Ford Taurus Review

When it hit the market for the 1986 model year, the Ford Taurus quickly became a sensation in America. This front-wheel-drive midsize family sedan looked like no other Ford before it thanks to aerodynamic styling highlighted by a grille-less nose that fronted an elegant, rounded form. A well-thought-out, comfortable and roomy cabin greeted passengers, and while the car's running gear and suspension design were nothing earth-shattering, they kept overall pricing very competitive. A year later, the Taurus was Ford's best-selling car.

A wagon version was also available for those modern, active '80s families, while driving enthusiasts welcomed the arrival of the pavement-scorching Taurus SHO sport sedan a few years later. The SHO featured a Yamaha-designed, 220-horsepower V6 and a buttoned-down suspension that allowed this Ford to give the pricey German sedans a run for their deutsch marks.

The Ford Taurus was, through most of the early- and mid-'90s, the best-selling car in America. Unfortunately for the Blue Oval, an oval-themed redesign in the mid-'90s failed to elicit the same excitement as the first-generation Taurus. At the same time, increasingly more competent rivals from Japan boasted superior reliability records. Combined, these two elements dampened the Taurus' popularity considerably. As the years wore on, Ford's once bright segment star was seen more often in rental car lots than suburban families' driveways.

Although Ford announced in late 2006 that it was pulling the plug on the Taurus, its death was short-lived. Perhaps realizing it might have been a bit premature to give up on a name with so much consumer awareness, Ford resurrected the Taurus moniker for 2008 when it renamed its revamped Five Hundred full-size sedan. More recently, the "new" Taurus received a thorough reworking, including all-new styling inside and out and the revival of the SHO moniker, which has made it wholly competitive with other large sedans.

Current Ford Taurus
Bridging the gap between family sedans and large luxury cars, the Taurus is a big, comfortable American-style sedan with an up-to-date design. The typical Taurus will be front-wheel drive with the base 3.5-liter V6, a solid engine that cranks out 263 hp. All-wheel drive is optional on upper Taurus trim levels and standard on the high-performance SHO model, which employs a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 good for a healthy 365 hp. A six-speed automatic is the only available transmission.

The Taurus is offered in SE, SEL, Limited and SHO trims. Standard equipment includes alloy wheels, full power accessories, a power driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column and a six-speaker stereo with CD/MP3 player and auxiliary audio jack. Higher trim levels add niceties like bigger wheels, a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear parking sensors, a power passenger seat, leather upholstery and the Sync electronics interface system (which includes Bluetooth and an iPod interface).

The Taurus SHO adds the twin-turbocharged engine, a sport-tuned suspension, xenon headlamps and special upholstery. Other Taurus options, depending on trim level, include a sunroof, adaptive cruise control, massaging front seats, a hard-drive-based navigation system (with HD radio) and a 12-speaker Sony-branded premium audio system.

In reviews, we've generally been impressed by the current Taurus. The styling is distinctive, as is the cabin with its twin-cowl dashboard layout. On the road, the Taurus provides solid if unexciting driving dynamics and a comfortable, quiet ride. Performance ranges from ample with the base V6 to thrilling with the SHO's twin-turbocharged V6, which provides V8-like thrust at all speeds. Rear passenger space is a bit tighter than we'd expect from such a large car, but the trunk is a cargo-hauler's dream.

Used Ford Taurus Models
The latest, sixth-generation Taurus debuted for 2010. Although it shared its powertrain and accommodating cabin with the previous version, most agreed that it was a big improvement in terms of design, inside and out. This generation also signaled the return of the potent SHO model, which sported the most powerful engine ever seen in a Taurus. Only minor feature changes have occurred since.

The previous fifth-generation Taurus was technically produced only from 2008-'09, although prior to that, this particular car was known as the Five Hundred (http://www.edmunds.com/ford/five-hundred/). Those interested in a used Taurus should keep this in mind, since despite its flaws, the Five Hundred was indeed a better car than the Taurus that came before it.

The 2008-'09 Taurus was a full-size sedan available with one engine: a 3.5-liter 263-hp V6 mated to a six-speed automatic. All-wheel drive was available as an option. Trim levels included the base SE, the midgrade SEL and the loaded-up Limited. Even base models came nicely equipped with power front seats, a leather-wrapped wheel, an auxiliary audio jack, stability control and a full complement of airbags. The Limited came with items such as leather upholstery, driver-seat memory settings and the Sync system.

The interior hardly won design awards for its visual flair, but the controls were logically arrayed and there were plenty of storage areas. Legroom was plentiful front and back, and the distinctive driving position was SUV-like in elevation -- a boon for shorter drivers, but potentially a headroom-robbing annoyance for taller ones. This Taurus' trunk was nothing short of gargantuan.

These are all core attributes shared with the Five Hundred it replaced, along with outstanding crash test scores, good outward visibility and competent handling that didn't detract from ride comfort. But the Taurus' meatier power, quieter cabin, comfier ride and higher level of feature content (including the excellent Sync electronics interface) make it a more attractive choice than the Five Hundred.

The previous (fourth) Taurus generation ran from 2000-'06. Although the basic body shell was identical to the third-generation Taurus, this version dispensed with many of the oval-themed components used before and the result was a more attractive car.

A pair of 3.0-liter V6 engines (155 hp and 200 hp) were the engine choices and a four-speed automatic remained the lone transmission. Four trim levels were offered: base LX, midlevel SE models and luxury-themed SES and SEL. Even the LX provided air-conditioning and power windows, while springing for the SEL meant you got the 200-horse V6, an in-dash six-CD player and automatic climate control. By the end of this generation, just two trims remained (SE and SEL) and the wagon was dropped. Also, in a fit of American carmaker rationale, the better of the two engines (the 200-hp V6) was discontinued as well.

In an Edmunds.com 2000 family sedan comparison test, the Ford Taurus finished a respectable third out of nine cars, thanks to strong performance (it had the 200-hp V6), solid handling and ride dynamics, and a user-friendly cabin. Six years down the road, however, it was easily eclipsed by more competent rivals from Japan and Korea.

The 1996-'99 third-generation Taurus was an odd duck that considerably softened the formerly best-selling car's appeal. Evidently using Ford's oval symbol for inspiration, the Taurus designers went overboard on ovals, with the car's grille, rear window and dashboard's center stack having the ellipsoid form. Trim levels were comprised of base G, midlevel GL, luxury LX and high-performance SHO.

The high point of this third generation was the debut of the Duratec V6 that made 200 hp. It was offered alongside the dated, 145-hp Vulcan V6. The high-performance Taurus SHO was fitted with a 3.4-liter V8 that made 235 hp. No manual gearbox was available, however, so like every other Taurus, the SHO had a four-speed automatic. In our road test of a 1999 Taurus (with the base V6) we found performance acceptable but unrefined, the transmission sometimes slow to downshift and the ergonomics confusing. On the upside, the seats were comfortable, handling was composed and the brakes (with optional ABS) were strong and progressive.

The second-generation Ford Taurus ran from 1992-'95. An evolution of the original, its lower-profile nose and slightly crisper lines tastefully updated the car, while hardware improvements included new safety features such as antilock brakes and a passenger side airbag. Trim levels initially stood pat at L, GL, LX and SHO, though a sporty SE debuted in the last year (1995) of this generation.

Most Taurus sedans and wagons came with either a 3.0-liter V6 or 3.8-liter V6. Horsepower was the same at 140, but the larger engine provided more torque. This generation's SHO was available for the first time with an automatic transmission. (It was manual-only before.) Auto-equipped SHOs had a larger version of the muscular V6 (3.2 liters versus 3.0), though engine output (220 hp) was the same for both SHO engines.

The first-generation Ford Taurus ran from 1986-'91. Compared to the boxy architecture of its competition, the jelly bean (and aerodynamically efficient) look of the Taurus was a breath of fresh air. A 90-hp inline-4 (with either a manual or automatic transmission) and a 140-hp V6 (automatic only) were offered. The former engine was a joke in a midsize family sedan, so it was eventually cancelled. On the other end of the spectrum was the hot-rod SHO, which featured a ripping 3.0-liter V6 designed by Yamaha that made 220 hp and sent this family sedan to 60 mph in around 7 seconds. Thanks to its handsome looks, solid overall performance and accommodating cabin, the first Taurus was a home run for Ford that rode the top of the sales charts for much of its early life.

For more on Past Ford Taurus models, view our Ford Taurus History page