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9/3/2007 | Ford
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.
The Fact Box:
All specs are for the 2006 Ford Five Hundred.
Length: 200.7 in.
Width: 74.5 in.
Height: 61.5 in.
Wheelbase: 112.9 in.
Curb weight: 3664 (FWD)
Cargo space: 21.2 cu.ft.
Engine: 3.0 liter DOHC 24-valve V6
Drivetrain: six-speed manual or continuously variable
automatic transmission, front- or all-wheel drive
Horsepower: 203 @ 5750
Torque: 207 @ 4500
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