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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  Thanks, Ford! - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Linda - March 10 - 5:16 pm

  A vehicle with a Lincoln feel, for a very affordable price. Stepping up from a Taurus, I am blown away by this cars performance and luxury features. This is the first lease vehicle that I am seriously considering as a purchase at lease end.

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  A hard to beat Family Sedan from Ford - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By tbirdman - March 9 - 5:43 am

  My wife & I love this 500 which we ordered. The Alloy paint with the 18 inch chrome wheels & saddle leather interior really set this 500 off & make it an eye catching car. She especially likes the great view of the road when driving & the spacious rear seating area. What a huge trunk. This replaced a 2002 Taurus.

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  Ford Five Hundred - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Ann ONymous - March 3 - 10:00 am

  The Ford Five Hundred is a great car. It is extremely comfortable, and fun to drive. Theres tons of front and rear legroom, and the features are great. I absolutely love this car.

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  Awesome - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Bigdaddy - February 28 - 12:40 pm

  In looking at the other reviews I must have gotten the best of the bunch. Aside from the initial rear brake problem, this car has been great. The transmission has worked flawlessly and the ride is fantastic. To fix the brake problem I went to my local parts store and purchased another brand of brakes and they have not had to be changed as frequently as before and work great! Cant say enough about the car. I would buy another but not for the $30,000.00+ price tag.

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  One look is all it took. - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Tonia - February 17 - 2:46 am

  I dont usually buy American cars because I felt the quality and the design of them was not that great. The Ford 500 hundred looked different from all the others. So I took it for a test drive. It drove great. It felt like I had more control of a car then every before due to the driver seat. For the first time ever, the thought of buying a foreign car was completely out of my mind. So I bought the Ford 500 hundred. p.s. I have never before been stopped by so many people inquiring about my new car. The car is a great ego buster. :)

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  Comfort and ergonomics - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Bob Brownby - February 11 - 11:56 am

  I drive five hundred miles per week and have averaged over twenty nine miles per gallon. Ill take the gas mileage over the so called lack of power any day, especially considering the rising price of gas.The Five Hundred has great ergonomics and is the most comfortable cars Ive ever owned. Great value for the price.

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  CVT Transmission = Worthless - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Dee - February 11 - 1:20 am

  Our family has owned many ford products but this one is a great disappointment. This car has been at a Ford dealership since June. The transmission went and Ford wants $5500 -$6500.00 to put in a new transmission that comes from China. Ford will not help in anyway. The looks beautiful but is not drivable. My daughter and I could have been killed on the turnpike because the car slipped into neutral when you tried to get above 50mph. Greatly disappointed with Ford.

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  Great Value & Great Vehicle - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By DStewart - January 31 - 3:00 am

  This is my first Ford product. My wife bought the 2006 Freestyle. We were impressed with her vehicle. So I traded my 2003 Nissan Altima SL for a 2006 Ford 500 Limted AWD with 5K miles on it. I got a great price for all the features and low mileage, with 5 year warranty too. I wanted more back seat room for out two growing children. So far, the car has been fault free on every level and very satisfying for the cost. The Limited features are wonderful. It is a perfect all purpose vehicle with excellent saftey features, visability and since of control when driving. I highly recommend this vehicle and tip my hat to Ford.

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  Was looking for a Hybrid - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Sid - January 24 - 9:53 pm

  I went shopping for a hybrid and due to a lack of availability i ended up buying a 500. So far I love the car. It handles well and is very spacious. I traded in a Ford Explorer so the gas mileage is a huge improvement. I see a lot of people saying the car is underpowered but Id prefer the better gas mileage over the power.

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  Comfortable Ride, Easy Handling - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Diane Fetzner - January 6 - 11:03 pm

  At first I was skeptical about the Ford Five Hundred since I was giving up a 2000 Eldorado. To my pleasant surprise I found the interior to be quite large, comfortable, and roomy. The back seat has more than enough room for a large or tall person, and the trunk is very spacious. The handling of the car impressed me. I particularly like the non-shift transmission and the quiet ride. My favorite feature is the reverse sensor. I highly recommend buying this car. P.S. Theres plenty of room for my large German Shepherd.