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Though the Five Hundred is around four inches narrower and almost a foot
shorter than Ford’s Crown Victoria, it is roomier inside and has an even
larger trunk. It also has more ride and handling control, a more modern
interior, and much better fuel economy. But like the Chevrolet Impala, it is
not the luxury car that many of the other large sedans in this group either
are or aspire to be. It doesn’t have the isolation, refinement, or interior
quality to achieve that designation, instead coming across only as a rather
expensive family sedan. But it is an excellent one at that, and a very good
choice for the consumer who cares more for value, space, and safety than
luxury.
The Five Hundred has a
firm, well-controlled ride that doesn’t isolate occupants from larger bumps as
well as some of the others here, but recovers quickly after passing over them.
Smaller road imperfections are absorbed very well. This firmness also helps
handling control, the Five Hundred has impressively well-contained body roll,
and feels quite nimble for its size, more like a midsize car than a large one.
This does not, however, make it fun to drive, it comes off as composed more
than enjoyable. The steering is responsive and well-weighted, and even returns
good feedback, though driving the car quickly never does feel rewarding. The
smallish 3.0-liter V6 is the only available engine, which provides adequate
acceleration off the line but lacks reserve passing power. The engine gets
noisy under hard acceleration, and stays audible at cruise. While wind and
road noise are unobjectionable, there is a distinct contrast between the Five
Hundred and luxury-oriented competitors. Fuel economy is impressive for a
large sedan.
Inside, the Five Hundred’s
high, large, and well-shaped front seats offer excellent head space, though
there could be more foot space, and the cushions are a bit firm. The rear is
high and reasonably well-shaped, with phenomenal leg and head space, but it
too could be softer.  The dash is
well-finished, but lacks an upscale ambiance even in the high-end Limited
version. The gauges could use additional contrast, but the instruments are
conveniently placed. Drivers sit very high and comfortably, with exceptional
visibility in all directions. Large doors, wide footwells, and a high,
well-shaped roof contribute to very easy entry/exit. The vast trunk, the
largest of any current passenger car, does not appear particularly roomy
because of the regularly-shaped and easily accessible space, a stark contrast
to the Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis.
The Five Hundred excelled
in crash testing. It earned five stars for both the driver and for the front
passenger in its NHTSA frontal crash test, and five stars for the driver and
five for the rear passenger in the NHTSA side crash test. It was rated Good in
the IIHS offset crash test and with the optional side airbags it was rated
Good in its IIHS side crash test. Its head restraints were rated Good as well,
earning it the Top Safety Pick Gold qualification, the IIHS’s highest safety
award, and is the only current car on that list that also earned the highest
ratings in NHTSA’s crash testing.
The Five Hundred reviewed
here came in at $26,719, a relatively low price for this group but around
$2,000 more than its closest competitor here, the Chevrolet Impala. At that
price, it lacks a satellite radio system and stability control, but includes a
flat-folding front-passenger seat, power seats, pedals, and mirrors with
memory, and Ford’s exclusive keypad entry system, none of which are included
on the Impala.
Overall, for
a combination of space, safety, and value, there is no better choice in this
class than the Five Hundred. But it is not the junior luxury sedan that many
of the others here are. And even after the improvement in power and refinement
that has been promised for next year, it will probably remain that way. If
providing optimum isolation is not a concern, the Five Hundred is already an
excellent choice.
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