2008 Ford Taurus

The roomy cabin also gets a super-quiet treatment that includes wind noise-reducing foam pellets in the A-pillars and advanced sound-deadening material in the doors, pillars and headliner. Road noise is lessened by strategic stiffening where the floor pan meets the rear package shelf, and a new climate control system is 50 percent quieter that the previous unit.


Ride quality is improved with revised strut towers that increase front suspension travel, a revised and retuned rear suspension and new springs and shocks all around. But perhaps the most significant chassis change is reengineered engine/transmission mounting that now has this 600-lb powertrain package bolted to the body, instead of the front subframe, on vibration-reducing hydraulic mounts. In addition to improved weight distribution, this enables improvements in front suspension tuning for further ride enhancement.


Ford believes, probably correctly, that large-sedan buyers come with a strong interest in safety, so that is what will be emphasized in '08 Taurus launch advertising, and its claim of "safest large car in America" is backed by five-star ratings in all four categories of federal crash testing. Also, with optional electronic stability control, Taurus was awarded the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety's (IIHS) prestigious Top Safety Pick. Available AdvanceTrac electronic stability control can help drivers stay out of trouble, and standard dual-stage front, front-side and Safety Canopy side curtain air bags for both rows help protect occupants should a crash be unavoidable.

Total Package

The new engine, essentially the same spirited 3.5-liter V-6 found in the new Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX and MKZ and increasing numbers of other new-generation products, pumps out an energetic 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque. Teamed with the equally new six-speed automatic, it provides a major performance boost over the previous 3.0-liter/CVT combination, plus a surprising 10 percent fuel-economy improvement, with up to 28 miles per gallon (highway FWD).


Given the Taurus' reasonable starting price, its standard content is impressive: four-wheel ABS with traction control, air conditioning, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, power windows, locks and mirrors, remote keyless entry, locking glovebox, MP3 audio jack and no fewer than eight cupholders and three 12-volt outlets. Options include leather trimmed seats and trim, heated front and eight-way power driver's seat, 18-inch chrome-clad wheels, adjustable pedals, voice-activated navigation, DVD entertainment, reverse sensing, power moonroof, automatic climate control, premium audio, remote start and Ford Sync, a voice-activated, hands-free entertainment and communications system that fully integrates mobile phones and media players into the car using Bluetooth technology and USB connections.