If youre in the market for a comfortable, spacious sedan that takes little effort to drive, this might be right up your alley. While not deleted, the role of the Taurus/Sable station wagon would change as it was repackaged as a functionally similar crossover SUV, replacing the long-running third-row jumpseat with a forward-facing folding third row. [9] Alongside standard dual front airbags, the Five Hundred was available with both side airbags and curtain airbags as an option. All-wheel drive is optional, though its extra weight will likely make the car a bit pokier. An evolution of the Volvo P2 platform (used in the Volvo S80), the platform marked the shift to front-wheel drive in full-size Ford sedans; an electro-hydraulic Haldex all-wheel drive system (based on that used on the Volvo S80 and XC90) was optional in all versions of the Ford Five Hundred or Mercury Montego. The payoff comes in minimal gear hunting, which helps the Five Hundred maintain a smooth, hiccup-free ride. What Sort of Driving Do You Do?Take it easy through the turns, and the Five Hundred will serve just fine. [9][13], George Bucher, Ford's chief designer said "it was a challenge to sculpt a Ford-styled body around a Volvo chassis, and added that designers used what he calls plainer surfaces with taut lines to give the car a modern look without losing its passenger-car proportions. And it's still riding on 202664 miles. If youre looking for a sporty, hip full-size car, you should avoid the Five Hundred. Unfortunately, a lot of these designs lead to very little headroom, obscured blind spots and cramped backseats. will help you decide. I drove a front-wheel-drive Five Hundred Limited. Theyre installed several inches inward, which conventional wisdom says provides better protection from side impacts. Although the changes were positively received, Ford CEO Alan Mulally chose to rename all three D3 platform cars, with the Five Hundred and Montego becoming the fifth-generation Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable; the similarly updated Ford Freestyle continued as the Ford Taurus X. Had this car for 12 years. The 2007 model has Fords new five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. 2007 Ford Five Hundred trim comparison I never had to step down or climb up to get in, and the high perch offers a commanding view of the road. If youre shopping for a Five Hundred, be sure to check out the Chevrolet Impala and Toyota Avalon. The innermost hooks are spaced such that if you only have one youngster, one child seat can be anchored in the center the safest spot for kids, and a provision most cars dont offer. With that setup, highway gas mileage drops to 26 mpg. [20][21][22] Others criticized its conservative exterior styling, likely to only appeal to older buyers. Starting around $23,000, the well-equipped Five Hundred SEL includes power front seats with manual seatback adjusters, 17-inch alloy wheels, a CD stereo with steering wheel audio controls, and power windows, locks and mirrors. The Five Hundred was produced exclusively as a four-door sedan, with the role of the Ford Taurus station wagon adopted by the Ford Freestyle (marketed as a CUV by Ford). With the option of a folding front passenger seat, a Five Hundred was able to carry objects up to ten feet long inside the vehicle. Had it come through on those counts, it would probably have much broader appeal. Rear passengers will appreciate the abundant legroom, and the trunk offers 21.2 cubic feet of cargo volume, which is 2.4 cubic feet more than you get in a Cadillac DTS. Outside of North America and South Korea, the Five Hundred name remained in use through 2009. How Much Power Do You Need?The Five Hundred uses a 3.0-liter V-6 that makes 203 horsepower and 207 pounds-feet of torque. The 2007 model has Fords new five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Although the Taurus had been out of retail markets since 2006 (the Sable, since 2005), Mullaly cited the larger brand familiarity of the Taurus/Sable nameplates as the reason for the renaming of the two D3 sedans. For the 2010 model year, the Ford Taurus underwent a complete redesign. Slotted in between the Ford Escape and Ford Explorer in its exterior footprint, the Ford Freestyle was fitted solely with a 3.0-liter V6 engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Official loan marketplace source of NADAguides.com, Top-Rated 2020 Sedans in Quality According to Consumers, 10 Most Popular Midsize SUVs and Crossovers, 10 Most Popular Large SUVs and Crossovers, 10 Most Popular Luxury SUVs and Crossovers, Check whether an accident has been reported on the vehicle, Check for severe damage, salvage, and theft. While largely distinguished from the Five Hundred by its standard HID headlights and LED taillights (the largest set of LED taillights ever introduced on a Ford vehicle at the time),[9] the Montego also differs from the Five Hundred in its monochomatic exterior, satin aluminum trim, and two-tone interior with black-toned wood trim.[9]. Such systems are prevalent in SUVs, whose higher center of gravity makes them more prone to rollovers, but theyre a welcome feature in this class. Trim Levels and OptionsFord simplified the Five Hundred lineup for 2007, eliminating the base SE trim level. Compared with what I have experienced in other large cars, the Five Hundreds front seats seem a bit narrow, especially at the shoulders. Anyone used to driving the large cars of yesterday or the four-cylinder cars of today should find adequate performance in most situations, though. [9], For the first time in a full-size Ford sedan, the Ford Five Hundred featured independent suspension for both front and rear axles, with MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear axle with coilover shocks; both axles were fitted with stabilizer bars. In place of the luxury sedan interior of the Five Hundred/Montego, the Freestyle was designed with a model-specific interior. Starting around $23,000, the well-equipped Five Hundred SEL includes power front seats with manual seatback adjusters, 17-inch alloy wheels, a CD stereo with steering wheel audio controls, and power windows, locks and mirrors. Unfortunately, a lot of these designs lead to very little headroom, obscured blind spots and cramped backseats. So yeah it has done its job very well. At cruising speeds, things change noticeably. A mid-year running change removed the exterior doorside trim molding on all trim levels in favor of a small sill molding at the bottom edge of the door. The standard four-wheel-independent suspension absorbs bumps with minimal cabin disturbance, and large ruts dont leave lingering reverberations. Maneuvers that require more agility like a right turn into traffic or a quick merge into the passing lane can catch the Five Hundred off-guard, resulting in plenty of body roll and a squeal or two from the front tires. Ford Certified Pre-Owned Program Warranty Criteria and Details, Powertrain 7 years/100,000 miles limited warranty from original in-service date and 12 months/12,000 comprehensive limited warranty from certified pre-owned purchase date, 2005 Ford Five Hundred Sedan 4D SEL AWD Specs powered by JDPower.com, /cars/compare-cars?trimids=265315_0_395559. It uses a conventional hydraulic setup and feels much more natural than some of the over-boosted, artificial systems competitors use. A distinguishing feature of the Ford Five Hundred is its tall exterior height; at 61.5 inches tall, it was over 5 inches taller than the Ford Taurus sold alongside it. [16] This became the final generation Taurus for North America. [9], Along with Haldex AWD, several Volvo design features were incorporated into the structure of the Five Hundred, including a modified version of Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) from Volvo, channeling impact forces around the passenger compartment; the front frame rails were redesigned to better absorb impact forces. Such systems are prevalent in SUVs, whose higher center of gravity makes them more prone to rollovers, but theyre a welcome feature in this class. The steering has a split personality. For 2006, a new navigation radio made by Pioneer (featuring Sirius Satellite Radio) became an option; traction control was now changed to an option on front-wheel drive models (from standard). But we will never make that mistake again. Alongside the Ford Five Hundred, several versions of the D3 platform were marketed by Ford Motor Company, with all variants produced in the same Chicago assembly facility. A covered storage tray atop the dashboard can accommodate CDs or cell phones, and the dual-zone automatic climate control in my test car had large, prominent temperature buttons. The Ford Five Hundred was the first full-size Ford sedan to feature a folding rear seat to supplement the 21 cubic foot trunk (larger than the Lincoln Town Car). The side curtain airbags include Fords Safety Canopy system, which deploys them just before a rollover and can maintain their inflation for several seconds. For the 2008 model year, for a mid-cycle revision, the Five Hundred was re-christened as the Ford Taurus; the Freestyle became the Taurus X, with the Mercury Montego renamed the Mercury Sable. Bought used in 2008 after renting one on a trip. Consumer states unexpected vehicle movement the consumer stated if the vehicle was not in park or the brake was not applied, it would move. 2006 Ford Five Hundred SEL 6 Cyl 3.0L. The engine would spike as displayed by the tachometer and the engine could be heard accelerating. Thats significantly worse than the Toyota Avalon, which drops about 34 percent under the same conditions. The powertrain warranty was revised to 5 years / 60,000-mile (97,000km). I've noticed that once it gets warmed up, it really shifts smooth, idles well, and rides very nicely! [15] For the 2007 North American International Auto Show, Ford introduced a mid-cycle 2008 update of the Five Hundred and Montego; the new sedans had front and rear fascia styling, new interiors, and new powertrains with a 263hp 3.5L V6 and a new 6-speed automatic transmission. The Mercury Montego is closely related, though it offers a few upscale options that are unavailable in the Five Hundred. Other Cars to ConsiderIf youre shopping for a Five Hundred, be sure to check out the Chevrolet Impala and Toyota Avalon. Passenger Side Headlight Kit, with bulb, includes Fog Light. View all You can filter by car price, year, and make. Some of those CEOs have had more conservative tastes than others. Five Hundred in the MarketThere is no doubt the Five Hundreds lackluster acceleration and uninspired styling lost Ford a boatload of potential customers. As with the first-generation Ford Focus, the seats of the Five Hundred were positioned relatively high from the floor, providing an upright seating position and improved visibility, access, and egress. Along with the first completely new full-size chassis since 1979, the 2005 Five Hundred introduced two distinct full-size model lines to Ford (for the first time since the 1978 discontinuation of the Custom 500). During its production, the Ford Five Hundred would attract a high degree of attention by automotive industry critics over its controversial styling. I think of all the cars Ive designed in my career, I regret not pushing harder on that car.[31], Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles, 2007 North American International Auto Show, "2005 Ford Five Hundred SE Sedan 3.0L V6 6-speed Automatic Features and Specs", "High-tech Volvo S80 could donate systems to Ford | Automotive News Europe", "Ford Achieves First Car Sales Increase Since 1999", "2004 Detroit Auto Show Coverage: 2005 Ford Five Hundred", "A Designer Lets Loose in the 'Year of the Car', "2005 Ford Five Hundred: Mature Audiences Suggested", "Ford Five Hundred called roomy inside, dull outside", "Nice Surprises in a Ho-Hum Package: 2005 Ford Five Hundred sedan", "A senior moment: Mercury's throwback Montego makes everything new feel old again", Recent, current, and future vehicles, North American market, 150, 250, 350, 350HD, Cutaway, Chassis Cab, Seventh-generation (2015present, China), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ford_Five_Hundred&oldid=1100704725, Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 July 2022, at 07:31. Recommended vehicles based on NADAguides.com audience feedback. An electronic stability system is not available, but Ford says one will be offered for 2008. Location : Passenger Side Notes : Without signal socket Assembly : With bulb (s) See All Products Details. For better passing power, its willing to kick down two or three gears without much delay, though the resultant revs can make the engine sound quite thrashy. A 72MPG diesel-electric hybrid designed as part of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles, the Prodigy would introduce much of the exterior styling of the Five Hundred; it was also the first Ford to use the horizontal "three-bar" grille (which made its production debut on the 2006 Ford Fusion). I've been at the company 13 years and I've been through five CEOs. Get answers to buy with confidence. Ford says the front seats are positioned 4 inches higher than those in most cars. None of these flaws are deal-breakers, but each is a clear reminder the Five Hundred is a $25,000 mass-market sedan. 2007 Ford Five Hundred specs NADAguides.com is becoming part of JDPower.com. Interiors on SEL and Limited trim levels featured a new hydrographic system for applying wood appliqus.[14]. For the first time since 1979, Mercury sold a completely new full-size car (and two full-size Mercury sedans for the first time since 1974). Save when you purchase multiple reports. Comfortable seating and excellent viewing. Starting msrp listed lowest to highest price. Had it come through on those counts, it would probably have much broader appeal. Excluding export sales, 241,402 Ford Five Hundreds were produced. The Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego were powered by a single engine, shared with the Ford Taurus: a 203hp 3.0L Duratec V6, paired with a 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission (for front-wheel drive versions) or a ZF CVT (for AWD). A 2-year-old Five Hundred SE in good condition with average mileage loses about 45 percent of its value at trade-in, according to Kelley Blue Book. Not so with the Five Hundred. The Five Hundred ended production on April 12, 2007, as did the Mercury Montego and Ford Freestyle. All-wheel drive substitutes the six-speed gearbox for a continuously variable automatic transmission.