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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  Edmunds Got It Right - 2002 Ford Taurus
  By hombregrande10 - June 15 - 3:46 am

  I had no intention of getting a Taurus when looking for a lease, but Ford has a program offer to good to refuse. Edmunds review, it is right on. A perfect blend of price and good attributes. A whole lot of goodies for the money (spoke wheels, leather seats, etc.). Leather seats are not as comfortable as the fuzzy ones, and the base six could be a little more peppy. Sometimes, not often the transmission gets fooled.

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  The best SUV Ive owned...with 2 issues - 2013 Ford Explorer
  By Bob - June 13 - 10:43 pm

  I’ve been happy with every Ford I’ve purchased and this Explorer is no different. I am thoroughly happy with my purchase and was surprised with what this vehicle has to offer. I expected the XLT to have the very basic options and was I wrong. I’m a 6’-2” 240lb man that is used to driving full-size trucks and SUVs and this one has plenty cabin room. This is the first Explorer I’ve purchased because I never cared for the exterior of older models. In my opinion, Ford nailed it with this model. Ours has the black leather interior with the Ford My Touch system. It has all of the bells and whistles that a premium SUV would have at an XLT price. I’m sure the Limited and Sport additions have more to offer but, this one fit our family perfectly at a good price. We have 2 teenagers (14 & 19) so we’ve never used the third row. They’re typically stowed away. The heated seats are great and the rear-controlled AC/Heat keeps the kids happy. The panoramic sunroof is great and operates easily. Road noise is noticeable but bearable. There is plenty of storage and the cubby under the touch screen is practically bottomless. The instrument cluster is easy to read and the steering wheel mounted controls look like something you would see in a fighter jet. You can control just about everything from the steering wheel. There are secondary displays (secondary to the touch screen) inside the cluster that shows all sorts of information that you can scroll through with the controls on the wheel. It took me over an hour to go through all of the options (bit of a gadget geek here). With that being said, the My Touch navigation is horrible…even after updating the software to the latest version. The voice commands are useless, the lady in the NAV system is a nag and everything dealing with the NAV system is slow. I’ll just continue to use my cell phone. The entertainment, climate control and cell phone connection portions of the My Touch are great. The Bluetooth connects flawlessly and Sirius connects with no issues. I love the various connections (USB, SD Card, AUX) and you can charge the entire family’s cell phones at the same time. Climate control is easy to use by either the My Touch or by its own touch sensitive controls. As mentioned above, Ford nailed the exterior styling with this model. I’m always getting comments on how good it looks and when family and friends sit inside, they are amazed at the interior (I know…sounds like a commercial). Ours came with a tow package (typical 2” receiver and light connections) and has a 300lb bumper rating (enough for my son’s motorcycle and carrier). One thing I would change is the tow hitch receiver cover. It’s kind of cheap looking and you can easily see the indentions made from the receiver. Nothing big, but it’s mentionable. Also, the rear window does not open separately from the hatch. Most SUVs I’ve owned had this feature which was nice. Not sure if this is what all manufactures are doing. Again…not a big deal to me. The standard 18” wheels are stylish but not too much. For an SUV, this one handles better than any other SUV I’ve owned. You don’t feel top-heavy when taking corners and traction is pretty good, even in wet conditions. Ground clearance is typical for an on-road SUV and getting in/out of it is easy. The biggest issue I have with this SUV is the acceleration…it’s like a worn out rubber band. I know it’s not a sports car but come on. This could be a turn-off for some people. I’m averaging 19 MPG with mixed city/highway driving (Atlanta, GA). It shifts smooth and the exhaust is quiet. Overall I’m happy with my purchase and would recommend this SUV to family and friends.

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  its a great car - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By badboi904 - June 12 - 10:00 am

  its a good car but sucks up alot of gas you guys need to find a better way to reserve gas but other then that it is an excellent car.

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  Rescued From VW Scandal.... - 2016 Ford Escape
  By J, - June 12 - 8:48 am

  Well manufactured, looks great, sunset color is exceptional, lots of room, step-in height is perfect, easy in and out, good visuals, love the flip down head rests, feels solid. This car has to have the spare tire suspension system replaced...seems a recall is in the works. Ford will fix it for me. I really like this car, not quite the quality of the VW (diesel) but a good choice. It fits me! Thank you Edmunds for finding it locally for me!

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  2003 XLT Popular 5.4L - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By jhuben - June 9 - 2:00 am

  Very positive impression so far. Fit and finish are quite good and we have had zero defects. The rack and pinion steering coupled with firm springs translates into precise steering with minimal body lean in turns. Ride is firm but not harsh. We have 5.4L engine - this engine pulls smoothly from low RPM. Not a lot of throttle is needed to pull away from stop signs. The transmission shifts smoothly. The interior is, as expected for a vehicle of this size, very roomy. Lots of pockets & storage. 3rd row seats are comfortable and can hold adults for long trips. Folding 3rd row quite handy.

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  Good Value - 2005 Ford Escape
  By RJ - June 8 - 6:50 pm

  Bought the Escape 7 months ago and no complaints aside from a rattle inside the passenger door panel. Decided on the Escape because it looks much better than similarly priced models. The interior does look cheap but paying $24K for a fully loaded SUV w/ leather you should expect that. Very nice SUV for the price we paid. Please ignore ALL car makers mpg estimates. Getting around 20 mpg mostly highway, but expected that going in.

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  Not a GTO but FUN! - 2002 Ford Crown Victoria
  By rugby01 - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I recently found the perfect Crown Vic LX Sport after a long search. Monochromatic red with all the options. Tan leather interior. This is a great car with many nice features. Seems 2002 had everything going right for this vehicle. My other vehicle is a 1993 Mercury Cougar XR7 with 302 V8.

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  Why I bought a 2005 CV - 2005 Ford Crown Victoria
  By Michael Darnell - June 6 - 6:03 am

  I have been looking for a good rear wheel drive vehicle to buy for two years. Now in 2005 I found the CV LX Sport as the best option for a growing family, with lots of trunk room. Several website list owners of CV/GM that drive them more than ten years and they have over a 100,000 miles on the car. I just want a good riding vehicle and I have found it with this vehicle. I wanted a vehicle that I can drive for more than 15 years or more and I feel this car will last that long. To me the fact the car only has 240 horsepower engine.

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  Not as happy as I thought Id be... - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Laura Kerr - June 4 - 9:00 am

  When I first saw this car - I fell in love with it and bought it immediately. I wish Id done a bit much research and shopping. Overall, its ok - but I think it lacks some of the performance and interior finish found in the Explorer. I think it needs more options, especially a bigger engine, and I wish I had passed on the CVT - it is not smooth. The handling is also a bit "squirrelly" at higher speeds. Also, the turn signals are much louder than they need to be. The quality of the interior is not up to par for the price - same with the sound system. It was between this and the Lexus RX330 - now I wish Id gone with the Lexus, even though it cost a bit more.

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  Pleased, for the most part - 2003 Ford Focus
  By Detroit Scott - June 3 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my Focus for about 6 weeks and am disappointed about only one thing: The fuel economy is much worse than I thought it would be. I traded in a 1997 Escort that still got about 375-400 miles out of a tank of gas. Im lucky to get 325 out of the Focus, and thats with a lot of highway driving. On the positive side, the sound system and creature comforts a nice. Its a fun ride.