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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  Luxury Car All The Way! - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Ellen - March 20 - 5:30 am

  My family and I love or 2007 Ford Five Hundred Chrome Limited Edition. The interior is very spacious as well is the truck space. The only problem is my husband is 63" and he said that there is not enough space for his left leg to stretch out when he drives. Other than that, the car has all the bells and whistles and comfort.

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  Ford 500 instead of a Charger - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Rena - January 28 - 5:30 am

  We bought a 500 while looking for a Charger. When we saw the 500 my husband fell in love with it. The seats are very comfortable and roomy, especially the back seats. I am rather tall, and can cross my legs and ride comfortably in the back. The woodgrain interior is beautiful. I like the backup signal feature, it helps when my teenagers are parallel parking. We really like the CVT. It rides so smoothly on the highway, accelerates smartly, even going up a steep hill, and you do not feel the gear change. I am very happy with the 500. I thought I really wanted a Charger, but I am not a bit disappointed with the 500, in fact, I am thrilled with it!

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  Almost Perfect - Speaker Upgrade Needed - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Kelly - January 7 - 6:16 am

  We just traded in our Taurus for the Five Hundred SEL. Its quite an all around improvement; especially re the luxury aspect. Only one recommendation...you need to upgrade the front speakers. We upgraded with the Polk DBS70 speakers. What a great improvement! It now makes the car really seem like the perfect vehicle. No need to upgrade the rear speakers if you can adjust the fader to output the majority of the volume to the front speakers.

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  Best Car Ever - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Peter - December 25 - 10:43 pm

  Our 2005 Five Hundred has been an exceptional vehicle. Weve driven it to Florida from New York and had it at 29.5 mpg on the trip. A full tankful gave us over 600 miles of driving. The same is true on our semi-annual drives to Virginia to see family. No stops for fuel for a 520 mile trip is refreshing. Our overal mpg is 25-26 during our daily driving. Its a smooth ride and the roominess inside and in the cargo area are unequalled. Ive purchased 32 cars in the past 37 years for the family and myself and this one is definitely the best purchase, by far.

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  Ford 500: What A Car! - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By J. Abramo - December 18 - 6:13 am

  The car is outstanding to drive giving the driver a sense of a much bigger car. It is comfortable and the interior is well designed. The AWD system operates flawlessly and the handling in inclement weather is extraordinary. The engine is very adequate for this vehicle as it is not a race car. All that have sat in the rear have expressed the great amount of room available for passenger comfort. Both me and my wife have been stopped by people asking about this vehicle. We have had flashy vehicles in the past, but none that have provoked such interest by the general public. This is a great value and its safety has been noted by NHSTA. Ford needs to advertise this vehicle better!

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  Perfection - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By clayton-thomas - December 15 - 10:00 am

  The brand new Ford 500 has all the amenities of a full size luxury automobile. The ride is impecable. The supportive seats craddle you in ever twist and turn in its extremely lavish interior. The 500 is also very practical with its amazingly large trunk. This fuel economy is perfect for a car of its size. Hands down Ford has created a fantastic car that the whole family will love.

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  Under-rated great car - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Bob - December 15 - 2:03 am

  I switched from 16 years of driving SUVs, and the tall seating position, huge amount of usable space, and luxury made this an easy transition. I dont think it is under-powered, I think it is fine for daily driving, and it handles great. I recently had to merge onto a busy interstate in an area with no merge area, and was really surprised how much get up and go it has when you floor it. The interior is really comfortable for a tall person (I am 6-1 and have plenty of room). Everyone who has ridden in it has loved it - its too bad so few know about it. Overall this has been a fantastic car. I would buy one again without hesitation.

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  Not your Grandpas Ford - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Ron C - December 7 - 7:13 am

  I have been eyeing the 500 sedan for years. I recently purchase a previous experienced Limited 500 with low miles at a great price. Ive read all the car magazine reviews and all have said that the 500 lacks engine horses. Its true the 500 isnt a stop light drag racer but put the hammer down and hang on! Ive been able to slice and dice alot of unaware BMW, Mercedes and Nissan drivers. Turn off the Traction Control and the 500 will four wheel drift nicely. In sleeper mode the cars ride and comfort is just super. The heated front seats are really nice on those cold morning commutes. All in all a very nice ride.

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  Pepe1 - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Pepe - November 25 - 2:30 pm

  I purchased this car for the leg room in the front and back seat area. Also for the trunk space. I realy liked the way the car looks and drives. I average 32 miles to the gallon with this car on the highway and about 22 in the city. I do a lot of road traveling and this car has never let me down for room, comfort and gas mileage. I true love this car.

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  Extremely pleased and surprised - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By JER - November 25 - 3:16 am

  Even though the majority of the reviews were positive for the Ford 500 I hesitated to purchase it because of some of the negative comments I had read. Boy was I pleasantly surprised! I put on a lot of mileage averaging 800 to 900 miles per week. I took my new 500 Limited with the CVT transmission on a trip from the Eastern Shore of Maryland to Atlanta Ga. to Nashville Tenn. through Stanton Va. and back to the Eastern Shore (1975 miles). Gas mileage was between 26 to 27.5 MPH. Ride was like sitting in your easy chair. The stereo system was excellent, and the car had plenty of power for traveling highways with speed limits up to 75 MPH. It is a good looking car. I would highly recommend it.