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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  Very Good Small Truck - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By Gary Spears - April 7 - 8:14 am

  If youre looking for a good small truck you really cant go wrong with this one. Holds its value well. Since there are a billion of them parts are cheap and plentiful. My only recommendation is that if you get the super cab, you want to get the 4.0 liter V6. The 3 liter is a little small for that big of a truck. And the mileage difference is not that great.

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  Very Dependable and Fun to Drive - 1996 Ford Mustang
  By L Ruiz - April 7 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for almost 7 1/2 years and have never had any mechanical problems with it, other than regular maintenance. It looks good and is fun to drive.

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  Dependable Truck - 1997 Ford Ranger
  By Cherie - April 7 - 2:00 am

  No mechanical problems. The only repair since purchase is to replace the heating element.

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  91 Escort - 1991 Ford Escort
  By joe777 - April 7 - 2:00 am

  Great car ! If your looking for power and performance look elsewhere (obviously) But if you just need a reliable car that wont cost much at all to maintain and is absolutly amazing on gas, this is a great car to own.

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  Nice Car... Bad Price... - 2007 Ford Shelby GT500
  By ShelbyOwner - April 6 - 7:53 pm

  I paid quite a bit over sticker for this baby... nice car, but for the price, well... Theres nothing wrong with the car itself. Its a great car, just pricey. It drives nicely, a bit front-heavy, but its straight-line performance is amazing.

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  versatile and fun - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By timo - April 5 - 11:46 pm

  Excellent vehicle in this class. Competent in many different roles and more fun to drive than we expected it to be. Very good handling (18 inch wheels and Pirelli tires) and brakes. Very comfortable and roomy. Mileage better than book - 20-26 mpg. Terrific a/c system, but wish for a pure fresh air vent system.

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  All good, but transmission - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
  By Chris - April 5 - 2:56 am

  I bought my Explorer with 46,xxx miles on it. Now at 146,xxx miles, Ive grown really fond of almost everything about the truck. Except the fact that Ive had to rebuild the transmission twice! It went out once right before 100,000 and again about 40k later! The moonroof leaks pretty bad, too. Its treated me great otherwise, but Im sick of replacing the transmission and the 18 MPG, too.

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  2008 Escape XLT V-6 - 2008 Ford Escape
  By Wisconsin D - April 3 - 8:30 pm

  I traded my 01 Ford Ranger 4x4 for my Escape, and love my Escape. I use it for commuting, and pleasure - mileage on highway is about 24-25. In town it drops to 18-19. The V-6 is adequate for power. Handling is what sets this vehicle above others I tested. AWD is excellent - no problem with snow, ice, sleet. Inside is comfortable, and good visibility. We take it more than our Lexus for around town.

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  Great But... - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By RoughRider - April 3 - 4:03 am

  We have had the car about a month and a half. For the size of vehicle it gets good mileage. Traded in a Highlander Hybrid. Seems to be a fairly well designed vehicle. The back up camera is far superior to the Toyota and the BLIS system is great. For all the wonderful features about this car, it rides like a tank. Took a trip from Portland to Seattle and back. By the time we got home, my wife and I felt beat to death. Have discussed ride issue with Dealer and FMCO, but apparently that is the way the car is designed. You can tell this is a 4 cyl. engine, but with the electric assist it still moves.

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  Hawaii 5.0 - 1990 Ford Mustang
  By TKISDMAN - April 3 - 2:00 am

  I cant believe that Edmunds lists the Mustang at the price it does when it is a great car, plenty of power, and has NEVER broken down on me. The only thing I worry about with the car is driving on snow.....then its a sled. But then again, who else is gonna wanna drive a high performance car on ice?