Overview & Reviews

After years of focusing most of its attention on light trucks, Ford realized it needed a stronger lineup of passenger cars. In particular, the company needed a car that would appeal to families of four and five. The Ford Five Hundred was the result, a large sedan designed to appeal both to ex-SUV owners and traditional full-size-car buyers.

The Ford Five Hundred's biggest advantage was space, as it offered more than 40 inches of legroom front and rear as well as a massive 21-cubic-foot trunk. In addition, the seating position up front was higher than normal to provide a commanding view of the road.

Sales were never particularly strong, however, and Ford decided to rename the Five Hundred as the Taurus starting with the 2008 model year.

Most Recent Ford Five Hundred

Introduced for 2005, the Ford Five Hundred received minimal changes during its brief three-year run. This sedan is based on the previous-generation Volvo S80 platform, and made use of that car's all-wheel drive and safety technology. The Five Hundred's Swedish origins were immediately apparent when you drove it, as it provided both a comfortable ride and competent handling, with nicely weighted steering. Braking performance was mediocre, though, and Volvo's stability control system wasn't included in the package.

Passive safety was excellent in this large sedan. Originally optional, front seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags became standard for 2007. Additionally, the Ford Five Hundred aced crash tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, earning the highest possible rating in every category.

Three trim levels -- SE, SEL and Limited -- were offered initially, though for its last year the SE was dropped. Front-wheel drive was standard on both trims, with all-wheel drive available as an option. Choosing a front-drive Five Hundred paired the 203-horsepower V6 engine with a six-speed automatic transmission, while opting for AWD mandated a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Key options included rear parking sensors, a navigation system and a rear DVD entertainment system, the latter a rarity in a mid-priced sedan.

Mediocre acceleration was the main drawback to the Five Hundred. Its standard 3.0-liter Duratec V6 was not as powerful or refined as most competitors' engines. Still, the Five Hundred's low pricing and top-notch crash test scores made it a reasonable family car pick. Consumers should know that the Ford Five Hundred was revamped and renamed the Taurus for 2008, and boasted a number of key improvements. The latter included much stronger performance courtesy of a potent new V6, upgraded cabin trim and available stability control.

User Reviews:

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  Love the room and ride - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By steve - September 26 - 3:53 pm

  Replaced a Dodge intrepid 94 with the new 500. Many new features and love the large seating and trunk. Picked the AWD, due to high speed stability. 2WD was twitchy on back roads. First tank of gas was 27.5 mpg. The body is tight and very good craftsmanship. The trunk can be rented out for an apartment.

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  Great Car - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Miller - September 19 - 4:56 pm

  Only had it for about a month, can see it will be a great car that will help with the budget due to gas mileage. Pretty sporty inside and out. Enjoy driving it.

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  My view from the Ivy Tower - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Marion E. Hall - September 17 - 8:46 am

  This is our first all wheel drive and our first CVT. This makes for some interesting situations when the car is in the cruse mode and you are in hilly areas. Overall, the car performed quite well.

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  My Last Ford - EVER - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Carl D. Clark - September 6 - 10:00 am

  The paint is coming apart on the leading edge of the hood, an obvious defect from the factory. The collision center manager at the dealer "confirmed" that it is a factory defect, and stated that ford is not standing up and warranting it. The dealer said it will cost $500 to repaint the hood and that they could not warranty the repair due to the problems with the aluminum hood. After contacting Ford Customer service I received a call from the dealer saying that they can get Ford to pay $200 of the $500 to repaint the hood. Today Ford Customer service said that this case is not closed. Never again.

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  Ford Five Hundred Limited AWD - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By marti - September 5 - 1:16 am

  Interior: comfortable. "Pebble" color is much too light. Difficult to keep rugs clean. Glare from light colored dash onto windshield. Convenient dash controls. Floor heat from "auto" climate control blows on drivers right foot. Very hot and uncomfortable. Navigation system, satellite ready radio, aux input are not a factory option. The second 12V plug is inconveniently located in the center console. Exterior: high, 18" wheels, plain, conservative styling. The car is comfortable, has a car-like ride, functions like an SUV in the bad weather with much better gas mileage than an SUV. Its perfect for anyone who wants the features if an SUV in the safety and ride of a car.

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  Great car for the money - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By MEAHTUH - August 24 - 8:26 am

  Love the comfort, space, handling and fuel economy (high 20s consistently). I am partial to the styling vs. the new "Taurus" design. This is my wifes car which is used mainly for business. Incredible space in trunk for her samples. She can haul about as much as a pickup with seats down. No exaggeration. Problems so far - CD did not work soon after purchase and was replaced. Rear brakes! Worn out at 28K. Dealer said this was normal. We had them replaced at a local shop. 2 weeks later, received letter from Ford extending warranty on them to 36K miles - big deal. They should last longer than that. Received refund for the work we had done.

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  Nice car but beware of paint flaws - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Karl - August 10 - 11:26 pm

  I love the body style and the ride is very comfortable. Great trunk space and rear leg room. Quiet cabin and controls are easily accessible. American car with a Euro look. Problem is my car came with something I didnt pay for -- A TON of PAINT FLAWS. Also have some interior fit and finish issues.

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  Steves Review - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Steve - August 9 - 5:50 am

  I have owned a Mercedes and two Lexus vehicles. This car rides just as good. The comfort of the leather seats are far better than the Mercedes and slightly better than the Lexus.

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  Great Value - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By D Dixon - August 2 - 6:36 pm

  Have had this car for over a year now. Find it to be very comfortable and easy to drive. I get the low end for mileage, but it really does great on the highway. You can carry people in the back with great comfort and room. One problem fixed under warranty and the two safety recalls.

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  Worst car I have ever owned - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By grady572 - July 31 - 4:10 am

  The transmission went out at 38kmiles, I called Ford and they replaced the transmission after I paid $125, the brakes had to be replaced under a recall, the heated seats quit three times and the third time it was out of warranty so they still dont work, the cd player quit it was repaired,right front wheel bearing and hub replaced at 39,000 miles, dealer repaired n/c The air conditioner quit and I had to pay $294 Ford paid $883.Replaced the power steering pump@ 106k, miles. At 36k replace the Pirelli tires. At the time they were the only ones that made the size for my car, Limited AWD put on Mich HydroEdge@68k mils still look nw @113k.Rpld 2convertors n fuel pmp @ 95k batt repl @ 80k