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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  Totally worth it love this truck - 1996 Ford Ranger
  By dangerranger48 - December 4 - 12:20 pm

  i traded a newer car for this truck have to say it was worth yes its had some problems but nothing serious the biggest problem ive had is iac valve going out 40 dollar part and the tailgate handle broke this truck runs great smooth riding i would have another one

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  Great truck! Poor MPG. - 2004 Ford F-150
  By greerdavidj - December 4 - 10:38 am

  Ive had this truck for 3 years now. I really enjoy how the cab just fits. I love having 7 cupholders within reach from the drivers seat. The vents look nice and are very easy to adjust without breaking. The power is good on this truck for what I need (pulling trailers, pulling out trees with a chain, squalling tires to be a show-off, accelerating, etc.). The back seat is fairly comfortable. We really enjoy the small supercab windows. Theyre perfect for our two dogs to put their heads out of. My biggest complaint would be the gas mileage. They say, "Its a truck! What do you expect?!" Mine gets 14 at best on the highway and 10-11mpg in the city. Doesnt touch the EPA 13/17.

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  1st Mustang - Worth the Wait! - 2015 Ford Mustang
  By mjplx - December 3 - 6:00 pm

  I was looking for a fun, sporty car earlier this year to supplement my DD (Audi A6). Looked at Suburu BRZ/Scion FRS (ride a bit stiff & only OK power) Hyundai Genesis Coupe (ride too stiff & only OK looks) and Camaro (lousy visability). Reading the car show reviews of the new Mustang and seeing pics I was intrigued. Ive had my Mustang for about a month. WOW! Its beautiful inside and out. Great lines, fit & finish top notch. Premium level interior. Very sporty - clearly a Mustang but updated for the 21st century and much more refined. Ecoboost power is great / very responsive, the handling is outstanding with great visibility. Front seat comfort = to my A6. Comfortable ride.

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  Surprisingly an excellent car - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By spdr870108 - December 3 - 2:07 pm

  I never had much faith in ford. I tend to like the Japanese and German automobiles. I have owned 2 Taurus and 2 Explorers. I was in a position where I needed a car. This little mustang ended up being in my price range. Purchased at 153k mi this car performs quite well. I travel regularly from California to Las Vegas and Arizona. This car 6k mi and a month and half later, it has not let me down. Its cheap to fill up and averages 28.4 mpg Hwy and 24.1 City. Tho it lacks the power Im use to in my bmw it compensates for it in fuel cost & gas mileage. Very fun to drive and handles quite well for an American car.

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  Great Car - 2013 Ford Fiesta
  By guitar74 - December 3 - 11:12 am

  First, my disclaimer: I am NOT a dealer, but an owner with 30,000 miles on my Fiesta S. First, if you are used to a conventional automatic transmission ,then the six speed auto DOES take some getting used to. That being said, I have never owned a car with an automatic tranny that DIDNT roll back a touch on a hill. Automatic transmissions have torque convertors that are the equivalent to a clutch but design to engage at a preset rpm. Too loww and your car will be below any kind of torque curve which will kill acceleratoin AND economy due to increased throttle input. Buy a v8 if you want to overcome a standing start at idle, otherwise live with it

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  Love everything about this car EXCEPT the cloth upholstery - 2013 Ford Edge
  By 1happycamper - December 1 - 10:35 am

  I truly love this car. I previously owned ten Volkswagens and two Subarus and found the Edge to be much more reliable and the build being of better quality. I can put the back seat down and the front seat down and put my kayak inside the vehicle too! The interior plastic is of good quality and does NOT rattle at all (which was a big issue I had with the Subarus...that and the stupid muffler guard always being loose). I will stick with Ford in the future. The only thing I wish I did differently was I wouldve bought leather. The cloth upholstery is HORRIBLE and even when rain hits it the seats look like someone peed on them! Pay for Scotchguard or get the leather package!

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  Great value in a sporty package! - 2014 Ford Focus
  By 773badger - November 29 - 7:27 pm

  Overall, I really like my Focus Titanium hatchback. It has everything that make it a comfortable place to drive over short or long distances and it gets great MPG. Its a solid ride on the hwy at high speeds and was a good combination of value (mpg and price) and comfort (leather, nav, push button start, other tech).

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  2013 AWD Ford Fusion Titanium - 2013 Ford Fusion
  By andgan - November 29 - 5:13 pm

  Overall this is a very reliable car. It performs well in all kinds of conditions. Once you figure out the cars quirks, they are not that bad. I am a sales rep and drive about 55,000 miles per year. I have had my car since June 2013 and it has over 80,000 miles. It has the original brakes. The original tires needed to be changed at 50K. The car has push button start. It is the only thing on the car that failed that I would consider outside normal maintenance/wear-tear. The dealership had to fix this. Dont buy this car if you expect superior fuel economy. I drive 80% highway. I average 23.7 miles per gallon.

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  Love This Car - 2013 Ford Edge
  By jefffie - November 29 - 6:30 am

  When we decided to buy a new car we had time on our side. It took 2 months to test drive 15 different makes and models. We would not let the dealers trap us & they willingly worked with us. We made it clear that we were just shopping. We choose the Edge because it did not feel cheap. Love the cars looks both inside and out. The ford touch was a little hard at first but we have not had any problems since we have gotten use to it. Once we decided to buy. We found 2 cars 30 miles apart and worked the dealers against each other over the phone. We had our deal in less than 1 hour and paid with our own financing. It was easy and fun shopping.

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  Great Update - 2015 Ford Mustang
  By scorpiomi - November 27 - 4:26 pm

  I got my 2.3 EcoBoost Auto 2 days ago and it is great. I preordered before I had the chance to sit in one! External look: Sharp, Aggressive, Smooth. Internal: Updated from prev years. Better lookingand feeling material. Comfortable, feels bigger in the front, still no space in backseats, Great console compared to prev ones. Engine: Very Powerful, more than my 3.7V6, probably louder too which is good. Better Acceleration. Tech: Can switch between different Steering and Driving Modes. Smart Key, Keep in ur pocket and u can open the door and drive without using it. Music sound is good. Rear view camera standard Auto has tip-tronic feature. Aired and heated leather sts