorer. I live in Kansas so I need a SUV for the snow! I am really amazed by the Eddie Bauer 4x4!

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  Best Vehicle Ive owned - 2005 Ford Escape
  By kell1980 - March 10 - 3:20 pm

  Ive only had it 2 weeks but I already have fallen in love with it. Its comfortable, stylish, quiet, and easy to handle. My husband loves the Mach3 sound system.

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  Fun Car - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By Barry - March 10 - 9:55 am

  This is one of the best looking cars at any price. It has been flawless. Factory stereos could be better, but I do like the MP3 option. Lots of thumbs up and positive comments about this car. I have the GT with the 5 speed auto. Ive never driven a car that was such a blast to simply drive! Gas mileage is not too bad on the highway, but in stop and go conditions it drops down pretty quickly, 24 mpg highway, 16.5 mpg around town, but I drive with a heavy-ish foot -- with this car its hard not to. I would buy another without a second thought, way to go Ford!