On-board, the attention to detail is of the same approach. Padded plastics, tasteful materials, fair to good fit and finish all come together to make this cabin nearly as opulent as that found in the Lincoln MKS, on which it is based. Other highlights include large comfy seats, tons of storage and vast amounts of space. That is, except for front passenger's legs. The large center tunnel encroaches on foot and knee room; it's not terrible for the average-sized human, but if you're over 6-feet tall, you might have a slight problem. Also, the trunk is enormous!
Get up and go
There was no need to reinvent the wheel when Ford chose which powertrain to supply the Taurus with motivation. Used nearly across the entire board on this side of the Pond, the 3.5L V6 is a healthy and youthful engine with more than sufficient power to make road trips interesting. Putting out 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque, it is mated to the only box offered, a 6-speed auto, and our Limited (all Limiteds) featured an AWD system.
The 3.5L V6 is alive and well. It is no rocket, mind you, but it does have a lot of weight to contend with. What this weight does is make the Taurus feel hunkered down and in constant contact with the tarmac. Seriously, this is impressive handling for a modern-day land-yacht. If you've viewed our 2011 Mustang segment on The Auto123 Show, you can, at one point, see the Taurus in a few scenes. The big boy served as chase car and although I wasn't driving (I was beati... cajoling the Mustang), it handled the twisty country roads quite well.
My 1,200+ km, week-long test drive, mostly highway, had some high and low points. Highs included plenty of room for the three of us (photographer, camera guy and myself) and lots of gear. On the open road, the Taurus munched up miles without a single blip; quiet, smooth, composed and impressively refined. Low point was a fuel consumption average of 12.5L per 100 km which is desperately high. Had I done more city commuting, I'm afraid I would have crossed the 14L mark... Frightening indeed!
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| The 3.5L V6 is a healthy and youthful engine with more than sufficient power to make road trips interesting. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
Get up and go
There was no need to reinvent the wheel when Ford chose which powertrain to supply the Taurus with motivation. Used nearly across the entire board on this side of the Pond, the 3.5L V6 is a healthy and youthful engine with more than sufficient power to make road trips interesting. Putting out 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque, it is mated to the only box offered, a 6-speed auto, and our Limited (all Limiteds) featured an AWD system.
The 3.5L V6 is alive and well. It is no rocket, mind you, but it does have a lot of weight to contend with. What this weight does is make the Taurus feel hunkered down and in constant contact with the tarmac. Seriously, this is impressive handling for a modern-day land-yacht. If you've viewed our 2011 Mustang segment on The Auto123 Show, you can, at one point, see the Taurus in a few scenes. The big boy served as chase car and although I wasn't driving (I was beati... cajoling the Mustang), it handled the twisty country roads quite well.
My 1,200+ km, week-long test drive, mostly highway, had some high and low points. Highs included plenty of room for the three of us (photographer, camera guy and myself) and lots of gear. On the open road, the Taurus munched up miles without a single blip; quiet, smooth, composed and impressively refined. Low point was a fuel consumption average of 12.5L per 100 km which is desperately high. Had I done more city commuting, I'm afraid I would have crossed the 14L mark... Frightening indeed!
 |
| As far as the eye is concerned, it is important to mention that rear visibility is impossible. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |