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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  Odd man out with only one thing wrong for me - 2007 Ford Focus
  By Andy Crisp - October 16 - 2:42 pm

  I love this car! I typically buy a good used car, and run it into the ground. I bought this in 2014 with 110k, and hope to finally unload it this week (Jan 2018) at 175K. I may very well buy the same darn year & model car advertised with less than 100k at 3800. Well see. I am not a particularly demanding person so I forgive a lot of stuff that others may gripe about. I also have bad hearing so the noise mentioned by other reviews never bothered me. I invested a fair amount in regular maintenance, and one engine mount from years of Pennsylvania pot holes, but the only thing thats costly, and I did not get done, and bad is the $400 broken clock spring in the steering wheel. This means no horn, "always on, sometimes off" dash lights like check engine, ABS, and others. I really like the turning radius, handling, acceleration, and stopping (saved me more than a few times). The engine and trans are still excellent, and I sometimes abuse both, but it has 175K so I know its on borrowed time. I came looking at reviews, but based on my experience, and my expectations from an economy car, I may do it again. Sorry to be so wordy. Sounds like an obituary for a good friend.

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  Basic Ford Ranger - 2002 Ford Ranger
  By mike874 - October 16 - 10:00 am

  Good to drive and economical. Worksmanship under hood is unimpressive and not well thought out. Hoses and vacuum lines are routed very poorly - not likely to be reliable. Sheetmetal edges are poorly finished and sharp. 2.3L engine and 5 speed has pep but no power, the price of good fuel economy (Ford 6 cyl are guzzlers while 4 cyl sip fuel).

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  Love that Mustang - 2000 Ford Mustang
  By bobotash - October 16 - 10:00 am

  My Ford Mustang is the most enjoyable car I have ever owned and it is practical too! Reliably built, a heavy muscle car, lots of pick-up and a real head turner. Fully loaded it was a great deal and continues to hold its value. I have babied the car, in the garage all the time, washed every 2 weeks and waxed quarterly...pristine.

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  Not Bad - 2005 Ford Escape
  By Sal - October 15 - 2:46 am

  I just got my Escape a couple weeks ago. I noticed it was a louder ride then expected. Engine noise is a bit much but turning up the radio does help, lol. The ride is a bit stiff but it does say truck on the sticker. Getting the jack out does take some effort but I will say it has a better lug wrench then my old van. Pick up is a bit slugish but ok. Its a week old and I am not going to really romp on it yet. My biggest "not worth it" is that the factory step bars are to close to the body. They work well if putting stuff on the roof but not for a step in to it. Over all I am happy with it but time will tell.

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  Worse MPG than my 97 Explorer! - 2008 Ford Escape
  By ShadowVFX - October 14 - 7:56 am

  My family and I have owned Ford vehicles for over a decade now and all of us have been pleased with our vehicles. Recently, when it was time for me to purchase a new car, I looked to the Ford Escapes to replace my beloved 97 Ford Explorer. I ended up purchasing a 4 cylinder 08 Escape and I must say, I have not been impressed with it. I bought this car as a fuel-efficient replacement to my 97 Explorer. What I found was that my new 08 Escape actually less fuel efficient than my older Explorer, which was made over a decade earlier. I was so impressed with my 97 Explorer that it blinded me into a brand loyalty towards Ford. But now after buying this new, smaller,

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  Get outa my way - 2004 Ford Crown Victoria
  By OkieDokie - October 12 - 2:00 am

  This big bomber is terrific. I do a lot of interstate highway driving and am plagued by the "left lane bandits". Well, no more. I come up behind other motorists and they immediately move over, perhaps thinking I might be a unmarked state trooper. I can slide on by...and get back to getting on down the road in comfort.

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  A good unfinished product - 2002 Ford Focus
  By ChuckPep - October 12 - 2:00 am

  My 2002 Focus SE-Sport sedan is a practical, spacious and enjoyable car. However, Ford did not "push the envelope" when delivering this car in 2000. The fit and finish are probably the biggest problem: materials are of ok quality but various parts are not well adjusted. The Ztec engine provides sufficient power for this class but its too noisy and has low fuel efficiency considering its only a 2.0 litre. Still, I enjoy my Focus very much and am looking forward to the next generation due to appear later this year.

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  Best car for the money - 2006 Ford Focus
  By Marcus Ainsworth - October 11 - 5:43 pm

  Pros: I bought a highly loaded ST (6-track CD, leather, heated seats, air bags) less than Mazda 3, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic. Mazda 3 was comparable but more expensive and dash board was chintzy and rode harder. Adding any options to Corolla was expensive. The Focus ZX4 ST handles great, rides nice, and is comfortable to sit in. Shifter is quick and maximum torque is found at a good RPM. Trunk is very adequate for this class of car. Good HVAC. Cons: No light for the back seat compartment. Lack of automatic could be annoying to some but SE offers a solution.

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  Taurus X, good car - 2009 Ford Taurus X
  By AndyB - October 11 - 12:30 am

  We really like this car. Family of four, two major mileage vacations, comfortable and still liking it after a year. Lots of room and has lots of power. Compared to many including Mazda CX-9 and GMC Acadia and found this to be the best value for the money. No regrets. Andy B

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  making me a believer - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By ford is cool - October 10 - 10:00 am

  Fix Or Repair Daily has been the rep. for FORD in my mind. Reliability is yet to be judged since Ive only driven this car 600 miles. Apart from that, great car and no problems so far. Like the spartan functionality of the XLS better than the other trims. All the necessary options for cheap compared to other midsize SUVs. Quiet at hwy speeds, good acceleration, good maneuverability especially in tight parking spaces. Like the high ride height. Aggressive styling is a plus. After driving Japanese cars all my life, this car is restoring my faith in American automobiles and is turning me into a Ford fan.