2008 Ford Taurus Review

After being killed off by Ford, the Taurus is back. A midsize car that revolutionized the auto industry in the '80s, it received little attention from Ford in its later years. The Ford Five Hundred was introduced as a replacement in 2005. But the Five Hundred didn't capture the imagination of car buyers, and Ford soon realized their mistake. The Five Hundred has been updated and rebranded with the familiar Taurus name for a 2008 "comeback." The new Taurus has been chosen as one of the IIHS' "Top Safety Picks."

The BuyingAdvice Team Says:

The Ford Taurus, while not exactly being a Taurus, vastly improves on what flaws the Five Hundred had. The engine is now respectably powerful and the car itself is built better than ever. Its high command seating, great safety, and available AWD make it a great alternative for SUV drivers.

What's New For 2008:

The Taurus is "all new" for 2008. But the new Taurus is more than just a rebranding; it offers significant improvements over the 2007 Five Hundred. A new 3.5-L, 263-hp V6 offers dramatically improved performance. Not only that, but over 500 changes were made for the new Taurus, improving fit and finish, as well as ergonomics and safety. The new Ford Sync feature allows drivers to seamlessly operate cell phones and portable music players.

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Vital Stats

Starting MSRP:
$23,635

Rebates & Incentives:
no

Seats:
5

Gas Mileage:
18/28

Engine:
3.5L V6

Horsepower:
263@6251RPM

Torque:
249@4501RPM

Transmission:
6 Speed Automatic

Drive:
FR/FWD

Fuel Capacity:
21

Fuel Type:
gasoline

Basic Warranty:
36/36000

Powertrain Warranty:
60/60000

Rust Warranty:
60/Unlimit

What is the Predicted Reliability:

J.D. Power data is not yet available. No recalls or technical service bulletins have been issued. The Five Hundred held a respectable reliability record. J.D. Power gave it three and a half stars for initial reliability. Few problems were reported, and most were isolated to the 2005 model year, including brake, speaker, and suspension noise, as well as cold-starting problems. The 2005 Five Hundred was recalled once, for possible breakage of the gas tank straps. Expect average to above average reliability. The basic warranty lasts for three years or 36,000 miles.

Analysis Of Safety Ratings And Features:

The Five Hundred and the Taurus were built using Volvo components, and its safety record reflects that. It earned perfect scores in both government and IIHS crash tests. As mentioned before, the Taurus is one of the IIHS' "Top Safety Picks" for this year. Anti-lock brakes, full side airbags, and traction control come standard. Adjustable pedals, parking sensors, and stability control are optional.

Pros and Cons:

Pros
+ Safe
+ Spacious
+ Powerful engine

Cons
- Many safety features optional
- A bit pricey for its segment
- Taurus in name only

Head-To-Head Competition:

The Hyundai Sonata Limited, for $800 more offers a CD changer and leather seats, but it has 25 less hp and lacks a six-speed transmission. The Dodge Avenger R/T is similar, offering a CD changer at the cost of 25 hp. If you're looking for something a bit more upscale, the new Mercury Sable is mechanically identical and costs the same.

What Others Are Saying:

"The new Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable are rated the safest full-size sedans in America based on crash test ratings, but can safety sell a vehicle?" - The Auto Channel

"The big upgrades for the 2008 Taurus start in front and back, where Ford adopts the three-bar grille found on the new Fusion and Edge. The hood is sculptured, with a slight edge applied to the chin spoiler. In back, fresh taillamps give the sedan's tail a more modern look, with Limited editions donning a splash of chrome trim." - The Car Connection

"Ford is bringing back the Taurus, but don't expect to see any of those familiar oval shapes in this new version of what not that long ago was the best-selling car in the United States. While the badges may say Taurus, this new version is really just the Ford Five Hundred with some visual and mechanical updating." - New Car Test Drive

Read more about the 2008 Ford Taurus at the Ford manufacturer web site.

Published on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 - Email to a friend

Copyright 2006 BuyingAdvice.com, INC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Road Test: Ford Taurus
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Back in the day, the Taurus was a cutting-edge car that was the best-selling car in America. Ford then jumped on the SUV roller coaster, leaving the Taurus to die a slow death in rental fleets. The Taurus was resurrected as a replacement for the Five Hundred, Ford's boring new sedan advertised as having "500 new changes" for 2008. With the renaming of the Five Hundred as the "all new" Taurus, that actually adds up to 501 new changes, but does it add up to a better car?

Chosen Model Trim:

The tested the Ford Taurus SEL. Even the base model, $23,700 SEL comes with power everything, CD player, aluminum wheels, and the all-important 263 horsepower V6 with a 6-speed automatic. Limited models offer leather interior with power seats, 18-inch wheels and various trim upgrades.

Exterior & Interior features/comforts:

For folks who have been in just about any Ford since 2005, you'll recognize the interior layout. Comfortable buckets, clear instrumentation, plenty of space and handsome materials beguile the under-$24,000 base price. The radio and climate control systems could be more user friendly, but that's a small concern. What I don't understand is why Ford insists on making their entire lineup look the same? Aside from seating position, the interior could be mistaken for the Edge or Fusion. And whoever came up with that ridiculous three-bar front grille should be forced to wear a shirt saying as much. They'd likely get their butt kicked every day.

Driving Experience:

Ford has succeeded in injecting some much-needed performance with the new 3.5 Duratec V6. The car can hustle when it needs to. The rest of the time you'll find a soft, comfortable, quiet sedan that matches up with the best of the competition. It's no sport sedan, even with the power infusion, it's still slower than most of its class. But it's definitely far-removed from the Five Hundred,.naming antics aside.

Summary and My Opinion:

The 2008 Taurus is a significant improvement over both the old Taurus and Five Hundred models. It's comfortable and luxurious; it can pull 28 miles per gallon on the highway. It has decent performance, outstanding crash worthiness and best of all, under $25,000. Folks shopping for a quality sedan have a new player to match up with the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Chevrolet Impala and Nissan Maxima. All those cars have a bit more sport in their sedan, but they also come with a bit more sticker shock as well. For the price, it's hard to ignore everything the Taurus does right.

User Comments

2008 Ford Taurus Review reveals a surprisingly good sedan.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

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2008 Ford Taurus Review