2003 Ford Crown Victoria Police
The 2003 Ford Crown Victoria Police is a sedan. It has a 4.6-litre eight-cylinder engine producing 224 hp (167 kW), with a 4-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive.
ABOUT THE 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE
The 2003 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, widely known by its order code P71, is the police-specification version of Ford’s full-size, rear-wheel-drive Panther-platform saloon. It uses the 4.6-litre SOHC Modular V8 with a police calibration and dual exhaust, and a four-speed automatic transmission. Like the civilian Crown Victoria, it was built at Ford’s St. Thomas plant in Ontario, Canada.
The 2003 update
2003 was an important year for the Crown Victoria. The car received a substantially revised frame with hydroformed front rails, rack-and-pinion steering in place of the old recirculating-ball system, a redesigned front suspension, and new wheels and brakes. The changes improved steering precision and ride control, and they remained the basis of the car until production ended in 2011.
Built for duty
Police Interceptors were equipped with heavy-duty cooling, a stronger charging system, upgraded suspension and brakes, and reinforced seats and wiring provisions for police equipment. The body-on-frame construction made repairs after minor collisions relatively simple, which helped the car dominate North American police fleets for many years. The fuel tank’s vulnerability in high-speed rear impacts became a widely reported issue around this time, and Ford supplied fleets with shielding and trunk-packing measures.
Buying one today
Ex-police cars usually have high hours of idling as well as high mileage, so mileage alone can understate wear. Check transmission condition, intake manifold coolant leaks, the suspension and steering, and any damage left by removed equipment.
Rivals
Its main competitors for police contracts were the Chevrolet Impala police car and the Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicle.
Written by CarDetails.org. Last reviewed October 31, 2026.
SPECS
| Make | Ford | Model | Crown Victoria Police |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2003 | Version / Trim | Ford 2003 Crown Victoria Police |
| Body Style | Sedan | Doors | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | Ext. Colour | Oxford White, Black, Silver Metallic, Dark Shadow Grey Metallic, Toreador Red Metallic, Bright Red, True Blue Metallic, Arizona Beige Metallic, Dark Blue Pearl |
| Steering | LHD / RHD | Manufactured In | Canada |
| Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) | Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
| Engine | 4.6L 8-cyl | Engine Size | 4,600 cc |
| Power | 224 hp / 167 kW | Torque | 284 Nm / 209 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | 14 mpg city / 20 mpg hwy | ||
| Wheelbase | 2,913 mm | Kerb Weight | 1,784 kg (3,933 lb) |
HOW IT COMPARES WITH OTHER 2003 SEDANS
Compared with other 2003 sedans in our database, its 224 hp is 6% less than the average 2003 sedan (238 hp), and it is 13% heavier than the typical sedan.
| 2003 Ford Crown Victoria Police | Average 2003 sedans | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 224 hp | 238 hp (73 cars) | -6% |
| Torque | 284 Nm | 313 Nm (73 cars) | -9% |
| Kerb weight | 1,784 kg | 1,585 kg (81 cars) | +13% |
| Engine size | 4,600 cc | 3,186 cc (81 cars) | +44% |
Averages are calculated from all cars of the same model year and body type in the CarDetails.org database that have the figure listed. For 0–60 mph, a negative difference means quicker.
CLOSEST RIVALS
Other 2003 sedans with similar power to the 2003 Ford Crown Victoria Police.
| Car | Power | 0–60 mph | Kerb weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Ford Crown Victoria Police | 224 hp | — | 1,784 kg |
| 2003 BMW 330i | 225 hp | 6.8 s | 1,470 kg |
| 2003 Audi A6 | 220 hp | 7.5 s | 1,600 kg |
| 2003 Jaguar X-Type | 230 hp | 8.0 s | 1,595 kg |
| 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse | 210 hp | 8.5 s | 1,525 kg |