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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  Great Sedan - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Bryan - June 7 - 3:30 am

  Purchased my 500 in January. Features are great. Very stable and responsive handling. Very comfortable to ride in. Really roomy car. Pleanty of pep. The trunk is huge as is the back seat. Dual climate controls and 6 CD/MP3 player are nice. Great visibility. Well laid out cabin. Overall I am really pleased with the car. I highly recommend this car. Transmission is smooth, ride is quiet.

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  My new/used 500 - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Gary - May 21 - 1:50 pm

  I used to drive an Elantra GT. I started to have leg pains on long drives. I decided to search for a comfortable and safe car. After reading many owner comments about the Ford 500 I decided it was the car for me. There isnt a lot of 500s in my area but I found one with low mileage and in great shape. My wife and I love the car!! Thanks to you owners of 500"s I made a great choice and I look forward to many years of ownership.

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  Ford hit a home run with the 500 - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Ward - May 20 - 2:23 am

  Excellent mileage, over 30 if you stay below 65. With a 20 gal tank thats one gas stop a week for me and I love it. Interior is sweet and comfortable, every control and surface has excellent feel and for me the stereo is better than my home system. It plays my MP3 CDs so I pack up the 6 disc player and never look back. Good bye radio, who needs ya. Handling is also excellent in all weather with just FWD, which added to the fuel economy.

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  I love this car - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By brian - May 16 - 9:30 pm

  I have own this car for 7 months and I love it. The excellent mileage and the comfort of the seating speaks volumes for the Ford engineers. All of the new amenities show Ford is committed to providing cars American can be proud of.

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  Best Ford Ever - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By lee warren - April 25 - 12:20 am

  I bought the Limited. This is truly a great car. Fuel economy is impressive, especially on the highway. Getting over 30mpg. I love the CVT transmission and build quality. A lot of car for the money.

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  Great car so far! - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Claire - April 3 - 5:13 pm

  This has been a nice car to drive. Only problem I have is the large rear view mirrors. I am small and they tend to block vision when turning corners, but the gas and brake pedal adjustment is great for me. My husband loves it as it is so easy to get into and out of as he has knee replacements. Lots of room and plenty of storage bins all over the car. Trunk very roomy. Only wish it had a trunk release that lifted the trunk lid up by itself. It is a little heavy for me to lift up. Interior is really attractive - ours is leather.

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  500 - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By flt769 - April 2 - 1:30 am

  I like my new 500 very much. The only complaint I have with it is the trunk. Although the trunk is huge and holds lots it is not flat and the edge around the inside of the trunk takes up valuable space. For example, I had a Taurus and the trunk was flat. The 500 with the edge or lip around the trunk will not allow me to store things like i did in the taurus. Otherwise, I like it greatly.

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  Great car w/ great service - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By AAA - March 31 - 9:00 am

  This car is safe, comfortable, reliable, good on gas (not great in winter weather for gas usage). Seems to have gotten worse over the years in winter time even tho I service regularly. Nice driving view, can sit up high, I like that. Fits 5 people very comfortably, nice stero and 5 changer. Great in winter snow. Great open road driving car..relax and travel.

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  Ford 500 - 27,000 miles - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Peter George - March 31 - 8:43 am

  We got the 500 in December 2004. My wife is the primary driver. The car is great in the winter weather (we live in central NH) and is a very good highway car. On our trip to FL last winter we averaged 24.3 mpg.

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  cool dad - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By John Ronnebaum - March 30 - 4:03 pm

  My wife and I both love this vehicle. We first were looking at trucks and they had a Five Hundred in stock. We test drove it and fell in love with the comfort, the horsepower and the room it has. It has more leg room than our Windstar. Our three kids would rather ride in the car than the van. As far as power I wouldnt want to get on it on gravel. Luxury without the price. We have over 11,000 miles on ours; no complaints at all.