Ford Taurus

Ford Taurus Models

The Ford Taurus sedan comes in four trim levels. LX is now the standard level. It offers a reasonable list of standard equipment, including second-generation, dual-stage airbags; air conditioning; power windows, mirrors and door locks; speed-sensitive power steering with tilt steering wheel; and tachometer.

The lower-mid-range Ford Taurus SE adds cruise control, remote keyless entry, color-keyed mirrors, a cassette player, and five-spoke aluminum wheels. Next up is SES, with ABS, six-way power seats, CD player, and "aerodynamic" bumpers, among other luxuries.

At the top of the line is the Ford Taurus SEL, also with "aero" bumpers as well as a more powerful engine, automatic headlights, automatic climate control, heater mirrors, a perimeter anti-theft system, leather wrapped steering wheel, machined aluminum road wheels, and both cassette and CD capability.

A single wagon variant is offered. Although badged "SE," it is somewhat better equipped than the SE sedan, with four-wheel-disc brakes, power antenna, six-way power seats, luggage rack, rear-window wiper/washer; and a rear anti-roll bar. With its 60/40 split rear seats folded down, this roomy wagon has space for a maximum of 81.3 cu. ft. of cargo; or with six passengers aboard, there's still 38.8 cu. ft. behind them. Adding option groups 96W and 85A upgrades the Wagon to the equivalent of an SES sedan.

Two engines power the Taurus. Standard in all but the SEL is a 3.0-liter ohv 12-valve V6 Ford calls the Vulcan, presumably after the god of ironworking, not Earth's staunchest interplanetary allies. It produces 155 horsepower and 185 pounds-feet of torque. Our past experience with this engine has been generally positive. Although not particularly quick from a standstill, once rolling it delivers more than adequate performance, along with a nicely rorty exhaust note.

Standard in the SEL is a more sophisticated 3.0-liter dohc 24-valve V6 Ford calls Duratec. This is a higher-revving power plant producing 200 horsepower and 200 pounds-feet of torque, and you can order it as an option in the SES sedan or SE wagon. Good as the Vulcan engine is, one drive with the responsive Duratec V6, and you may never be satisfied with less.

Both engines come with a four-speed automatic transmission.

LX and SE sedans are set up to seat five, with bucket seats up front and a floor-mounted gear selector in a swoopy-looking center console. SE Wagon, SES, and SEL are all nominal six-seaters, equipped with a "seating console" between their front buckets, and a column-mounted gear lever.

Driving the Ford Taurus

While the Ford Taurus is rich with interesting features, no list of hardware can sum up this car's greatest strength--its behavior on the road. Its Duratec V6 is as responsive as a finger snap, delivering crisp acceleration from low revs straight through to the glass-smooth full-throttle shift point. This engine not only provides good thrust, it makes an understated but nicely throaty declaration that it means business. In the tradition of the high-performance Taurus SHO, the current SEL is a genuinely satisfying car to drive.

Automatic transmissions have been improving by leaps and bounds in the past five years, and the Taurus four-speed is no exception. Its shifts are positive, authoritative, and at the same time, almost impossible to feel. The kickdown response is not quite as quick as with some of the best European automatics, but it's still very, very good.

If you ever wonder just how important modern electronics have become, the Taurus with its powerful Duratec engine can quickly demonstrate the benefits of traction control: Simply switch off the traction control, nail the throttle, and the front tires will shriek as they claw for traction. With a powerful modern front-wheel drive package like the SEL's Duratec engine, traction control works very well, reducing wheel spin to help you better control the car.

The Taurus chassis proves an uncommonly successful home for this forceful Duratec drivetrain. Its all-independent suspension provides a smooth, impact-free ride. Unusual in a family sedan, however, Taurus uses gas-pressurized shock absorbers, so that when it is pushed in the corners, it proves stable, nimble and ready for more. Cornered hard, its body roll is moderate, and the nicely tuned variable-ratio power rack-and-pinion steering delivers a steady stream of road information. And when the turning is done, this steering system provides improved on-center response, guiding you straight down the center of your course once more.

As we learned in an emergency lane-change demonstration set up in a parking lot, the brakes bring the Taurus to a smooth stop and the ABS allows you to maintain steering control during hard braking. Braking performance was much smoother than that of the Dodge Intrepid.

With its excellent chassis and Duratec power, the Ford Taurus comes very close to being a very good sports sedan for the price of a family mid-size.