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The Five
Hundred has all the practicalities that a family sedan should. The interior is
easily the largest in this group, both for passengers and for cargo, and
safety ratings are impeccable. The ride is comfortable, and handling is nimble
for such a large vehicle. But be prepared to pay for the car’s size, the Five
Hundred is one of the more expensive vehicles in this group. And unlike most
of the other cars in the higher end of this group’s price range, the Five
Hundred’s premium feel is limited to leather seating and false wood trim.
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, good overall in this group.
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 this 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 is the largest of any
current passenger car.
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 $26,350, very well-equipped. It doesn’t have
stability control or a satellite radio system, but has power seats, power
mirrors, and power-adjustable pedals with a memory system, as well as a
rear-obstacle-detection system.
Overall, for a combination of safety and
interior space, 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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