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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  Love the 500 - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By WFoley - November 12 - 1:26 pm

  As a previous Passat owner, I love the look of the Euro cars. However, as a family man I needed more room. The 500 delivers! I have been very pleasantly surprised, it is a great looking car, very comfy, very roomy, easy and intuitive controls. Highly recommend.

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  I Love My Ford 500 - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Linda C - November 8 - 5:03 pm

  I bought my Ford 500 brand new from the showroom floor. I love the fact that I got the 5 year bumper to bumper warranty on it. What ever minor things went wrong. Ford authorized repair fixed it free of charge. Now that my warranty is up, I bought the extended 3 year warranty which covers over 500 components from the engine & transmission to the radio. Love my car. I wish they had made a 2010 version of it. Love the fact also that there arent many on the road that I see and Im always asked " What kind of car is that?" Overall performance in my opinion for my Ford 500 is just about a 10. Love it....Love it...Love it !!!

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  AWD Limited - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Robert - November 2 - 11:20 am

  Very pleased with the overall appearance and quality of the new Ford 500. The vehicle currently is getting 19.3 mpg in city driving. I recently drove a 300 mile trip and averaged 25.6 mpg. A very solid heavy car; there seems to be adequate power with the CVT transmission. The 203 hp V-6 is quiet and very refined. The brakes are great with large rotors. I especially enjoy the feel of the car behind the drivers seat. The new system Ford calls "Command Seating" is very nice, vision through the windows is perfect. Leather is of good quality, and the numerous comfort convienences are very nice. Heated seats, 6 airbags, fog lights and so much more make the car appear so much more costly.

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  fun to drive - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By james foster - October 31 - 2:13 am

  The main reason that I purchased the 500 was the driving character of this car. The ride of this car equals that of the more expensive models.The total design of this car inside and out is what people use to expect of Ford. The 500 is a great value.

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  Best Ford Yet! - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Conneaut Lake - October 24 - 12:03 pm

  Ive had my Five Hundred since March of 2006 and find it to be one of the best cars Ive ever owned. No problems since the day it left the dealership. On the open road I get 28MPG and combined it usually get between 21-25MPG. While the car is a pleasure to drive, I would like to see a little more style to it. Ford has a problem with making all these cars look the same. A good example is the Five Hundred/Taurus will have the same look from the front as the Fusion. With all the stylist Ford has, I would think they could of come with with a different look.

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  5 Months & still happy - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By atyger7 - October 24 - 12:23 am

  Ive now had the car for 5 months and thought I would update. Anyone who thought they could only buy an SUV for height & space is wrong! I have as yet to fill it up. My only complaint is the engine seems to have a hard time deciding what gear to be in as you slow in city traffic and then accelerate again. I am 52" and all the controls are very easy to reach. No problem getting away from the steering wheel and still reaching the pedals. Very comfortable in town & on trips. Thrilled when I heard 5 star crash test scores in all categories! If I had been renting for this long, I would definately buy it. Live in Erie, PA, 100" snow and it goes great! With the weight & traction control AWD not necessary. Buy it!

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  Great balance of quality for the price - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By mhaden - October 23 - 12:05 pm

  I purchased my 2005 Ford Five Hundred SE in the fall of 2009 with 100,000 miles on it and currently have 170,000 after 3 years. The car has tremendous interior cabin space, and it has been a reliable car. I did stay away from the CVT transmission on purpose because of the problems reported by many. You dont realize how quiet and smooth the ride is until you test-drive something else. My wife and I are looking for another vehicle and find many fuel efficient cars (camry, civic, etc..) to be noisy and you give up a lot of comfort. I think I am going to find another used Ford Five hundred for her around $5,000-6,000. Great car

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  What a great car. - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Bill - October 22 - 4:36 pm

  We have always had trucks or SUVs. We have not bought a car in 12 years. The first test drive we fell in love and every time we drive we are more in love with this car. In the snow the 500 handles better then my new 4x4 pick-up truck, due to the great AWD and CVT. We feel safer and more in control than we do in the pickup.

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  Nice, Big Car - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Michael Bramnik - October 16 - 8:10 pm

  For years Ive only been driving SUVs because of my size. Im 6 ft 7 and not skinny! I tried out the 500 and was amazed that not only did I fit in this sedan, but I was comfortable and normal-human-sized people actually fit behind me too! This car drives like one of my fathers neat German sports cars (BMW, Audi) compared to anything Ive driven before - its great!

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  First new Ford in a while....like it! - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By KDS - October 11 - 8:30 pm

  We are in our 50s & take road trips with friends, swapping drivers so I sometimes end up in the back. I have a very tall upper body & somewhat short legs. We test sat/drove many vehicles of all makes including the 2008 Taurus and the Five Hundred was the only one I didnt have my head touching the roof when sitting in back. Ours is a 2007 Five Hundred Limited FWD in white/pebble and we love it! Is it the most luxurious car weve ever owned? no. The sportiest? no. But it is perfect for us. Room aplenty, smooth ride, good gas mileage, adjustable pedals, thoughtful features, classy looks, good build quality. Were just happy we got one before they were all gone.