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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  The Mustang that Kicks - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By cyclingsc - December 26 - 10:00 am

  I was very impressed with the power of the V6 engine Ford has in these cars. It has all the power you could want! The car overall is very stylish and gets lots of attention.

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  Stang - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By aux9o - December 26 - 10:00 am

  These cars are built by the hand of god!

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  Edmunds doesnt know squat!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2004 Ford Focus
  By one_focused_svt - December 26 - 10:00 am

  Never had a problem this is a dream car for 20 grand couldnt ask for more, handleing is in a class of its own plenty of power, tranny is outstanding, over all this one gets a 15 out of 10! I WILL BE A REPEAT BUYER!

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  Best Car Ever - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Peter - December 25 - 10:43 pm

  Our 2005 Five Hundred has been an exceptional vehicle. Weve driven it to Florida from New York and had it at 29.5 mpg on the trip. A full tankful gave us over 600 miles of driving. The same is true on our semi-annual drives to Virginia to see family. No stops for fuel for a 520 mile trip is refreshing. Our overal mpg is 25-26 during our daily driving. Its a smooth ride and the roominess inside and in the cargo area are unequalled. Ive purchased 32 cars in the past 37 years for the family and myself and this one is definitely the best purchase, by far.

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  Best never rest - 1996 Ford Bronco
  By michael jennings jr - December 25 - 5:45 pm

  Im glad I own my 96 Bronco XL. Its the best vehicle I have ever had. I love when I put the posi rear to work. It is also the most reliable vehicle I have ever had. It never falls on its face. It loves the snow more than I do. The aftermarket parts include: both rear ends are full posi, a cold air intake, true dual exhaust, headers, computer chip, a complete roller motor, rear disc brakes, shift kit, underdrive pullys, 302 bored and stroked to a 372.

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  Very smooth Ride - 2014 Ford Fusion
  By Jack - December 25 - 4:45 pm

  This is a very solid, comfortable vehicle. I love the instrumentation and the driving comfort. For a while I was making several 150 mi. round trips. In my previous economy car, those trips would wear me out- the car was so un-ergonomical. But making the same drive in the Fusion was a very pleasant experience which I could complete and still feel raring to go when I got back. very pleasant. The great sound system also added to my overall enjoyment. Plenty of room in the back seat, even for some of my more long-legged friends. And the trunk space is enormous. And, like another reviewer said, i too found myself often turning back to just take in the lines and lush style and beautiful color of this car.

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  Good job - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Richard - December 25 - 7:20 am

  This is the first new Ford I purchased in 29 years. I traded in a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee. In fact the last 5 new SUVs I purchased were Jeep Grand Cherokees. After 2 years of driving the 2005 Jeep I had enough of the poor service and lack of concern by Jeep. I was hesitant to purchase and did quite a bit of research before doing so and glad I did. The Escape Hybrid is fun to drive, has better visibility, and the gas mileage is twice that of the Jeep! We did drive the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the bottom line was about the same but I am tall enough that when getting in and out of the Toyota I scraped my head, this is not the case with the Ford. Also, GM has nothing to offer in hybrids.

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  Owners manual sucks. - 2016 Ford Fusion
  By Harold Parks - December 25 - 12:17 am

  I really like the car. Too bad I cant find out any details about it. Car enthusiasts do like to know what they are buying. The manual and spec sheet are sorely lacking in technical details of the car and Fords web site isnt any better, and has no search function! The owners manual devotes half of its pages to "connectivity". It reads like it was written by a teenager thats nose is stuck in a cell phone for the same. The only way to figure out the touch screen instructions are to spend an hour in the driveway playing with it. There are features like "valet mode" which are mentioned twice in other contexts but never explained or listed in the index. Having written many tech manuals, this wouldnt pass muster.

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  1998 Taurus SHO - 1998 Ford Taurus
  By SHOverine - December 24 - 11:08 pm

  Watch for camshaft problems. Otherwise this is a fun car to drive. The V8 provides great power, especially over 50mph. Interior is roomy (Im 63", so I should know). Trunk is very spacious - holds 4 sets of golf clubs. My SHO has over 125K miles on it and is still running like a champ (only major repair was getting the cams welded). If you are in the market for a SHO - get the cams welded!

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  Ford Freestyle ... a standout vehicle - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By BuzzElliott - December 24 - 2:26 pm

  We have been buying Fords for a number of year; mostly Explorers. It was time to trade our older Explorer for another vehicle and we were looking at the Escape. This vehicle was not to our liking because of the hand brake appearance and location. It looked like a covered umbrella. After test driving the Freestyle; we bought one. It is a delight to drive. A smooth driving transmission,good safety features, nice appearance, and it has most of the bells and whistles we wanted. This is, without any doubt, a great automobile. We recommend it highly to families or individuals who want a well engineered vehicle. What I do not understand is why Ford does not advertise this fine auto.