The Five Hundred debuted for 2005, a large sedan meant to replace both the long-running Crown Victoria and the mid-sized Taurus. (The Mercury version was the Montego). The Five Hundred emphasized comfort and good ergonomics. An elevated seating position made for good outward vision and cabin access and the rear seat is very spacious. Power comes from an underpowered and unpolished 3.0-liter V6 engine mated to either a six-speed automatic on FWD models or a continuously variable transmission on AWD models. The Five Hundred has a comfortable ride and handles with commendable agility considering its size. 2008 brought a new name, Taurus, and a smoother, more powerful 3.5-liter V6.