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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  Check Flight - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By SHERMAN-TANK - July 28 - 10:03 pm

  The 500 is more than I expected and I researched this vehicle like I do the airplanes I fly. Ford has made this a technological leader.

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  Still Not Up To Par Vs. Japanese - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Freeagent35 - July 28 - 9:30 am

  This is a fleet vehicle supplied by my company. I drive it regularly, a mix of highway and city miles. Though a definite improvement from the Taurus, still not up to the level of quality of the better Japanese cars. Examples: (1) Hood has to be slammed to close. Dont have to do this if build quality and clearance is correct, but I have to slam the hood hard or it wont latch. Unacceptable. (2) Grinding and creaking noises in steering/suspension. This began shortly after purchase, in cold temps. Now happens regularly. Im sick of buying imports but will have to until Detroit makes quality their number one goal. I likely would not buy one; if so, only if it was really cheap.

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  VERY SATISFIED OWNER - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By George Marchini - July 24 - 6:30 am

  I have driven this car 8,500 miles and average gas mileage is 24.2 since day 1. I took a trip to Ohio that was approx 1100 miles. The car was a very comfortable ride. Smooth and quiet.

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  Love my 500 - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Joe - July 15 - 1:53 pm

  I drive 100 miles a day to and from work and cannot say enough good things about this car. It rides great. The continuously variable transmission is very smooth. There is enough room for 4 adults to sit comfortably. The stereo system is awesome. My co-workers are always commenting on what an impressive car this is. The Limited edition has all the bells and whistles youll ever need. Most of all, the five star safety rating provides ease of mind youre looking for when hauling the kids around.

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  The Best Sedan - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Tim Landry - July 12 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive,Looks GREAT, Great MPG @ 25.6

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  Love it! - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Lisa - June 29 - 11:50 am

  Only complaint I have is it is a little gutless with "pick up" but still has enough to get the job done. The seats are very comfortable and there is enough leg room in the back seat for my 64" son in law to sit comfortably. The trunk is HUGE! We like to camp and all of our gear fits with no problem at all. I bought the absolute basic model and it has all the features that I needed.

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  Love the Car! - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By bayliner2255 - June 19 - 1:07 pm

  Bought the car 3 years ago with 40k miles and now have 82k miles and I want another one! With mix driving i get 28.6mpg and thats with my own math! It gets up moves when i want it too and i love the sound of the v6 in it! Very comfortable car to take on road trips! I love the exterior styling of the car! Everytime i look at the car I fall back in love! I do think they could have done a little more on the dash to make it more stylish but i still think the dash is very nice and user friendly! I do recommend this car to anyone and everyone. Good on fuel, stylish, and fun to drive!

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  wolf in sheeps clothing - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By justin - June 18 - 9:43 am

  The car rides wonderfully. I traded in my 2003 Audi and my 2003 Mercedes to consolidate to this one car. I already packed the trunk and folded the back seats down to carry about 1200-1400 pounds of bricks. I get comments all the time ... THATS a FORD? WOW! It is refreshing to see domestic automakers stepping to the plate with their new designs. Welcome to the new millennium with this model, Ford.

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  More than enough power, best mpg - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Ward - June 6 - 10:06 am

  This car hit the mark, great mpg, great comfort and practical performance at a great price. I have had the E500 and everything in between. Fords 500 is the best, period. As gas prices hit $2.20 I laughed to the bank getting 31+ hwy. Avg is 26.7 during my 45 mile commute to work.

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  Ford has a Winner! - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By jmcneer - June 5 - 9:23 am

  Ford has neatly blended the key engineering features of an SUV and a family sedan to provide a unique vehicle that has the handling, surefootedness, and road visibility to provide a comfortable and confident ride in any weather. The incorporation of Volvos frame, AWD system, and safety awareness combined with Fords V6 3L engine and the CVT should make this sedan an attractive vehicle to a variety of consumers. All of this combined with a variety of useful instrumentation features gives this car the feel of a luxury sedan for an affordable price!! Gas mileage has been impressive so far- only driven 1000 miles but have averaged 19/28mpg. Not bad for an AWD with adequate power.