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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  Great deal ... inexpensive and economical - 2006 Ford Focus
  By C. Jones - March 1 - 4:46 am

  What a surprise to drive the replacement for the Escort, and find it to be such a fun car. Nothing like the Escort. I bought the 5 speed, and it has every imaginable option ... some which I havent figured out what to do with as yet. Incredible gas mileage, plenty of looks, an unbelievable warranty, shifts as smooth as anything I have every driven, and for its size, very quiet. No, I am not a Ford salesman, I am a cop who rides the big Crown Vic, and was absolutely astonished at how nice this car is. The Japanese have nothing close to this car, when you factor price, gas mileage, comfort and basic warranty. Enjoy this neat car!

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  Love my Car! - 2007 Ford Mustang
  By NinjaMom - March 1 - 4:13 am

  There is not much that I can about this car that is not positive. I only have one complaint. The mp3 player jack being inside the console. I have to slip the cord out of the console to put my player in the cup holder and the cord gets cut sometimes. Other than that, this car is everything I ever dreamed about as a kid when my Dad promised to get me my first Mustang only to come home with a new truck for himself. The drive and handling is amazing. The interior is roomy and comfortable. Shifting is smooth. Pick up is amazing for a 6. Nice throaty sound. A real eye catcher. Everyone compliments my car, even the cop who gave me my last ticket.

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  Best car I have ever owned! - 1999 Ford Mustang
  By appleimacdude - March 1 - 3:39 am

  This has been the highest quality car I have ever owned - it has a nice, solid one-piece feel to it, handles well, and is fun and comfortable to drive. As I currently drive about 32 miles each way to work, I appreciate the comfort and performance from the 3.8 liter six cylinder engine, which puts out 190 hp for this year.

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  Best SUV Around - 2003 Ford Excursion
  By Ed Riley - February 28 - 10:04 pm

  This is my second Excursion. We have traveled nationwide with a family of six and all were comfortable. It handles great in mountains or deserts. I get about 20 mpg on the highway and 15 mpg in town.

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  No Regrets - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By FuntoDrive - February 28 - 12:43 pm

  I love to drive it and look for excuses to go places. I bought an 06 GT 5-speed, Tungsten Grey w/ 18" polished wheels (and all other options) on 1 Jan 06. I got a great deal by buying a car on the lot and got it below invoice. Mine came with the Shaker 1000 radio. It wasnt a feature I really wanted and was the first thing I negotiated off the price. I was concerned the extra sub woofers wouldnt allow the golf clubs to fit in the trunk. I shouldnt have worried. The clubs still fit! I get compliments on the car all the time. I love it when the Camaros come up next to me at a light. The sound of the exhaust is awesome! Great car for the price! It handles and looks great.

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  Ford Tough - 2005 Ford Ranger
  By cb_spiering - February 28 - 1:46 am

  Great truck. Much more pleased than I thought I would be. Extremely pleased with this purchase.

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  05 FX4 - 2005 Ford F-150
  By BIVFD219 - February 28 - 12:40 am

  I bought this truck last Monday and I have to say I am well impressed. The truck is very well laid out with features. The 300 hp 5.4 runs great with lots of power. Transmission shifts smooth.

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  Not a replacement, but a whole new automobile! - 2017 Ford Mustang
  By opensky1 - February 27 - 3:04 pm

  I loved my 2014 Mustang convertible (read the review), so I got a new 2017 to have all of the active safety features and other convenience tech. What I got was something that is a huge step up in quality. In fact, a different machine, with the feel of the BMWs (Mustang handles better in my opinion - test them) I tested and a huge leap above a Camaro. It accelerates smoothly up to 121 mph (where it is electronically limited), gets up to 32 mpg on highway (with super unleaded, about 29-30 with regular). Handles much better than the GT (again, try them out side by side - I did several times - GT feels front heavy and bulky). Drives like a sports car. Has plenty of storage, something lacking in the old Mustang and non-existent in Camaros. The only things lacking is automatic braking (something I will demand in 3 years or I will switch models), and lane warning/assist. The forward collision warning is great, but it just pre-loads brakes, probably a nod to the general macho among Mustang owners, but auto braking should be an option for those of us more concerned with being alive (and the safety of others) than imagined macho. Another after market add on is a windscreen, which really makes a difference. It makes your car a two seater when in place, but I never have more than one lady friend at a time riding! :) Easy to remove, but dont get this car for a backseat anyway. One small feature I love is the center console which locks when you hit the door lock fob. I leave the top down a lot when I go into a store. This combined with alarms keeps stray hands out that stuff. All in all, a wonderful car. If they add automatic braking, I will be getting another in about 3 years.

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  Better than expected - 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By D. Wilson - February 27 - 1:20 pm

  Ive been driving this car for over four months now and it has outperformed my expectations. Gas mileage is at 29.6, and I drive all highway miles. It handles like a foreign car, is incredibly smooth, and looks sharp (appearance package). Acceleration leaves something to be desired, but I find myself driving in a safer, more fuel efficient manner when the ability to peel off the line is no longer an option. All in all this car has performed far better than I anticipated.

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  Tbird - 2003 Ford Thunderbird
  By lambertdds - February 27 - 1:15 pm

  Great design and comfortable ride. I wished it was a bit more of a sports car ride, but it is still exciting. Ford did a great job!