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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  Helpful hints - 2005 Ford Explorer
  By April - June 15 - 10:19 am

  Mother of 4 and have a third row seat and loving it. Gas mileage is the same as most minivans so why not look sporty while driving and have enough room for 8 people.

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  Fun Machine - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By Omi23Angels - June 15 - 10:00 am

  I am a nearly 60 year old grandmother and my husband just bought me this marvelous machine - for our 41st wedding anniversary. And we LUV it! Weve had several fun new cars in our years, but I believe this one is the best yet. Or maybe its because were old and dont remember the real meaning of fun anymore! None the less, we put 4,000 miles on it the first month and have NO complaints. I would recommend it to everyone. Especially those who think its not an "old people" car!

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  my focus - 2004 Ford Focus
  By franv - June 15 - 10:00 am

  good value and american made

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  My Funky Ford Focus - 2004 Ford Focus
  By shadana - June 15 - 10:00 am

  I love my car. This is the first car that I have ever owned and I am proud of my purchase. I love all the standards features (cd player, power windows, locks). Ive driving 5 hours in my car and was still able to go out and party. I still wanted to drive.

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  Perfect urban combo rig - 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By ssnydes1 - June 15 - 2:39 am

  Bought this rig with 70K easy miles to go in the winter to a project in Northern Canada. It was outfitted with most of the options available including a nice stainless front pushbar/grill. Has meaty offroad tires and handles perfect in the snow with a quiet and comfortable ride. It is limited in the amount you can haul, but it has creature comforts of the $40K crew cabs that are selling now. Ultimately I will use it to haul around a light trailer with a WW1 biplane replica to airshows with my friends and it is perfect. Buy it if you need the crew capacity and limited hauling space. I get in the upper 20s fuel economy on the highway. Around town...ouch! It has been perfect in the snow.

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  love it - 2005 Ford Expedition
  By joanne - June 15 - 1:27 am

  I just bought the Expedition in May it is so different then driving a car. I dont think I want another car. We went for the Explorer but my friends said try something bigger. I was so intimidated by the Expedition. Why I dont know? It was a wonderful experience since I bought it. It protects me, it lets me shop for more things and I dont have to worry about storage space. I sit up high. I feel like Im on top of the world. Even though I am short, in my Expedition I am tall.

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  Best Mustang Yet! - 2017 Ford Mustang
  By George Capps - June 14 - 7:44 am

  Just purchased the Mustang, V6, auto, last week. Impressive car. I have owned 11 mustangs in the past and this is by far the most capable mustang yet. The V6 has plenty of power and the transmission shifts at just the right times. The independent rear suspension is great and provides an aggressive yet comfortable ride. Although I havent put too many miles on the car yet, averaging 24.5 mpg with a 60/40 mix of in-town and freeway driving. This is great. The interior is very good with soft materials where you want them and the seats are very supportive and comfortable. Impressive implementation of the instrumentation. I am sad that this is the last year for the V6 as it is a great engine and is a fantastic performer. I found the 4cyl loud under load and at times clumsy on the test drive and I feel Ford is making a big mistake removing the V6 from the engine lineup. Overall, I have a big smile on my face and am enjoying the ride. I am looking forward to putting the mustang through its paces on a trip this summer on route 66.

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  Great 1st or 2nd car - 1995 Ford Escort
  By Great 1st or 2nd car - June 13 - 2:34 pm

  This is a great economy car that will give you very little problems. In the 2 years that I have owned the car I have driven it from 100,000 to 155,000 miles with no problems at all besides routine maintenance like oil change, new tires and battery. The car will last a long time. For the price and the fact that this is an economy car it is perfect.

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  Outstanding American Truck!!! - 2002 Ford F-150
  By Gary Shaffer - June 13 - 10:00 am

  This is the first pickup I have purchased. It rides extremely well for a large, four wheel drive vehicle! The interior is extremely durable, comfortable, and very appealing. Its a SuperCab ... but the rear front opening doors allow plenty of access to the roomy rear seats. The power moonroof, 6-CD changer, automatic climate control, opening rear windows, power adjustable pedals, and easy-to- open tailgate all make this truck an extreme joy to own & operate! Definetly recommend the F-150 King Ranch to anyone looking for luxury & utility in the same truck!!!

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  Best Drivering Experience Ever - 2003 Ford Focus
  By markregel - June 13 - 10:00 am

  This car has the best road-feel, steering response and handling of any I have driven. The ride is smooth and composed. Just finished riding a new Nissan Sentra, no way would I trade it for my Focus. The ride was harsh and it sits low, like riding in a hole. Build Quality? I find it to be quite good overall. The ride feels solid on any road. Recalls are great ammunition for those that love to trash this car, but does not in itself mean a poor quality car. All I say to buyes who simply choose "Consumer Reports" top model is "Your Loss" and enjoy your Toyota Echo. I cant imagine an intelligent person taking anything they say seriously.