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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  Fun car, but you pay for it - 1994 Ford Taurus
  By jmichalicek - August 13 - 2:00 am

  Overall I really enjoy this car. It is a low 15 second/high 14 second 1/4 mile 4 door sedan, not the fastest out there, but quick enough to surprise most people. It handles well in the corners, too. Unfortunately, it is very high maintenance, things break often, they are hard to find, and expensive when you do find them. There are also very few mechanics who can work on this car properly, so youd better learn to do it yourself.

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  Awsome truck - 1998 Ford F-150
  By ardarbonne - August 13 - 2:00 am

  Had this truck for not even two years. I have decided I wouldnt give it up for the world. Already moved across country and had to tote over 7000 lbs worth of households. No problems what so ever. I have been hit once which most would consider totalled, but she is still running strong. Beautiful truck with great power. If you can get past the gas mileage, this is the best truck to look into.

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  Good car for the $$$ - 1999 Ford Contour
  By ContourDave - August 13 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for 10 months now and havent had any major problems. The dashboard has warped (covered under a recall) and the fan switch only works on the "high" setting. Will both be fixed soon. The dealer I bought it from also services it and is GREAT! Very customer oriented and accomodating.

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  All show, no go. - 2008 Ford Escape
  By skt4271 - August 12 - 5:03 pm

  I also still own a 02 Escape XLT, so i feel my review is based on that. I have only owned the car since July new off the lot, so my experince so far is good. Compared to the 02 model, the exterior and interior are from two different worlds, but the engine is still the same. Its real slow of the line, feels like I need to press gas pedal down further to get going. Can hear the engine a little too much, much not that bad with the free 6 month Sirius subscription they give you, I can deal with it. Ford really made this one more manly to drive than the previous models.

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  Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it - 2004 Ford Escape
  By g.s. - August 12 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my Escape for approx. 3 months now. It handles very well for an SUV and feels very safe, except in rain or on hills. The front wheel drive is very jerky in these conditions and squeals your tires. Its a fun car to travel around in with all your friends or family, but with the windshield wiper handle directly in front of your gear shift they are easy to confuse.

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  I Love This Vehicle ! - 2000 Ford Excursion
  By Laura Ryan - August 12 - 2:00 am

  Terrific towing and family vehicle. The diesel runs flawlessly and I have 66,000 and have never had a problem. After 3 2500 Suburbans this car is heaven ! No comparison on the quality of design and innovativeness of features

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  Happy - 2004 Ford Taurus
  By R2kiwi - August 12 - 2:00 am

  Good, solid, american car. For a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord with comparable features it is several thousand dollars cheaper which is nice. I cant think of anything I dont like. Nothing has gone wrong with it. The fit and finish is good, I was treated well at the Ford dealership.

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  AWESOME - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By starfreek - August 12 - 2:00 am

  eASIER TO GO CAMPING IN THIS LARGER VEHICLE

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  Chose over all others - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Kate - August 11 - 1:23 pm

  Spent 3 solid months researching vehicles and settled upon Audi A6 or Volvo S60 but chose the 500 based upon its safety factor and roominess in both interior and trunk. Surprised by smooth driving, shifting and overall ride which I felt was comparable to those of European design -- in fact, its almost of that style in the front but the back end is not that attractive. Excellent gas mileage, average of 22.8 - 28.9. Did not choose AWD because I live in So. CA. Nice feature though.

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  Surprisingly good vehicle - 2015 Ford C-Max Energi
  By Luke - August 10 - 9:21 pm

  Original review from 2015: I was in the market for a plug in hybrid vehicle, so choices were limited to the Prius, the Volt, and the C-Max. I test drove all 3, and my favorite was the C-Max. I chose it over the Prius because it was more fun to drive and had more built-in technology such as the navigation, entertainment center, bluetooth, voice commands, park assist, hands-free tailgate opening. The Volt had better acceleration , was low to the ground, and had a sports car feel. Being a family guy, I opted for the C-Max which had a SUV-like look and feel (it is higher off the ground and had better visibility of the road). It is my first Ford car, and it is fun to drive. I have been averaging 70mpg on a 50 mile commute to work. I work in Los Angeles and have found many places that supply the 220v outlets so I plug in while at work. The only negative is the small trunk but that is a small inconvenience I can live with. March 8, 2017: it is now 18 months since I bought this car. Now have about 30K miles on it. My original review still stands. I continue to love my car. It is reliable and never had any mechanical or engine issues. My two complaints are sometimes the hands-free tailgate function doesnt work all the time, and the navigation system is not as good as my iPhone. Its a bit clumsy to use and cant find some points of interest when I try to type it on the screen. The voice recognition when asking for directions is not great either. September 9, 2017: Still loving it. Still continues to perform well. Only thing I will add is my Ford dealership gives me great service when I bring the car in for scheduled maintenance.