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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  driving great - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By morin - September 15 - 2:00 am

  had to add a pro stering dampner to the beast [with respect to the big girl],it was all it needed,other than that its always dependable for us,and confert for us is great,gas mil nis about 26 on freeway,19 to 21 in city,i cant complane,ac in unit will freeze you out.its like a meat locker,the power is a monster,and thats before you give it gas,when that happens,hold on to your head please.as you can see,i like real power and quilty,and this is it!!!!!!!!!!1

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  My First Mustang - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By edyhskl - September 14 - 5:50 pm

  I get more looks and thumbs up than my 79 Harley! Truly love the style and throaty sound coming from the dual tips. 60s touches with modern performance and handling. Im reliving my youth vicariously thru my car.

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  A True American Hot Rod - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By Phil Purdin - September 14 - 2:00 am

  It was the end of the year (2003) and I needed a new car. I went shopping without any particular model in mind and ended up with this Mustang GT Coupe. At age 55 I must say this is the most fun Ive had for decades. Ive been driving those 4-cylinder, gas-saving imports for way too long. The Mustang is sheer fun with great performance. The mileage is as good as my wifes Grand Cherokee straight six, when I keep my foot out of it. It cruises beautifully in the 75-80mph range which makes it tough out here in California with so many 55mph two-lane stretches.

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  Fun and Sporty! - 2008 Ford Escape
  By Michelle - September 13 - 9:53 pm

  I sold my Yukon XL and wasnt ready to move down in size to a car so I had never really thought about the Escape because I wasnt crazy about the older body style. My Mom talked me into test driving one from the dealership where she worked. I loved it! My daughter loved it too. So, I figured out the colors and options I wanted and the dealership found one for me. I love it!

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  Fun to drive - 2005 Ford Ranger
  By greenbay - September 13 - 2:00 am

  This truck is fun to drive. This is a compact truck with a full size feel. The 4.0L V-6 engine has plenty power. I have no power loss when pulling a 17 foot Searay. I love my truck. The dealer was easy to deal with and with the rebates that was offered I feel this is the best bargain out there.

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  Two Vehicles in One! - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By dblackwell - September 13 - 2:00 am

  My husbands employer eleminated company provided cars so we traded our truck for something economical. I needed a car to haul grandchildren & grandparents and a truck for the yard work, recycle center & furniture. I traded my 2000 Maxima and the SportTrac has been a dream come true. I can do it all!

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  I love this car - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By ljb - September 12 - 4:33 pm

  I bought this car in November. I absolutely love it. It is fun to drive. The interior is roomy for my passengers. The ride is quiet. It handles very well. I am only averaging 18.7mpg at the moment. I drive mostly city though.

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  Tall, Muscular, over 45 and steadily climbing - 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid
  By pcarvs - September 12 - 4:28 pm

  I bought the car in mid-July before the software update was available and for the first 2 weeks I averaged 40 mpg. In order to achieve this fuel efficiency, I simply followed the information and tips in the owner’s manual (see page 186), but these tips are also readily available online. After the software update and continued breaking in of the engine, my gas mileage improved and I am now averaging over 45 mpg! Since I am a school teacher and just now starting to commute every weekday, this was part of the reason for the increase, but I still anticipate the fuel efficiency to climb as I log more highway miles after Labor Day, and commuting mpg is regularly over 50 MPG. My record is 64 MPG!

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  Finally Ford is doing it right!!!!!!! - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By ritexada - September 12 - 10:00 am

  Got me a Black and Gold 2003 Eddie Bauer Expedition. I am so proud to have made a quality purchase on this SUV. My friend has a black 2002 Tahoe, but he does not have the great features that my EXPE has, like "power folding third row", Independent rear suspension. DVD entertainment System, KEYPAD for NOT ACCIDENTALLY Locking my keys in the SUV (when will all the others catch on to this?) and many other great features. Oh yeah, 6 disk indash CD player.

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  Focus is the best car i have ever had - 2003 Ford Focus
  By sully the monster - September 12 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. It has excelent acceleration. It took me about 4 seconds to get it up to 45 miles per hour without peeling the wheels. It is an all around great car.