Ford's 2022 models net an average rating of 7.6/10 from Edmunds and 8.1/10 from Car and Driver—a strong showing for the American manufacturer. Ford's pickups and sports cars lead the pack in ratings, with its SUVs—particularly the EcoSport—dragging down the average.

When it comes to longevity and dependability, Japanese manufacturers like

Honda

Nissan

, and

Toyota

come to mind for many drivers. Reliability reports tend to favor those brands over Ford as well.

But Ford has a loyal fan base for a reason, and its latest truck, SUV, and crossover models play to their preferences. Today's Fords are big and bold, and that's exactly what many U.S. drivers are looking for. In fact, the brand's F-series trucks have been the best-selling vehicles in the United States for decades.

That said, you might be wondering: are Fords reliable?

Jerry

, the

car insurance

expert, is here to answer that very question. Read on as we evaluate Ford's most popular models in terms of affordability, dependability, and safety, as well as how to find

cheap Ford car insurance

Are Fords good cars?

In the beginning, Ford Motor Company was one of the only options for American drivers. Founder Henry Ford introduced large-scale car manufacturing in the U.S., making gas-powered vehicles accessible to the middle class.

Now, Ford's audience is a bit more specific. The company no longer produces sedans or hatchbacks, focusing most of its efforts on trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. These vehicles tend to earn high ratings from the likes of Car and Driver and Edmunds, though auto reliability data from Consumer Reports has not been as kind.

Ford remains a prolific manufacturer, producing 29 models (excluding its commercial vehicles) for 2022 alone. Check out the following list of 2022 Fords. (Note that we did not distinguish the electrified versions of existing Ford models.)

Model	Starting price	Years	Vehicle type	Edmunds rating	Car and Driver rating
Edge ST	$45,945	2018 to present	Midsize CUV	7.6/10	7.5/10
Explorer ST	$48,245	1969 to present	Compact SUV	7.4/10	9.5/10
Mustang Mach 1	$56,000	1989 to present	Muscle car	7.9/10	8.5/10
Mustang Shelby GT500	$79,155	1967 to present	Sports car	8/10	9/10
EcoSport	$22,040	2018 to present	Subcompact SUV	6.8/10	3.5/10
Escape	$26,760	2001 to present	Compact SUV	7.7/10	7.5/10
Bronco Sport	$28,265	2021 to present	Compact SUV	7.6/10	9/10
Bronco	$30,800	1966 to present	Compact SUV	7.9/10	9.5/10
Explorer	$33,745	1991 to present	Midsize SUV	7.4/10	7.5/10
Edge	$37,145	2007 to present	Midsize crossover SUV	7.6/10	6.5/10
Mustang Mach-E	$43,895	2021 to present	Compact SUV	8.2/10	9.5/10
Expedition	$52,620	1997 to present	SUV	7.5/10	7/10
Maverick	$19,995	1970 to present	Pickup truck	7.3/10	9/10
Ranger	$25,715	1983 to present	Pickup truck	6.8/10	7/10
Ford Transit Connect	$31,860	2002 to present	Cargo van	N/A	8.5/10
F-150	$30,495	2019 to present	Pickup truck	7.9/10	9/10
Super Duty	$37,895	1999 to present	Pickup truck	7.7/10	8.5/10
F-150 Lightning	$39,974	2022	Pickup truck	N/A	N/A
Transit	$46,645	2015 to present	Passenger van	7.9/10	9/10
Mustang	$27,205	1964 to present	Muscle car	7.9/10	8.5/10

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Key Takeaway Ford Motor Company was the first to mass manufacture cars, making Ford an iconic and historical brand in the United States.

Are Fords reliable?

When it comes to cars, reliability measures the ease of repairs and frequency of breakdowns. A vehicle manufacturer is considered reliable if it produces cars that need infrequent, affordable repairs, are rarely recalled, and come with good warranties.

Consumer Reports puts out some of the most popular reliability data for cars. Historically, domestic brands including Ford have failed to impress Consumer Reports in terms of reliability.

However, its 2021 reliability report featured three Ford models—the

Bronco Sport

Mustang Mach-E

, and

Ranger

—at the top of three categories: compact SUVs, electric SUVs, and midsize pickups, respectively.

Overall, however, Ford saw average rankings on the 2021 reliability report. Ford ranked 18th overall for reliability.

MORE:

Are Fords safe?

Ford produces safe vehicles. Its top models for 2022—including the

, and

—earned five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Plus, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) chose all of those vehicles (plus the Mustang Mach-E) as Top Safety Picks. The Explorer even earned designation as an IIHS Top Safety Pick+, the highest ranking.

Ford has equipped its 2022 vehicles with driver assistance technologies to bolster their safety ratings. Such technologies include:

Automatic emergency braking

Intelligent adaptive cruise control

Rearview cameras

Blindspot information systems

Pre-collision assist

See below for safety ratings and recalls for five of Ford's most popular 2022 models:

Model	NHTSA rating	IIHS rating	Recalls
2022 F-150	5 stars	Good	3
2022 Mustang Mach-E	N/A	Good	1
2022 Escape	5 stars	Good	1
2022 Edge	5 stars	Good	1
2022 Expedition	5 stars	Good	1

MORE: How to find vehicle safety ratings

Are Fords expensive to maintain?

According to RepairPal,

Fords incur an average annual maintenance cost of $775

. Keep in mind, though, that Ford produces dozens of models, and maintenance expenses will vary depending on your car's age and mileage, your location, and the auto shop you choose.

Your Ford owner's manual should recommend a standard maintenance schedule for your vehicle. Following this schedule is your best bet in keeping repair costs at bay and your Ford running well for a long time.

The "worst" Ford, according to CarComplaints.com, was the 2002

Ford Explorer

. The vehicle garnered over 7,000 complaints, including more than 1,500 relating to transmission problems. The average cost to fix transmission issues on the 2002 Explorer was $2,800.

MORE:

Are Fords good on gas?

Ford's models are all over the map in terms of fuel economy. Since the manufacturer focuses on trucks and SUVs, you can expect relatively low fuel efficiency from some of its vehicles—the 2022 F-150, for example, gets only a combined 14 mpg with E85 fuel.

But Ford has also upped the ante with its electrified vehicles, and some of its hybrid models—like the

Escape Hybrid

and Mustang Mach-E—have an average combined fuel economy exceeding 100 mpg.

Check out these fuel economy ratings for some of Ford's most popular 2022 models:

Model	City	Highway	Combined
F-150	18 mpg	16 mpg	20 mpg
Mustang Mach-E	90 mpg	96 mpg	84 mpg
Escape	28 mpg	26 mpg	31 mpg
Edge	23 mpg	21 mpg	28 mpg
Expedition	18 mpg	16 mpg	21 mpg

Engine upgrades often do some damage to a vehicle's fuel economy, so keep that in mind if you decide to modify your Ford. On the F-150, for example, the 2.7L V6 should get around 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, whereas the 3.5L engine only clocks 18/24.

MORE:

Are Fords fun to drive?

Every Ford offers a unique driving experience, and some are particularly fun.

The 2017

Ford Mustang GT

is one of the most fun on the road, featuring a powerful V8 engine and offering a convertible option for those who want to drive in style. Or if you're looking for a 2022 model, the Mustang Shelby GT500 gives you that V8 plus a seven-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive.

If you prefer trucks over muscle cars, Ford puts some of the biggest, most powerful trucks on the road. The brand offers something fun for everyone.

MORE:

How to build a custom Ford F150

What’s the best Ford?

The "best" of anything depends on your preferences for size, power, and budget. That said, the 2022 Ford Escape checks a lot of boxes: decent fuel economy (including a hybrid option), great safety ratings, and a generally smooth ride.

The Escape is a compact crossover, giving you practicality, style, and plenty of space. With 10 trim levels, you can customize the Escape to your liking. And starting at $26,760, the Escape is in a reasonable price range for many drivers.

Then again, if you'd benefit more from a pickup truck or have more fun in a sports car, a different Ford might be the best for you. The F-150 pickup is the United States' best-selling vehicle, and the Mustang Shelby GT500 earned stellar ratings from both Edmunds and Car and Driver.

MORE:

Ford Mustang V6

How to find affordable Ford insurance

On average, Ford drivers spend around $2,000 per year on car insurance. That's no small chunk of change, and if you opt for a truck or muscle car, you’ll likely pay even more. But

Jerry

can help you find the best coverage for your Ford at the lowest possible rates.

Jerry is a

trustworthy insurance shopping super app

. Once you download Jerry, just take about 45 seconds to answer a handful of questions, and you’ll immediately get car insurance quotes for coverage similar to your current plan.

And the best part: Jerry customers save over $800 per year on car insurance.

“My policy covers two people and four cars: a truck, SUV, convertible, and muscle car.
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FAQs

Is Ford a reliable vehicle?

According to Consumer Reports' vehicle reliability report, Ford tends to fall behind Japanese car manufacturers in terms of reliability. However, Ford's vehicles have improved in reliability in recent years.

What is Ford's most reliable car?

In 2021, three Ford models topped their categories in the vehicle reliability report from Consumer Reports. These were the Bronco Sport (compact SUVs), the Mustang Mach-E (electric SUVs), and the Ranger (midsize pickups).

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