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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  Surprisingly pleased - 2017 Ford Edge
  By Barb Hales - February 7 - 6:53 pm

  I had a Mercedes previous to this car. I thought I was taking a step down in luxury, but it doesnt seem to be that way.

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  Great truck.The seats stink! - 2005 Ford F-150
  By mark in wyoming - February 7 - 1:46 pm

  Great truck, quiet, nice looking and good gas mileage -19 mpg under 70 mph. The problem lies with the seats; we have the Lariat with heated seats, They are bad; after an hour you are not happy siting in them.

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  much fun for the money - 2003 Ford Focus
  By bobdman - February 6 - 6:20 am

  I was not sure at first on the test drive but liked it enough to buy it. I must say im impressed with the ride and handling but felt that the front end seemed to feel a tad heavy in aggressive cornering but still a ball to drive in the twisties.

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  Ford Ranger??? - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By BobViking - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Let see, Two accessory belt changes by 19,000 mi. Torsion bars were miss aligned, had to return twice to get them to look at it and finally correct. Found damage to under carriage (probably during shipment) would not even look at or acknowledge. Another dealership, Beau Townsend Ford in Ohio, asked "You didnt buy it here did you?" When I brought it in for service. I wanted a Chevy S-10 ext.cab, but they went to only one seat in the rear on 2003, because of three door style. I dreaded buying a Ford, now I know why. Theyre service dept.s are poor rated if you are in for warranty work, or didnt buy your truck from there. Never buy a Ford again.

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  Ford of Germany Design is Great! - 2005 Ford Focus
  By NewFocusOwner - February 2 - 11:10 am

  Ford finally got its small car design right by letting its German design team build the entire car. Handling is best in class - the Germans know how to design steering and suspensions; much more solid feeling than the Civic or Corolla. Excellent interior space and comfort for 4 adults. Cruises easily on the freeway and still has the horses to accelerate as traffic requires. I imagine that this FOCUS is what BMW would offer if it ever sold an economy compact car.

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  Dont believe the fuel estimate! - 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Mark - January 31 - 7:53 pm

  The 2007 Hybrid FWD is rated at 36mpg in the city. Dont believe it! Almost all my driving is in the city. I get only 23-24mpg. Even turning the A/C off adds only 1mpg. The Ford dealer said it needed to be driven for 2,000-3,000 miles to be broken in before the mileage would improve. After 5,000 the mileage is still the same. I know you never get the rated mpg, but 30%+ less is fraud!

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  Great Little Car For The Money - 2004 Ford Focus
  By MarkieJohn - January 29 - 2:00 am

  I recently traded in my 2000 Ford Escort ZX2 in for a 4-door Focus SE sedan. This car has plenty of room for up to 5 people. I love how you sit high in it with a clear view of the road in front. Love the sunroof and the in-dash 6-disc cd player..they are awesome. The 2.0-liter Zetec engine is peppy with the 5-speed manual, but still lacks the smoothness and precision of some of those import cars, but road noise is very minimal. This car handles great..seats lack back support. The brakes are dissapointing in this car..reminds me of the escort again. Overall, a great car for the money/value.

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  Focusing on the Focus - 2002 Ford Focus
  By ajl - January 27 - 10:00 am

  I love the Focus. I am not a fan of domestic cars, so this should tell you something. The European flavor of the Focus comes through. The handling is excellent for a cheap, FWD car, the ride is pretty decent. Build quality is surprisingly solid for a Ford and no squeaks or rattles in 10,000 miles . I do mainly highway driving, so I get about 28mpg steady. The seats are comfortable. The car is not bad on the highway, but it is kind of buzzy at times. Not nearly as bad as the Dodge Neon, but not as smooth as a Honda. If you love to drive and your pocketbook doesnt allow a BMW (as mine doesnt) the ZX-3 Focus is your small car.

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  Very Pleased - 1996 Ford Explorer
  By rcopeland - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Great value for the money. Got 105,000 on original tires. Get 21-22 MPG

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  Needs refinement - 2000 Ford Expedition
  By Marty Johnson - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Needs refining in some areas including interior fit and finish.