The eight-way power seat in my test car offered plenty of adjustment range for short or tall drivers. In reviews read by TheCarConnection. The rear fascia is revised with new brightwork tail lamps and seven new colors make up the exterior pallet. The five-seat Taurus keeps the Five Hundred's better attributes and reverses many of its faults, and it deserves to be a hit. Cars like the Nissan Maxima and Chrysler 300 seem downright claustrophobic in comparison. This same V6 powers the Ford Edge, and with 263 horsepower, it gives the Taurus X respectable acceleration — zero to 60 mph in less than eight seconds.
Not many domestics can go toe-to-toe with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, but over the last two decades Ford's Taurus has consistently been a big sales generator hot on the heels of its overseas competition. The extra power doesn't turn the Taurus into a lean machine, mind you — my all-wheel-drive test car, which weighed in at nearly two tons, felt hefty at all times. Both have improved, but neither is as compelling as some competitors. My mileage ranged from the mid-teens around urban Chicago to 26 mpg during one 30-minute freeway trip. Most of the time, the transmission minds its business without creating too much drama. Before the demise of the original Taurus, it was Ford's bread-and-butter family car and had a prominent spot in driveways across America — a degree of popularity the carmaker hopes to regain, at least in part, with the new Taurus.
The driving experience is largely the same in either trim, which is unsurprising considering that both share a 263-horsepower V-6 engine, and a six-speed automatic transmission is standard. For 2009, the Taurus continues to offer consumers a roomy and safe full-size sedan, set to do battle with the likes of Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Dodge Charger. That locates properly installed seats farther away from potential side-impacts, and the inboard anchors are close enough to easily secure a seat in the center position — the safest spot for kids. The Taurus is the only one to offer a fold-flat front passenger seat; with it down, Ford says the car accommodates cargo up to 9 feet long. The Inside The Taurus keeps the Five Hundred's interior, save for a few bits and pieces. The rear seat offers spacious accommodations, though the backrest was angled a bit far for my taste.
Buttons for the driver's memory settings, trunk release and power-adjustable pedals sit within easy view to the left of the steering wheel rather than being tucked in the footwell, as in many cars. The ratings represent a slight improvement over the Five Hundred's when the 2007 numbers are adjusted to compensate for the new testing procedure. Four of the five seats have head restraints, and the Latch child-seat anchors for the outboard seats are spaced a few inches inward of the door. Wind and road noise are at a minimum, even on the bumpiest roads, and the Taurus handles reasonably given its soft ride characteristics and big, bulky stature. With an improvement in horsepower over the previous Five Hundred, the new 3. Even if you've never owned a Taurus, you probably know someone who has.
The wheels stay grounded, and the steering wheel turns with precision. Other Cars to Consider Closely related to the Ford Taurus, the provides similar attributes, such as a spacious interior and strong safety scores. Occasionally it goes beyond the call of duty, finding the right gear in a pinch and sticking with it for strong acceleration down a straightaway. Those who think they're getting an upsized Fusion might be disappointed to see the Taurus in the flesh; with the same wheelbase and virtually unchanged dimensions, it keeps the Five Hundred's stodgy profile. The seats themselves felt well-padded, if a bit narrow. How it Moves With its upsized V-6 engine the 3.
It might not achieve the everyman popularity of the original Taurus — or its modern-day successor, the Toyota Camry — but with this update, Ford should be able to take home a decent portion of the large-car market. Like its sedan counterpart, the 2009 Ford Taurus X has a single engine and transmission combination: a 3. A new three-bar grille replaces the Five Hundred's forgettable mesh one. Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes and are also standard. Later this year, Microsoft's Sync system, which integrates cell phones, iPods and more, will be available.
In terms of resale value, the Taurus X is expected to perform on average over time, falling below the values of the Hyundai Santa Fe, and Saturn Outlook. The ratings represent a slight improvement over the Five Hundred's when the 2007 numbers are adjusted to compensate for the new testing procedure. It's a revision of the slow-selling Five Hundred, a practical car that suffered from unimaginative styling and modest performance. Other times it comes up short — prod the gas pedal from a stoplight, and the gear changes are jerky and awfully late. Although smooth and comfortable, the Taurus still doesn't have a pillow-soft ride like the Toyota Camry or a refined look like the Chrysler 300, but at a cheaper starting price, it proves more than sufficient for those looking for a large family sedan with a lot of optional features to choose from. Power Liftgate Powered rear liftgates may seem hedonistic to those who have never lived with one, but once you do, you'll understand why they're becoming increasingly popular. Many cars provide some sort of bridge between the two surfaces, even if it's just a flap that extends from the seatback.
I drove an all-wheel-drive Taurus Limited. The dashboard doesn't break any new ground in design or quality, but its usability deserves note. I never wondered if I had missed something with my over-the-shoulder glances. Four of the five seats have , and the for the outboard seats are spaced a few inches inward of the door. Both share the same V-6 engine, and an automatic transmission is standard. The Basics The Taurus comes with either front- or all-wheel drive. Safety As safety ratings go, the Taurus is a solid bet.
The seats themselves felt well-padded, if a bit narrow. Both share the same V-6 engine, and an automatic transmission is standard. The Inside The Taurus keeps the Five Hundred's interior, save for a few bits and pieces. With so much in common, it makes sense to search for both models so that you can find the best deal on your next used car. The setup would be perfect if it weren't for the low backseat opening and the abrupt step from the trunk floor to the folded seatback.
Just so Ford could make it especially confusing, it seems, in a time when the company is changing names as haphazardly as an informer in a witness protection plan, the current Taurus originally went on sale in 2005 as the Ford Five Hundred. The curtain airbags include a tip sensor to maintain inflation for several seconds if the Taurus rolls over. Construction quality is also a plus for the 2009 Ford Taurus, as is the commanding view afforded by the high, comfortable bucket seats. Whether or not it will be depends on how consumers react to its cabin and styling. The gauges have large numbers that are easy to read, and the green and red nighttime illumination is vintage Ford. Not that the Taurus passes for luxury: The center armrest is hard enough to dribble a basketball on, and the navigation system looks a few years behind in graphics quality.