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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  Ford 500 is a fantastic car - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By John - September 13 - 12:06 pm

  I got the Ford 500 limited and Im tickled to death with it. I got mine with sun roof, upgraded sound system, back up sensor, adjustable pedals, and of course leather. The ride and comfort is great. Plenty of room inside. It sits up high, giving a great field of view. Has a huge trunk. The only drawback I see is it might need a little more power, but all in all Im very pleased. Great car.

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  Poor Quality. Nothing but troubles - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Paul - September 3 - 12:16 pm

  Buy a Toyota or Nissan or Honda. This car is the worst. I have had nothing but troubles with it. I have had it in the shop at least 6 times in 11 months. Bad rotors, replaced rotors, ground rotors, air conditioning problem, brake out at 30K, loudest car ever. Save your money and buy Japanese. I just bought a Maxima and love it. Soon I will get rid of Ford forever.

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  I Like - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Chet - August 21 - 2:40 am

  I am very pleased with all aspects of my 500. Most of my driving is around town, so I dont really know about highway mileage but I get a little over 15 mpg in town. Im not an aggressive driver so I dont expect much improvement although I have only 1700 miles on my car.

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  Best Car I have Ever Owned - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Ina - August 19 - 1:56 am

  My family has owned 5 Ford cars over the years. The 500 was by far the best car. Never recalled for any reason, always reliable, fun, comfortable. I would trade the Fusion I have now for a 500 in a heartbeat!!!

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  My first American Car... - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By JohnV - August 11 - 12:43 pm

  ...and I love it! Glad we found this wonderful, large comfortable car - at such a great price. The styling is a bit on the vanilla side but who cares. Its attractive to me and thats all that matters. The command seating gives me a fantastic view of the road. The leg room for me (5-8) and my wife (5-4) is more than generous and the trunk can carry almost anything you can throw at it. This car, in my opinion, is a much better value than any strangely styled Honda, Nissan or Toyota on the road today.

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  Ford Five Hundred SE AWD - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By vthockeydad - August 7 - 1:46 pm

  I have had my Ford Five Hundred SE AWD for 4 weeks now and cannot understand why there are not a lot more of these cars on the road. (I drive approximately 50,000 miles per year and trade every two years) This is one of the best cars I have driven, especially for the money. It is a Volvo S80 frame and is incredibly solid, smooth, and safe. The handling is excellent with the AWD and you can get an interesting transmission that does not shift like conventional transmissions. I am averaging approximately 26 miles per gallon with a little over half my miles on highways. I highly recommend them. You can get one for around $22,000. Great car for the money.

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  Easy to live with - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By John W - August 2 - 8:23 pm

  After four months of ownership I must admit Ive been very pleased with this car! It does have a few shortcomings but Im happy with my purchase decision. Two things stand out in this model, unlike the Chrysler 300, visibility is terrific, secondly and something Ive really come to appreciate is the easy in and out feature of its SUV like interior. You dont fall into the car like you do with so many others, you just kind of slide into the seat. Many so-called professional reviewers have knocked the 500 for its lack of power. So far I have not felt the need for more power, nor would I care to give up its excellent mileage for a little more speed. I do find the shifting habit of the six

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  Ford 500 Review - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Jenalan - August 2 - 7:26 am

  A surprising great car. Not as soft as the bigger Ford. Real nice interior. Good ride.

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  Nice - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Bigdaddylex - July 26 - 7:50 pm

  I purchased my 500 almost 6 months ago and I love it. Its roomy and drives smooth. Everyone that rides with me say they like it. Its classy but moves when needed. Id buy another one and is different from the others in its class.

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  This car is a great deal - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By BillU - July 26 - 1:03 pm

  I have owned the car for 6 weeks, 3800 miles. Average 25 mpg with a 60/40 city/highway mix of travel. Acceleration off the line is average, but where the CVT really shines is highway passing-instant torque puts you where you want to be. Car handles high speed very well. Interior nicely fits my 63" frame, trunk would bring a smile to a made mans face. Fit and finish very good. Very happy with the purchase, like it better now than when I first drove it.