Reception and Sales
The Five Hundred was praised for its interior volume, design functionality, amenities for its price point, and safety features. However, it was criticized for its bland styling (which was similar in basic appearance to the 1986–1995 Taurus and 1992–1997 Crown Victoria) and weak 203 hp (151 kW) engine. These deficiencies are considered by the automotive press to have hurt the Five Hundred's potential appeal, especially in comparison to the Chrysler 300, another new full-sized sedan introduced around the same time, though the 300 is more upmarket and designed to be more sporty.
Consequently, the Five Hundred received a lukewarm reception from customers. Sales of the Five Hundred were very slow in Canada, with many Ford dealerships not even stocking the car on their lots. August 2006 sales were down by half compared to 2005, with the Taurus outselling the Five Hundred by two to one. 2006 sales were down month over month since its launch including 22% in 2006 over 2005 as a whole. (The 2006 Taurus was produced primarily for the fleet market.)
| Calendar Year | American sales |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 14,106 |
| 2005 | 107,932 |
| 2006 | 84,218 |
| 2007 | 35,146 |
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