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We all know Ford can build trucks and sport utility vehicles. They literally own the commercial vehicle market. But for the last few years, it appears to me they neglected the family size sedan. With excessive incentives the aging Taurus remained a decent buy for the buck. But while Ford was milking the proverbial "cash cow" of trucks and SUVs, Asian manufacturers leapfrogged the Taurus in perceptions of quality and value. The mid size sedan is simply too important to ignore. This is a bread and butter market. In fact the market is so important that Ford is introducing two new vehicles to replace the soon to left by the Taurus line. At the upper end of the spectrum, the Ford Five Hundred has already taken to the streets and the smaller Ford Fusion is tooling up for a later introduction. Stumbling out of the gates the 2005 Ford Fusion has failed to inspire any true passion outside the almost 5,000 franchised Ford dealers with a vested interest in its success. Styling while attractive certainly does not break any new ground. Fresh and smart the design is as fashionable as a businessman wearing a two-button suit, white shirt and red tie to the office every day. Already Ford designers have promised a freshening of the model most likely to include a grill similar to photos of the upcoming Ford Fusion. Thankfully the obsession with the oval will pass with the egg shaped Taurus. While the new Ford Mustang has made automotive journalists almost giddy with excitement, the Ford Five Hundred has not. This is a family car, a mature vehicle with emphasis on function rather than fashion. Like girls you knew in school, this is the car you marry rather than date. Weak on "bling," the 2005 Ford Five Hundred is strong on function. Fold flat rear and front seats on the SEL and Limited models allow an eight-foot ladder to be carried with ease. At 21 cubic feet, the trunk can carry eight golf bags. I'm not sure why one would want to carry eight golf bags, but you can. Ford became convinced that some liked sport utility vehicles because they allowed people to sit upright as in a chair rather than recline as in a sports car. The command seating position raises the seat cushions almost four inches much like a comfortable couch or a 1955 Crown Victoria. This raised position makes it easier to enter and exit the vehicle as well as provides for a comfortable ride. Even the rear seats are easy to enter and exit providing exceptional legroom. The Ford Five Hundred has an impressive passenger compartment with upscale feel and appearance. The ride is soft as a cushion but handles adequately on rural roads and turnpike ramps. While the legroom is exceptional, I wish the center stack console were narrower giving more width to go along with the length for the driver's legs. The 2005 Ford Five Hundred comes in three models with the base front wheel drive SE advertised at less than $23,000 while the fully loaded all wheel drive Limited reaches $30,000. My test vehicle was the mid range Five Hundred SEL with leather, side curtain airbags, and reverse sensors priced at only $26,535. I consider this a bargain for a vehicle this large, this comfortable, with these features available in the mid twenties. Estimated fuel consumption in the city was rated at 21 MPG and the highway at 29 MPG. Most of the complaints concerning the Ford Five Hundred centers on the engine. The only powerplant available is a 3.0 Liter V6 producing 203 horsepower. While adequate for most drivers, our passionate thirst for horsepower makes it weak for amateur rush hour racing. My six speed automatic transmission provided smooth shifting but the engine appeared labored during strong acceleration. I remain concerned about the wisdom of using the available CVT (continuously variable transmission) required in the all wheel drive version. The 2005 Ford Five Hundred is available with the all wheel drive system developed by Volvo for an additional $1,800. This certainly makes the Ford Five Hundred one of the most attractive AWD sedans on the market today. With the size and function of the Five Hundred there is little reason to look to any other sedan or sport utility vehicle if you want AWD. Of course if you must, the Ford Freestyle is essentially a Ford Five Hundred morphed into an SUV. Before you invest in any mid size sedan, you owe yourself a drive in the 2005 Ford Five Hundred. You may lust after the Mustang but you will marry the Five Hundred.
2005 Ford Five Hundred Mid Size Four Door Sedan
3.0 Liter V6 engine
Price as Tested $26,535 21/29 EPA MPG Additional Web only Information and Resources For Additional Reviews: |
©2005 - Stan Risener