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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  2007 - Ford 500 - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Shane - July 12 - 5:46 pm

  Comfortable, lots of interior/trunk room. Sharp looking vehicle. However the engine is too small for such a big car. Hit the gas and takes too long for engine response (hesitates)when passing. Must have something to do with that new CVT transmission.

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  Transmission Issues - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By karent4 - July 8 - 6:31 pm

  2006 Ford 500 transmission bushing shot $1,200; that hurts!

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  transmission clunking - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By jmlws - July 2 - 11:17 pm

  Bought car used with 128k miles, shortly transmission started clunking loudly in lower gears between 2 & 3 on the CVT tranny. I guess Im not the only one with tranny problems on these cars. If Ford made a lemon you would thing they would do the right thing and announce a recall to keep their people happy. It would actually bring them more new business. This will be my last Ford unless they fix it.

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  Ford 500 has Style and Class - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Olga Lancaster - June 28 - 4:50 pm

  The car has great style and class. The back of the car reminds me of an European model.

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  Happily surprised - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Bill - June 18 - 10:40 am

  I use this car for work and am very satisfied with the mileage. Have owned Crown Vics and Marquis and this car gives me the same large sedan feel with double the mpg. Have had some issues with body rust on the doors & trunk lid. Otc brake pads last longer than original & have had to replace the front rotors recently.

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  Warning: for city use only! - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By carlota - June 17 - 12:56 pm

  When I first drove the 500, it was a pleasant experience. My first impression was that it was a nice, large sedan that handles well, despite the "plain brown wrapper" design. Then I drove back home. I live in a rural area on a dirt road. All the roads in my area are dirt. Dirt turns to mud, and thats when the 500 starts to slip and slide. It is terrifying to drive this car on anything other than smooth, dry pavement. Big problems in the handling. Yikes! Also, my knees bump the dash. Im short, so by the time the seat is up far enough, there is no leg room left.

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  Glad I bought it - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Fox - June 8 - 2:13 am

  I have older parents and was looking for a car that was comfortable, easy to get in and out of and with a trunk that could hold two walkers and a wheel chair. The Ford 500 does the trick. We love to drive it. It has great pick up and handles well. The interior is plain but everything is within easy reach. We wonder why were the only people who know about them. Weve only seen one other 500 in four months.

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  Best Buy - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By jpvette - June 4 - 7:20 am

  One of the best of cars I have ever owned, it is great looking, and runs smooth and quiet. The 18 inch wheels really make all the difference. The power memory seating gives you a great view of the road. The interior is smart looking and well appointed has all the features of luxury car. Great truck room.

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  NEVER BUY THIS CAR!!! - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By cjculster - May 30 - 6:11 pm

  Bought mine used with only 100,000 on it and before 3 months had passed, the transmission computer was fried and I was getting an average of 15.5 mpg. Also the tires wear out really fast, the ones that came with the car had about 10,000 miles on them and one blew out in the first 5,000 miles I drove it, this may have been a lemon tire though so I dont know if its actually the car or not. The brakes clog up and dont work on gravel and/or snow.

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  500 A Good Choice - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By richtn1 - May 30 - 2:23 am

  I have enjoyed my Ford 500. It gets great gas mileage and has a very smooth but controlled ride. The only things I would change are the passenger seat and the tranny. The tranny needs a sport mode so the driver can select the gear manually during spirited driving. The passengers seat needs to be 8 way adjustable like the drivers seat. I cant imagine anyone hauling lumber in this nice interior.