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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  Lemon FORD 500 - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By DR-DALE - September 11 - 1:06 am

  Purchased NEW March 28 2005 and it is now April 12 2006. The car has 4000 miles on it and is sitting unlicensed and unsafe to drive. Entire back end suspension and brakes have been replaced. Some items more than once. Last brake fix turned rotors down to 1/1000 over minimum. Tried to invoke Colorado Lemon Law, but Ford has arbitration clauses which precludes using legal remedy. You must use their designated arbitration service run by Ford Autoline (BBB subsidiary in Washington DC). This process is a sham and I still have the new car sitting unused. Ford Corporate Office tells me they are done fixing this car, which has 4000 miles on it and a 3 year warranty. Ford stonewalls certified letters.

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  My Ford 500 Limited - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Jasons Dawgs - September 2 - 11:46 pm

  My wife and I traded in our TrailBlazer and bought our Ford 500 in April of 2007. I have taken several trips from Charleston South Carolina to Cleveland Ohio with our family. The vehicle is very comforting for long trips, and theres tons of trunk space. Ford definitely kepf safety in mind when they built this car. Five star crash test ratings. I would recomend this vehicle to anyone.

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  Just purchased 2007 Ford 500 Limited AWD - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Dylan - September 1 - 1:33 pm

  Great car. Very surprised when I got into the car on how nice it was. Hugs the road, quieter than Taurus (last car) but they need to do even better. For the money a GREAT VALUE. Heated front seats, split temp control, reverse sensors, nice leather, 6 disc in dash changer, Sirius radio, 8 way adjustable seats, 2 memory buttons to recall driver cockpit settings. FAST. I went to look & ended up buying my 1ST new car.

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  Nice Family Vehicle - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By hageman6 - August 30 - 10:26 am

  I have had this vehicle for a few months and I have been very happy with the performance. I know people keep knocking the lack of power, but really the overall power and passing power has been satisfactory for me. I must admit we are a family that had minivans due to the kids, but I am happy with the performance and comfort of this vehcile and there is plenty of room for the family.

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  Elevating the sedan - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By ellen - August 25 - 10:43 pm

  Love this car, lots of class and style, great mileage, interior of the car is huge, handling, stereo and feel is better than any other car I have owned. The price was amazing for all the gadgets. Highly recommmend.

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  Good Job Ford! - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Bartley - August 24 - 10:00 am

  So far I am very pleased. Have not run across any problems. I find it very comfortable and enjoyable to drive.

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  2005 AWD 500 - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By DJ - August 15 - 5:40 pm

  I spend the winters driving to Hhockey games around Alberta. This is the perfect vehicle for it. Roomy, comfortable and lots of trunk space for hockey equipment. The vehicle handles well on the highway and feels safe in winter driving conditions. I love the CVT transmission.

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  Ford 500 - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By joe g - August 15 - 9:53 am

  The Ford 500 was quite a surprise on the test drive. The fuel mileage and room was the initial attractiveness but the tight, smooth feel with luxury comfort was the real selling point. The car rides and drives like a dream, giving the feel of a much more expensive car. Kudos to the seats in the Limited for comfort. Coming out of an Eddie Bauer Expedition was difficult to consider at first but even the wife now loves the car. We get stopped frequently at the grocery and gas stations with people asking questions about the car, even valet parking attendants give positive feedback on the car. We love it!

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  2007 Five Hundred Electrical System - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Jean - August 13 - 4:29 am

  When i bought this car it was awesome. Drove great, rode great, and was roomy. Transmission had to be repaired at a very high price. Now at 182,000 the Instrument Cluster or whatever is causing the intermittent cluster failure is driving me crazy. I has a spot soldered on it, didnt work. Bought a replacement used, didnt work. Had the first one rebuilt, didnt work. Had all my negative wires cleaned and sanded, though it worked only to see it doesnt. It is a notorious problem with this year. I have done nothing but research and I find so many people have this same problem. Wish I could figure out what the problem really is because it keeps me from my travels. Oh by the way, Ford Dealership said it was the cluster..ha!

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  500 - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By cmalwas5f - August 1 - 4:50 am

  I am very happy with my Ford Five Hundred. It has a spacious interior in both the front and rear. The trunk is also enormous. It has a nice window line unlike many cars today (It is easy to see out the windows). My only complaint is that it is not fast or sporty. But for a large family car, it is perfect. I think it is a great car for the money.