2006 Ford Five Hundred

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The ever-changing automotive landscape has made it hard to be a family sedan in recent years. Minivans and SUVs have encroached upon the segments of the market traditionally held by trunk-backed four-doors, and the way fashions have changed has rendered most full-size sedans kind of, well, boring.

Ford's all-new Five Hundred manages to address many of the challenges facing today's sedan and just might be the wave of the future.

On the surface, though, it's still boring.Lackluster design that combines the least assertive elements of Ford's new corporate look doesn't help. The Five Hundred seems to be standing quietly in the corner, even when it's parked right in front of you.A broad honeycomb grille and headlights are part of the gentle curve of the hood, which grows into a greenhouse reminiscent of older Volkswagen Passats.Traditional six-window side silhouettes and a big trunk render this car handsome, but hardly stunning.What's special about it isn't immediately evident, but the Five Hundred is quite a bit larger than it looks.In fact, it's big enough to bump shoulders with some of the SUVs that are taking over the roads.

The tall body translates to a tall "H-point," or hip-point, for the passengers.You sit high up in the Five Hundred.The high seating position offers a degree of parity with oversized

trucks and improves visibility.The interior is fantastic, with tall, comfortable seats and a handsome, clean-lined dash.The materials are solidly middle-class.Don't go looking for real bird's-eye maple or aluminum trim; this is a family car, after all.The rear seats and front passenger seat fold flat, for carrying large cargo.Not that you'll need to--the 21 cubic-foot trunk is one of the largest in the industry.

The suspension is fully independent, doing away with the solid rear axles that made classic big sedans somewhat rough riders on uneven pavement.MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link rear are augmented by available self-adjusting shock absorbers designed to maintain proper ride height when the Five Hundred is loaded down.This big car offers a sturdy structure and feels solid on the road without driving like a tank.Crash protection is ample, thanks both to the car's size and to Volvo-influenced crumple zones at the front, rear and sides.Full side-curtain airbags with rollover protection are standard equipment.

Power is provided by Ford's smooth 3.0 liter Duratec 30 V6.A continuously variable transmission is available, as is a six-speed automatic, and the Five Hundred can also be had with all-wheel drive as well.All of this would be great, if it weren't for Dodge's Hemi-V8-equipped Charger, which makes the 3.0 literV6's 203 horses sound a bit on the anemic side.For most drivers, the V6 will be adequate in most situations; after all, at sixty-five on the freeway, a hundred horsepower here or there doesn't make much different.Dual overhead cams and 24-valve construction offer deep breathing and plenty of torque.Aggressive and enthusiastic drivers will find the Five Hundred slow going, however.

The Five Hundred is offered in three trim levels:SE, SEL and Limited.Standard equipment across the board includes anti-lock brakes, keyless entry, air conditioning and a CD player, and the Five Hundred starts below $23,000.Opt for the full-Cleveland Five Hundred Limited and Ford adds 18" wheels, more chrome, a six-CD changer with a subwoofer and heated seats.

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