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The Ford Taurus is back, and it's all new for 2008 -- sort of. By applying the Taurus nameplate to an improved version of the Ford Five Hundred, Ford has created the biggest Taurus yet -- but is it the best Taurus yet? Read on. $23,995 base, $33,600 as tested, EPA fuel economy 17-18 MPG city, 24-28 MPG highway.
First Glance: What's old is new
If you're reading this review -- and I think it's pretty safe to assume that you are -- chances are you fall into one of three categories. 1) A car enthusiast wondering if Ford's effort to resurrect the Taurus will sink or swim; 2) a past or present Taurus owner or potential buyer, wondering if you're going to like the new Taurus; 3) everyone else.
If you're in the first group, you probably know the Taurus story so far. Ford officially deep-sixed the Taurus name after 2006. Its intended replacement was the larger Five Hundred, first introduced in 2005 and due for some major improvements in 2008. When then-new-CEO Alan Mullaly asked why Ford was getting rid of one of its most successful nameplates, the decision was quickly made to dust off the Taurus badge and affix it to the flanks of the improved Five Hundred.
If you're in the second group, then the answer is yes, I think you will like the 2008 Ford Taurus. The new Taurus is significantly different than the old Taurus; think of it as a modern interpretation of the traditional big American car. The new-for-08 facelift, with bold three-bar chrome grille (link goes to photo) and clear taillights, does little to attract attention to the car's conservative shape. But Taurus buyers are largely a conservative lot, and I think they'll appreciate the Taurus' merits of a huge interior atop updated mechanical bits -- especially the available all-wheel-drive system, which gives the Taurus excellent grip on the roads be they wet or dry.
In the Driver's Seat: Super-size me
What I like best about the new Taurus' interior is the space. Front and back seats are super-roomy, though three across in back is a bit of a squeeze. The trunk is truly amazing - 21.2 cubic feet. To put that into real terms, check out this photo. That's three large suitcases and a laptop bag - a load that would fill the trunks of many mid-size cars - and it takes up less than half the Taurus' cargo bay. Ford even went to the expense of fitting non-intrusive hinges so you can pack the Taurus' trunk to the gills. Considering the size of the cargo bay, Ford could have gotten away with cheaper old-style hinges (like the type you'll find on a Toyota Avalon) and it would have been no big deal. Who says American automakers don't sweat details?
Other things I like: The Taurus' tall roof, upright glass and big side mirrors provide great visibility, making it as easy to drive and park as a mid-size car. The optional back-seat DVD player is a rare find in a sedan. Auxiliary audio input jacks are a must-have for 2008, the Taurus' jack is particularly well thought out.
Okay, so what didn't I like? Not much, except for the front seats; they're a bit too firm and don't offer enough thigh support, even for a short guy like me. You sit on them rather than in them. My test car had electrically adjustable pedals, but even in the fully-forward position they weren't far enough away -- and since the steering column does not have a telescope (forward-and-back) adjustment, I was stuck with either being too close to the pedals or too far away from the wheel.
On the Road: Better than expected
I thought the old Five Hundred's 200 horsepower 3.0 liter V6 was perfectly adequate, an opinion that put me firmly in the minority. For 2008, the engine has been bumped up to 3.5 liters and 263 horsepower, and I have to admit that the extra power is welcome -- even with the extra weight of the optional all-wheel-drive system, my Taurus tester was never lacking for get-up-and-go. But that power comes at a price: Fuel economy. I averaged a disappointing 18.5 MPG.
The continuously variable transmission (CVT) available on the old car is gone, replaced by a traditional six-speed automatic. It's a smooth-shifting unit, though the lack of a manual mode and only a single "L" range is annoying. Let's say you want to downshift to get some engine braking on a moderate hill. Pressing the O/D off button takes you to fifth -- not enough braking -- while shifting to L drops the transmission to 3rd or 2nd, which is too much.
The handling is better than I expected. Body roll is well controlled in the curves and the optional all-wheel-drive system gives the Taurus surprisingly good grip on the pavement. Take a turn too fast and the standard electronic stability control system nudges the Taurus back into line with little drama. The Taurus is no sports sedan -- its steering response is too slow and the comfort-tuned suspension can't keep quite keep body motion in check on fast, sudden bumps -- but then it's not meant to be. The Taurus delivers a compromise between comfort and safety that's perfect for non-enthusiast drivers.
Journey's End: Right for the Taurusisti, but is it right for everyone?
So let's get back to the three groups of readers. Group One -- car enthusiasts wanting to know if Ford got it right, a group into which I fall -- the answer is yes, they did. Even so, I'd be surprised to hear a great deal of critical acclaim for the Taurus -- it's very good at what it does, but it's not really the type of car that appeals to car lovers.
Group Two -- past and present Taurus owners -- will probably find the new Taurus quite appealing. The Taurus delivers big-car space and big-car feel with true mid-size road manners, and the availability of all wheel drive is an added bonus.
So what about Group Three, everyone else? Hmm. The Taurus is a good deal with a starting price of $24k; it costs a tad more than the base-model Dodge Charger, a few tads more than the Chevrolet Impala, and significantly less than the Toyota Avalon, which is a significantly nicer car. But for the masses, who have expressed their preference for cars like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, the Taurus is probably just a bit too big, a bit too plain and a bit too thirsty. At one time the Taurus was the best-selling car in America. I doubt the new Taurus will re-take that title. Still, it's a very nice set of wheels -- if you like this sort of thing. -- Aaron Gold
