With only 203 meager horses under the hood, drivers will be surprised by how well the 2005 Ford Five Hundred accelerates. No, it's not an earth-scorcher, but the 3.0-liter V6 puts out adequate power for everyday city and highway driving - although high-speed passes on the freeway might require a little extra space. While it gets the job done, this motor does not lend itself to spirited driving. Under full throttle, the engine gets a bit raucous, but little of that noise enters the cabin. To put the Five Hundred's engine into perspective, consider the 2005 Chrysler 300, a car that weighs about the same as the Five Hundred but has four available motors with power ranging from 190 to 425 horsepower. And while some of the Five Hundred's other competitors come standard with less powerful four-cylinder engines, most of their optional six-cylinder offerings better the Five Hundred's power ratings by a wide margin. Equipped with the CVT, power delivery is smooth, but for those who have never operated one of these transmissions, they do take some getting used to. In the Five Hundred, there is a point where the accelerator is near the floor that power delivery comes on immediately, and that's where drivers will want to plant their foot when the engine's full potential is needed in a hurry. Backing up the acceptable powertrain are competent braking and suspension systems. Whether in stop-and-go traffic or coasting down a mountain road, the front and rear discs do their job without hesitation or fade, and the antilock feature operates unobtrusively. During routine driving, the 2005 Ford Five Hundred absorbs road abnormalities quite well, and provides a comfortable and quiet ride, although there is some tire noise when traveling on the highway. But, what is most surprising is the Five Hundred's ability to carry its weight through challenging corners. There is minimal body roll and the Pirelli tires on our tester refused to give up any grip. Drivers get the sense that this chassis is capable of accommodating a much more powerful engine. Unfortunately, our excitement was tempered during aggressive driving by an unnerving whine coming from the steering system, and steering effort, which also became noticeably stiffer. On a final positive note, visibility is excellent thanks to a large greenhouse and small rear headrests. Huge side mirrors help, too, but they're so big that they can obstruct the driver's view at times.
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