Driving excitement is not the new 2005 Ford Five Hundred's reason for existence, so consumers requiring an entertaining family sedan would do well to examine the Nissan Altima SE-R for that purpose. Rather, the Five Hundred, and its slightly upscale twin the Mercury Montego, are designed to perform 90 percent of the tasks that 90 percent of American consumers require of a large sedan, at or above the class standard. Evaluated from this standpoint, the Five Hundred is clearly one of the best models in its segment, and proof that Ford understands what a 21st century family sedan must be.

Built to carry as many Americans and their belongings as possible in a quiet, comfortable, appealing environment, the Ford Five Hundred is quite a capable vehicle. After four hours in the saddle, battling city traffic, driving mountain roads, cruising four-lane coastal highway, and blasting down the freeway at speeds up to 90 mph, I arrived at my destination fresh and with a deep appreciation for the Five Hundred's unfettered performance as a daily driver.

Yes, engine power could be better, but unless drag racing on city streets is a current hobby, the Five Hundred's 3.0-liter V6 serves competently. If its 203 horses aren't enough for you, a new 3.5-liter V6 is coming in a couple of years, and should be making more than 250 horsepower. The CVT transmission on our all-wheel-drive test car manages to make the most of the power, and is a far more agreeable CVT to use than what Audi supplies on A4 and A6 models. People unaccustomed to a CVT's characteristic tendency to hold revs steady under hard acceleration may initially be put off by this transmission, but acclimation comes quickly.

Aside from the underwhelming but adequate motor, I have few complaints about the Ford Five Hundred. The stereo lacks a tuning knob, and the design lends itself to placement of one opposite the volume knob. Instead, a circular rocker button for the stereo's menu of functions occupies this space.

Interior materials are decent, soft where occupants are likely to come into contact with surfaces. The headliner and visors are too fuzzy; the plastic bezel surrounding the power window controls emitted a cheap, tinny noise when my metal watchband scraped across it; and the leather in our Limited test vehicle was rough and deeply grained, the opposite of supple and smooth.

Seating up front is comfortable, but I'm surprised by the lack of seat track travel given how much legroom is provided in the back. People taller than my six-foot frame might have trouble finding an acceptable driving position. The rear seat is positively huge, but the rear doors don't open very wide and the rear door panels are thick, providing less clearance for entry and exit than expected. The trunk is gargantuan, and with the rear seats and front passenger seat folded down, the Five Hundred can easily swallow a ladder, or something like it.

Styling will age well, and despite obvious design forms lifted from a hodgepodge of European sedans that came before it (greenhouse by Volkswagen, taillights by Mercedes, etc.), the Five Hundred is a handsome piece of work. I particularly liked the multi-spoke wheels and Pirelli P6 tires on our test model. Inside, the cabin is thoughtfully laid out, controls are right where you expect them to be, at night all of the switchgear is illuminated, and the fake wood compliments the beige interior décor quite nicely.

At this price, with equipment such as all-wheel-drive, reverse park control, a power sunroof with one-touch open and close, and traction control, the only obvious missing pieces are stability control and a navigation system.

As it stands, the 2005 Ford Five Hundred is an appealing alternative to other full-size sedan on the market, such as the Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Impala, and Pontiac Bonneville. Toyota's Avalon is a direct competitor, too, a car duller than the Five Hundred but benefiting from a durability and quality track record that Ford cannot match. Aside from the Avalon, the most compelling alternatives are the Chrysler 300 and the Nissan Maxima, both of which offer more style and performance.

Which brings us to the fundamental problem with the Five Hundred and Montego. Automotive journalists like cars that make them giggle, and don't like cars that make them yawn. Oftentimes, consumers feel the same way, and neither the Chrysler nor the Nissan serve as rolling Sominex the way that this Ford does. - Christian J. Wardlaw

Photos courtesy of Erik Hanson and Ford Motor Company