Apr 11, 2025
A red 2017 Ford Taurus SHO after leaving a used Ford dealer near Peoria.

When looking for a new car, you want one that is tough enough to weather the many years ahead. However, getting a reliable vehicle doesn’t have to break the bank. While car-buying is a big choice—and often a costly one—you can save money by looking into used vehicles. With that one simple decision, you’ll decrease a lot of your financial stress. But with all the cars out there, how do you choose which used vehicle to buy? 

Given the average person’s very busy life, the perfect way to balance reliability and cost is by looking into a car brand with a century-long legacy of excellence. Now, when you want that for yourself, few vehicles are quite like a Ford. Whether you’re navigating weekday traffic or heading into Chicago for the weekend, you need a car that isn’t going to break down on the side of the highway and leave you stranded. After all, no one wants to be stuck on the side of I-74. Or, even when the worst does happen, you want a dedicated team that makes it easy to fix up your car. If that sounds like exactly what you need, it’s time to visit your trusted used Ford dealer near Peoria, Roanoke Ford. 

A gold 2020 Ford Ranger off-road.

Centuries of Ford Tough

Before you commit to a vehicle, of course, you want to take an honest look at a brand or a model’s history, reliability, and benefits. You don’t want to head to the dealership without feeling informed and prepared. Luckily, discovering the benefits of a Ford is easy to do. For over 120 years, Ford has been a leader in the car business. Their company gave birth to the automobile, and ever since, their vehicles have given drivers high quality and reliability. As of 2025, their most beloved models include the likes of the F-150, Mustang, and Escape—cars inspired by both Ford’s iconic roots and their dedication to modern tech and automotive power. This makes these cars fantastic for the average American, making space for all the hauling, adventuring, and commuting you do in your day-to-day life. Ford didn’t just kickstart the car industry; it’s moving it forward to get drivers the best vehicles. 

Nowadays, the average Ford is fairly reasonably priced, which drivers all over Peoria and beyond love. It’s part of the reason Ford remains one of the leading car brands in America, selling around two million units in 2024. However, beyond a good deal, a Ford vehicle’s main selling point is its sturdiness, dependability, and versatility options. That’s always been a huge focus for this industrious brand. Ford wants to give you the chance to choose what level of comfort you want without sacrificing the value of a strong vehicle. For example, a Ford truck with a luxury trim is just as strong—if not stronger—than its base model counterparts. There’s a reason the Ford F-150 won the 2024 and 2025 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award for trucks. Moreover, this truck can tow over 10,000 lbs and offers a range of high-performance, turbocharged engines. From the pickup beyond, Ford vehicles really live up to that motto of “Built Ford Tough” without having a rough-around-the-edges interior. 

Speaking of engines, a Mustang is one of the most popular Ford vehicles because it has been a famous sports car since 1964. These days, the 2025 Mustang is outfitted with turbocharged levels of engine strength and up to 500 horsepower. You can get all the American-made muscle you could ever want. 

Whether you want the Escape and its compact SUV versatility, the passenger space and adventure of the full-size Expedition, the off-roading capability of the Bronco, or the efficiency and maneuverability of a sedan with a pre-owned Fusion, you can feel sure any used Ford you buy has the force to get you wherever you need to go. 

Roughing The Roads: Ford Maintenance and Upkeep

As far as being a dependable vehicle, Ford has a history of hitting top marks in reliability and safety. After all, at the end of 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave several Ford vehicles a 5-star safety rating; some of these models included the Bronco Sport, Explorer, Escape, and F-150. So, Ford has a clear dedication to keeping up with the kind of tech and machinery that keeps you cared for on and off the road.

And even when accidents do happen, one of the major plus sides of a Ford is how easy their parts are to fix or replace. These vehicles are specifically constructed to be simple to repair and maintain, meaning that no matter what breaks, any dedicated Ford service center can get you repaired in a jiffy. No matter the situation, Ford will make sure you get back on the roads in tip-top shape as quickly as possible. 

Ford has also upped their security and tech game by adding the FordPass feature to all their 2020 and newer vehicles, which is an app that lets you remotely control and monitor your car. This means that no matter the situation and no matter where you are, you can hit the AC or easily track down your car in a crowded parking lot. A Ford is made to be tough, but also the kind of comfortable that gives you both cozy seats and peace of mind. 

A grey 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 parked on a track.

The Pre-Owned Advantage

As we talked about, though, a Ford isn’t just about the latest, fresh-off-the-line perks. Ford is all about legacy. So, you’ll be pleased to learn just how valuable buying a used Ford can be. Historically, the average used car saves you several thousand dollars compared to new automobiles. Apply that to a Ford and you’re getting amazing value. You could get the power of a high-end Ford truck (say an F-150) for less than the price of a new compact SUV (take a Honda CR-V)—a used 2020 F-150 usually costs around $28,000, whereas the 2025 CR-V will run you $30,000 at least. You get all the toughness, storage, and space you could want for less. Both vehicles are great, but if you need a solid commuter car and a truck with towing power in one, you can’t beat that.

Moreover, if you eventually want to sell a Ford yourself, these cars retain amazing reliability and resale value. In fact, in 2024, Kelley Blue Book named the Ford Bronco the #1 car in resale value. So, not only will you save by buying a used Ford, but when you go to trade it in, you still get a lot of worth out of it yourself. Used cars have become a huge market full of options, helping Peoria drivers avoid hidden fees or simply reduce fees entirely, and they are all very well-inspected. It’s hard to beat that kind of transparency, simplicity, and affordability, and buying a used Ford only makes those deals all the more valuable.

Let Ford Go The Extra Mile

A Ford vehicle is built to weather wherever the roads will take you, offering great power, reliability, and long-term value to make you feel taken care of yesterday, today, and every day forward. Whether you’re shopping for the versatility and city-friendliness of the Maverick or prefer the raw passenger power of the Expedition, a Ford will get you where you need to go. Commuters, parents, adventurers, professionals—there’s a Ford for everyone. Head to your Roanoke Ford and chat with our experts about how you can join this legacy of automotive excellence. With the right people, you will have a reliable vehicle built Ford Tough for many years to come.