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:

• 

  Ford #1 - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By verdale marquardt - September 29 - 7:20 pm

  love this car.will never sell it make it factor original show car no after market add ons ever. i get up to 35 miles to the gallon on hwy. its just a cool car, ford had waited to long to design a car like this and then they cancel it after 3 years somethings wrong with their management. this car will always remain in my family, thank you for making the Ford 500 limited edition.

• 

  Happy owner - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By suezeeq - September 25 - 11:06 am

  After six weeks of waivering back an forth about whether or not to buy the Five Hundred I took the plunge and I am happy I did! I drove both transmissions and the CVT is the only way to go - much smoother and quieter. Not sure why some people say the car needs more horses because I think it has plenty of pep for a sedan - after all it is not meant to be a race car. The AWD is a real plus for NJ weather. If you are thinking about this car, GO FOR IT!

• 

  A good family car. - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By joe - September 19 - 6:26 pm

  The car drives very well. I have 3 kids and they have enough room for long trips. The trunk is big. In the snow it did very well. I do have two things I do not like. It lacks power and my dash has a bump in it that Ford says it cant fix. The bump showed up within 4000 miles.

• 

  Bad Experience - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By John Nichols - September 14 - 3:13 pm

  Even though I had very good service from my foreign cars, I wanted to give the American cars a chance. I purchased my Ford 500 based on good reviews and after a few weeks I noticed that I was losing several quarts of oil. I have the receipts for the oil. My dealer told me to bring in the vehicle. I did and after several days, a new engine was put in the car. After a few days this engine started giving me problems. I took it in and found that the engine was not put together in correctly. It was repaired in a day. In both cases I had to insist on work order that proved I had a problem with the car. The second time I was told I could not have a work order, so they typed a memo.

• 

  Great Car - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Dave - September 12 - 7:13 pm

  Great car so far.

• 

  Inspect It Carefully! - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By James S. - September 6 - 7:03 am

  The Bad: Our white 500 had massive problems with areas of the car not being painted (primer showing through) and with paint runs/defects. Lower front bumper, door jams, inside trunk areas etc. It also had problems with the sheet metal along the rear door seams and rear quarter panel being deformed. Theres also the issue of the notorious heat bubble that shows up on the center dashboard console that Ford will not currently fix due to a "pending solution." Next you have the gas tank strap recall that is also pending. The Good: The fuel mileage and cruising range are very good for a car of this size. Achieved 550+ miles on highway trips from the 20 gallon tank. Transmission is impressive.

• 

  My Favorite - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Lotson - September 5 - 9:26 pm

  I just bought my Five Hundred last week and I already love it. Being military I needed a good car to travel from Savannah to Ft Stewart everyday. I love the space, and the powerful V6 engine. The V6 and the AWD combine perfectly when i have one of those days, and wake up a little late.

• 

  Great car for the money - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Guy - September 3 - 5:13 am

  I really like the car. I wish that it had more power. I drive 110 miles a day and this car is perfect because i never have to worry about it breaking down on me. It really seems to be built good also.

• 

  Five Hundred Review - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By sbeigle - August 21 - 2:53 pm

  Excellent vehicle, the best american built car I have ever driven!

• 

  A Solid Car for the Right Price - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Mark - August 21 - 5:53 am

  After 6,000 miles I am very satisfied with my Ford Five Hundred. I have a fully loaded AWD Limited. The amount of options and features available for the price is an excellent value. I purchased this vehicle when gas prices were at their peak in hopes to achieve better MPG than my F-150. I am very satisfied with the MPG I am getting (about 19/20 city). I would recommend this vehicle to anyone who is in the market for a sedan. I have an issue with the electronics in the instrument panel and interior lighting that causes the lights to dim and flicker periodically. I am not sure if this is a widespread problem or if I have a faulty component.