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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  Nice, fairly quiet, comfortable, but just pretty good MPGs - 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By kkuhns - December 28 - 3:51 am

  I knew that there was no way that this car would really average 47 MPG overall, so I had already adjusted my expectations down to think I might get 37 - 40 MPG overall, and I was OK with that. After the first 1000 miles, Im getting about 37 overall, which is OK, but I want and expect it will get better. At least I hope so. I got the appearance package with 18" tires, so that may have a slightly worse impact on MPG, compared to the standard 17" Low Rolling Resistance tires. Not sure how much difference that makes, but presumably a little. Overall, I really like the car. I sold my 2013 Honda Accord to get one and I definitely think it was worth it.

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  Good Solid Sedan - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Robert - December 26 - 8:00 pm

  I like the size and comfort of this car. I upgraded to some black rims and it looks like a B/B 450 in black and that works for me. The car could use a GPS and iPod/MP3 interface. A driver needs to look over the shoulder because of the blind spots in the mirrors. My wife loves the individual heated seat controls. My children covet the car with the upgrade rims.

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  Everything I hoped for. - 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By idandfei - December 26 - 12:12 pm

  Ive wanted a Fusion since 2013 when the new body style was released. I bought the Titanium and got every option because I hate blank button faces in cars. This is the first new car Ive ever owned and Ive always hated the blank buttons in all the used cars I owned. I dont believe in global warming and nobody should have to believe in it when buying a Fusion hybrid. Its 2000 dollars extra for the hybrid model and will save you that much in gas costs in the first few years. If you believe in saving money, theres no harm in accidentally pleasing a few hippies.

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  Research paid off - 2003 Ford Explorer
  By Raider - December 26 - 9:53 am

  I was skeptical about purchasing a Ford in general. I reseached actual people reviews and local mechanics before I made my decision. Besides brake rotors and pads this vehicle is very worthy of its Editors Choice Award. I would advise converting to synthetic oil immediatly as to save $$$ in a big way. I have travelled through 16 different states and logged over 41k miles in less than 2.5yrs. I use this vehicle in NYC everyday yes NYC! Overall I cant say enough. Not 1 trip to the dealer yet. Take care of it and it will in return take care of you and your family safely.

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  First Impressions - 2016 Ford Explorer
  By Stew - December 24 - 3:31 pm

  Have owned this vehicle for 2 weeks. Took it on its first real road trip this weekend. Approximately 3 hours one way. The engine responds very well and gets up to speed quickly. Do to the quietness of the cabin and the smooth ride you may be going faster than you think. The electronics in the vehicle are way better than comparable cars in the class. A lot more bells and whistles for the value. We had owned a BMW X5 prior and looked at those prior to purchasing this car. We also checked out the Lexus and the Audis. For the price with all the options you can not beat this car. The interior materials a very nice and stylish. top notch leather, beautifully crafted and stitched. Instruments are well laid out and easy to see and understand. Heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats. Cargo space was a must for our family and the rear area with the seats folded down hold golf clubs length wise without an problem. The third row seats are fairly nice and in a pinch work well. They have better leg room than the competition. Cons: - Driver Seats - While they may look pretty, they are not the most comfortable for long drives as previously noted. One reviewer noted the seats were to contoured. I find just the opposite, I wish there was a little more bolsters and the side of the back and the seat. Along with that it has been noted the seat feels a little short. Not quite enough thigh support. If the seat tilted back and lifted the front edge a little more that might improve this. I also have a 14 Ford Raptor, and I wish they would have put those seats in this car. Dead Peddle - Or the location the left foot sits while driving. This is just plain weird to me. Im not sure what the engineers where thinking. There is a distinct lack of space if you try to stretch out your leg. I am not particularly tall at 510" and if it bothers me I know it will be an issue for someone taller. I found that I had to keep my left bent in a 90 degree angle for the ride in order to be comfortable. For 3 hours this was not that bad but I have the feeling that for longer trips it will become an even bigger issue. Overall, the car offers a lot for the money and the appointments are nice. Would the negatives be enough to prevent me from purchasing the car again? I dont think so. This car is my wifes and the seats fit her fine and she has no issue where the foot sits. I will either deal with the dead peddle issue or let her drive.

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  Focus SE 2003 4 door model - 2003 Ford Focus
  By gerd knaak - December 24 - 3:20 pm

  Reliable car, fun to drive with the Pirelli tires. Good handling, sluggish automatic transmission. Mileage in town not that great for a small car. Excellent 5 disk CD stereo. Should have more power for a 2 L engine.

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  My First Pickup Truck - 2003 Ford Ranger
  By JerseyKev - December 23 - 2:00 am

  This truck is very,very clean and fun to drive. I bought the 4 cyl.,so,the power is a little lax.Next time,Im going to get one with 4 wheel drive,simply because typically,pickups have no rear weight,and it can be a real hassle in the snow and ice.The interior is quite tight,but I only use it for back and forth to work,so it doesnt really matter.But,I really love the way it looks.It is easily the best looking pickup on the road,and has Fordsreputation for solid trucks.

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  Tell it like it is - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Outfront Guy - December 21 - 6:00 pm

  Good car for older driver...not real sporty looking.

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  After 7500 miles - 3 weeks for repair - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Klaus Meyer - December 18 - 7:10 pm

  I took delivery in October 04 and my wife and I like the car overall. Good car like ride, spacious interior, enough power, AWD and traction control. Noise level at 70 mph very low. We sold our 1996 Jeep LTD with 57,000 miles on it (nothing but problems ). Our Freestyle has been in the repair shop for 3 weeks now. While we were driving on the freeway at 60 mph the dash lights would come on and show us symbols like: Brakes, ABS, Traction, and the speedometer needle would drop to zero while you are driving at 60 mph. This happened 4 times to us. The dealership could not repeat the problem while in the shop. The whole dashboard electrical cluster had to be replaced. Will see whether they fixed it .

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  Hard Ride - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
  By Calvin S - December 17 - 10:00 am

  While I liked the overall appearance (interior and exterior) and didnt mind the gas mileage (21 on the highway), this is the roughest riding vehicle Ive ever owned. For that reason I am trading it in and buying something smoother on the roads. Any bump with the Explorer Sport and you get jolted pretty good.