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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  ford explorer - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By cfd3girl - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I have had three items that were defected that needed to be replaced already. The warranty covered it but what a hassle to go through already.

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  Luckier than Most? - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By vickist - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I currently have 54,000 miles on my Sport Trac. At 53,000 I had to have the dust shield on the front brakes replaced. Had to have the bolt holding the drivers seat to the floor replaced shortly after I bought the vehicle. The squeeking brakes gets me a lot of unwanted attention -- but the dealer also says that cant be fixed. Just read about the 2 new recalls. I presume that most of you had your hood latch replaced with the first recall.

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  2003 focus - 2003 Ford Focus
  By blvd4by - October 24 - 10:00 am

  do not really know yet but apppears to be well built fairly comfortable pretty quick but a little slow off the line

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  My first new car, wont be my last Focus - 2000 Ford Focus
  By italianguy - October 24 - 10:00 am

  Love this car! Its been a reliable hauler (love the folding split seats) and has plenty of giddy-up for a small car. Outside of the recalls, Ive had no major problems with it. I get about 34 highway/27 city mileage wise. I cant complain with that. Havent had a need to transport many passengers, thankfully, the rear seat is a pain to get into.

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  Seats! - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By vols - October 24 - 10:00 am

  This is a good little truck, but the seat suck. I have the 3.0L not enough power and poor miles. The 4.0L I had get the same mieage with much better performance.

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  Great balance of quality for the price - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By mhaden - October 23 - 12:05 pm

  I purchased my 2005 Ford Five Hundred SE in the fall of 2009 with 100,000 miles on it and currently have 170,000 after 3 years. The car has tremendous interior cabin space, and it has been a reliable car. I did stay away from the CVT transmission on purpose because of the problems reported by many. You dont realize how quiet and smooth the ride is until you test-drive something else. My wife and I are looking for another vehicle and find many fuel efficient cars (camry, civic, etc..) to be noisy and you give up a lot of comfort. I think I am going to find another used Ford Five hundred for her around $5,000-6,000. Great car

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  A great car - 2016 Ford Edge
  By M khachab - October 21 - 10:49 am

  A great car. The best visibility on screen. But I did not feel comfortable since I could not see my front since the car is so high and the hood design reduces visibility.

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  2012 Focus I regret buying!! - 2012 Ford Focus
  By mylilmule - October 21 - 6:30 am

  Ive had my Focus for about 5 months now and while the car looks awesome, I cant really recommend it to anyone. After 5 weeks of owning it, the sun roof exploded on my while I was driving down the interstate. It then sat at the dealer for 5 weeks waiting for a new sun roof. The shifting is horrible and unpredictable and is usually in third gear before you hit 15mph. The MyFord Touch is awesome, when its not locked up. I had to do a battery disconnect at one point because it was locked up and now my gas mileage sucks. I was getting over 40mpg before that on the hwy but now am getting about 33mpgs. HUGE difference. Looks arent everything, but you find out the hard way...

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  Owner - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By Mr. Mrs. Hulsey - October 21 - 4:13 am

  Best value for the dollar and fun to drive. Its good to have a 4 door with a sports car look. The only thing I worry about is the aluminum engine. Is it going to be a good idea to make an all aluminum engine?

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  Very Disappointed - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By Dave - October 18 - 11:00 am

  I bought my 2005 Mustang in Dec 2004 and it has been driven very little to this date. I have approximately 800 miles on this vehicle and it been to the service department four times already (with another trip to be scheduled). I must say that as excited as I was about purchasing this car, I am now starting to have serious reservations about my decision. I have had problems with the heating & cooling system, the car wouldnt go in reverse, the stereo had to be replaced (Shaker 500), vibration in front end, and several other minor issues. I believe for the price you have to pay (usually over sticker price), Ford should have placed more emphasis on quality rather than looks alone.