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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  not getting rid of it - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By jadebudan - June 5 - 6:57 pm

  We just got 14 inches of snow and i decided that i might want something with four wheel drive. i found a jeep and went to read the reviews on it.. they were mostly very bad! so i figured i would read the reviews on my car and they were amazing which made me realize that i do have a great car. i only had a weird electrical problem with my dash that hasnt happened after it happen that once ( all the gages wouldnt move and then were jumping up and down while i was driving.. did this happen to anyone else??). I am very glad that i got this wonderful car and im definitley not trading it in anytime soon!

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  dont get me started - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By leofanti - June 4 - 6:16 am

  for starters i bought this car brand new, and instantly had issues till its demise. i experienced the wonderful brake drag issue, the so called auto up window game (which is awesome in negative temperatures), the battery constantly lost its charge, replace battery, and repeat, ford never figured it out. then one day the a/c stopped. which in arizona summers is not really that neccessary (haha) they threw parts at it until they replaced everything, and then viola, it worked, and they never knew what did it. running synthetic oil only i had the most beautiful tapping sound under the hood, which was a tsb, but for refused to address. out of all the tsbs for the car 2 got fixed.

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  Two 500 Family - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Eric - May 29 - 12:30 am

  My wife and I traded our both old cars at the same time and bought 2 500s. Mine is the SEL. I Have been a sedan man all my life until I bought an SUV four years ago. Im very happy to be back in this sedan. It reminds me of the Grand Marquis I use to drive. Comfortable, handles well, minimal road noise. The CVT in my wifes Limited has better pickup, and the Limited has a few more features, but the SEL is good for me. While I might buy a Limited next time, it really isnt that much different.

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  500 is a lot of car for the money - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Jim - May 28 - 6:40 pm

  I just got my 500 and with all rebates it is a lot of car for the money. The size and ride are great and the fuel cost is the best for a large car. So far my 500 has had no problems.

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  Love it - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Gerry - May 23 - 1:30 pm

  We bought a 2007 Ford 500 and we have 93,000kms on it already. I am 77 years old a retired professional transport driver and have had a lot of cars in my life time. I Have never had a vehicle that is as reliable for driving in the snow, ice and slush of Alberta Winters. We have gone to Alaska, and Nova Scotia and never had one ounce of trouble. Love It love It Love It!!!

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  Best car - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By B.j. - April 20 - 7:56 am

  I just purchased my Ford Five hundred. It is an amazing car. I like the trunk space. The car has a very attractive look to it. Very roomy just as big as a BMW 754 or Mercedes Benz. Ford did a great job building this car. Wouldnt trade it for the world.

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  The Long Haul - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By JIM - April 18 - 9:40 am

  We live part time in Pittsburgh PA and winter in Spring Hill FL. The vehicle has been outstanding in ride and fuel economy; 28-30 on the Interstate. The only fault is too much road noise. We can pack it like a pickup due to the large trunk and the fold down seats. We see many other vehicles advertised but there are too many good points in the 500, especially the ability to have good visibility all around. It is an excellent over the road car. I now have 19,300 miles on it and will be taking a trip to Chicago in August, a round trip to Florida in September and a one way to Florida in November. Our 99 Cadillac will be sitting it out.

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  Lots of room, but electrical problems - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By ebutterfly - April 10 - 12:10 pm

  This car has lots of room and great to have with 2 kids. The problems that we have had though is that they have already had to replace the radio. It would just go out and have no sound with it. Now we are having problems with the windows not working. I dont know if we just got a lemon or if this is a manufacturing problem. If the windows are working, I love this car.

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  Brakes-Brakes-Brakes-Brakes-Brakes - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By WV MAN - April 5 - 9:30 am

  I just finished putting on the third set of Ford factory rear brake pads and rotors. My car has 81000 miles on it. Something wrong with this picture. Its not the calipers replaced them the second time.

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  Room to grow - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Family Man - March 28 - 4:56 pm

  Just picked up our 500. My wife and daughter drove it for the first two days, city and some highway. Wife likes the ride and enjoys how high she can sit. The daughter is a teenager; need I say more? I get to drive it to work now, Round trip 80 miles 90% highway with speeds up to 65 mph. I like the ride! My first tank of gas got 25 mpg.