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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  Big Blue - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By richy07 - July 4 - 6:45 am

  I purchased mine with 20K miles, big blue now has 110K. Ive replaced the battery, frt brakes, rear brakes twice, rear rotors and tires. I previously drove a 2 dr buick regal that I LOVED for 14yrs. I never liked 4dr vehicles but the regal & monte carlo were out of circulation, I was forced into one. It was hard to get used to it, (didnt go like the regal!), hydroplaning but the new tires stopped that. Its been 6 yrs and this has been an extremely comfortable, dependable, efficient vehicle I have grown to appreciate. I wouldnt say its "fun to drive". The only maintenance I do is oil change/tire rotation every 5000-6000 miles, waste of money before 5k. I get 25-27 mpg.

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  Ford 500 - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By John - July 1 - 1:10 pm

  A great car on the highway and easy to manuever in town. The high seating is a pleasure for getting and out. The engine is more than sufficient when teamed with the CVT. Good mileage.

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  The Ford Five Hundred - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By thundrol - June 30 - 8:06 am

  When I first saw the vehicle I knew that I wanted to have one of my own. I got one the next month, and boy have I ever had fun with it. I have not regretted getting it since the day that I got it. The performance of the car was phenomenal.

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  Just what I expected - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Texmarc - June 23 - 11:36 pm

  After reading numerous reviews I was sold on this car. I bought a retired company car (they maintained the car very well), a little high on mileage butwith the excellent shape of the car I thought the maintenance records outweighed the mileage (60k). The SEL has great looks; when I park next to other cars it really is a big car; averaging about 25 MPG; quiet, solid and overall very easy to drive. I paid 10,500; not a steal, but a good deal. Minor complaint: why put an sat. ready radio in the car withour the tuner?? Will cost aout $100 to convert to recieve SIRIUS; stereo is the basic CD-AM/FM and has good sound. Black is very classy, hard to keep clean; but with tinted windows looks sharp.

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  Great car for value - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Ray - June 9 - 9:27 am

  Bought this car as a demonstrator with 8000 miles. It now has 160,000. It has been a great car for the value. Very reliable. Only major repair was the a/c compressor leak. Have no engine or transmissions issues. Average gas mileage is 24-26. Have owned Chevy, VW, Porsche Mercedes and Mazda. This might be the most reliable of all. Think it has thousands of miles left in it.

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  Tremendous Value and Comfort - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By RalphEllis - June 7 - 7:53 pm

  This car is comfortable, handles well, and is a tremendous winter car in Canada. It is bascially a Volvo S80 in disguise. Where else can you get huge interior space, a technologically advanced drive train, AWD and a CVT for this price. The only knock on the car is rapid depreciation. Since I own my cars for a long time, this is not an issue for me. I love it and would buy it again.

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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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  Ford 500 - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Beverly Youngblood - May 18 - 11:00 am

  I sold a Tahoe to purchase this vehicle with the intent to save money on gas. This has not happened, the car averages 19 mpg in town. I have also had to have the seat belt latch replaced 2 times now. I enjoy the smooth ride of this large sedan. The motor is too small for this size sedan. Overall I like the fact you are able to just step out of the car instead of climbing out. The interior of the car is extremely spacious. The truck is also very large. The ride of this car is very comparable to the ride of my Tahoe. I would recommend this car if you are looking for space and smooth ride.