The first of the Five Hundred's three trims, the SE, starts at only $22,795. For that reasonable sum you get traction control, antilock brakes, cruise control, power driver's seat, power everything else, keyless and keypad entry, CD player, and 17-inch alloy wheels. For $2,000 more, the $24,795 SEL adds dual-zone climate controls, leather steering wheel with radio controls and leather shift knob, 8-way power driver's seat, fold-flat passenger seat, 6-disc MP3 changer, trip computer with message center, wood trim, rear air vents, automatic mirror and headlights, and fog lights. And for a final extra $2,125, the $26,920 Limited adds heated leather seats, power passenger seat, seat-and-mirror memory, Audiophile sound system, analog clock, 18-inch wheels, and a bright-colored grille. Side air bags, adjustable pedals, and a reverse-sensing system are some of the more useful options. It's a shame that side air bags aren't standard, but the Five Hundred earned five-star crash test ratings for front and side impacts. Ah, the perks of Volvo DNA.
Any trim is available in front- or all-wheel-drive, but Ford's transmission pairings are strange. Both SE models come only with a Continuously Variable Transmission. On the SEL and Limited, the AWD versions also get CVTs while the front-drivers get 6-speed automatics. Are they implying a 6-speed is more upscale than a CVT? In case you care, you can't get the combination of front-drive and CVT on the identical Mercury Montego.
If there's one number on the Five Hundred sheet that isn't way out there, it's price. Look through those numbers again; they are stellar for an EPA "large" car. Even the Kia Amanti costs $26,140, the Toyota Avalon just under 27 grand, and the Chrysler 300 Touring just over it. At Buick, the LaCrosse is too small so you'll have to start with the LeSabre, which is $27,450. Pontiac's even worse, with its Bonneville (dead as of summer 2005) starting at $28,690. Want to know how much interior space the Five Hundred has? More than the Audi A8 L, more than the BMW 750iL, and more than the Mercedes S600 - those would be the extended-wheelbase versions - that's how much. If you want more space in a sedan, let's hope you have $327,750 lying around and a nearby Maybach dealer.
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