 Video highlights of this vehicle
What Is It?
2005 Ford Five Hundred
What's Special About It?
Since 1986, Ford has enjoyed indisputable success from its practical midsize Taurus sedan. Largely known for its fleet presence, the economical Taurus seems to suffer from having all the appeal of a rental car. After deciding to build a more luxurious sedan, Ford placed its new flagship model, the Ford Five Hundred, between the Taurus and its larger veteran sedan, the Crown Victoria.
Built on an adaptation of the Volvo platform used for the S80, Ford claims that the Five Hundred stands alone as the first crossover-based car. Designed as a sedan alternative for potential SUV shoppers, the Five Hundred features several of the advantages of SUVs and crossovers, including class-leading cargo capacity (21cubic feet) and optional all-wheel drive. Also like traditional SUVs, the Five Hundred offers a tall seating position, as much as four inches higher than competitors, which is designed to provide a better view of the road. At just over 200 inches in length, the Five Hundred is nearly a foot shorter than the Crown Vic, but provides rear-seat passengers with nearly seven inches more legroom.
Luxury appointments inside the cabin include leather seating surfaces, dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable pedals, heated seats and an audiophile stereo system with subwoofer, in-dash six-disc changer and MP3 capability. On the exterior, the Five Hundred dresses up with bright chrome trim and 18-inch wheels covered with Pirelli rubber.
The Five Hundred is powered by a Duratec 3.0-liter V6 engine tuned to produce 200 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. It comes standard with front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission, with the option to add a continuously variable transmission (CVT), or with an all-wheel drivetrain mated to the CVT exclusively.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Ford boasts that the Five Hundred is a big car interior in a midsize body. And with a clean, modern look and downright cavernous cargo capacity that easily swallows up eight loaded golf bags, the Five Hundred is more than just practical; it also provides an added level of luxury that Ford Motor Company usually reserves for its Lincoln-Mercury division. Pricing is expected to be higher than the Taurus, but with some overlap — Kelly Stennick
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