Why is it so often that a second effort, one blatantly disregarding previous intuition, achieves so effortlessly what the first attempt failed to accomplish? Perhaps common sense kicks in? Such was the path of the much-ballyhooed return of the Ford Taurus.
I'll never forget the media day event at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show when after too much fanfare -- blaring trumpets and a flock of pigeons released -- the curtains were pulled back to reveal the soon-to-be savior for the struggling Ford company ... a Ford Five Hundred?
But like so many great stories, people appreciate the recovery after an initial stumble. And Ford recognized that the Taurus franchise was going to need its own identity, not a rebadge of the struggling Five Hundred sedan in the barn.
Enough history, this
2008 Ford Taurus is everything the blasé Five Hundred was supposed to be. Its compelling exterior style suits a family sedan. According to Ford, the new Taurus sports many changes over the previous Five Hundred. How many, you ask? Try about 500.
An ironic number? Sure.
An impressive number? That's a lot of changes.
Look for a welcoming three-band chrome grille up front with a sweeping headlight assembly stylishly pushing back on both sides. Chrome accents are tastefully present and appreciated on the Taurus. I really liked the 18-inch chrome wheels ($695) and the touch of class they brought to the overall look of Taurus.
Moving to the back decklid, nothing looks like the Five Hundred. New taillamp assemblies are classy and the rear bumper shows off dual chrome-tipped exhaust.
Base-priced at $23,995, the Taurus competitively price points itself right where it was when it ruled the volume sales tote board for years. At that time, there was no better or safer purchase for the value-minded consumer; they bought them as fast as Ford could roll them off the three-shift line at the plant. My Taurus tester had several upgrade packages that pushed the price tag just more than the $33,600 plateau. Given the additional costs, it still packed a competitive value with the class competition.
There are two Ford Taurus models: SEL ($23,245) and Limited ($26,845). Both trims are available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, called SEL AWD ($25,095) and Limited AWD ($28,695).
Also impressive is that the Taurus is based on the same architecture as the luxury Volvo S80 sedans. If you opt for all-wheel drive, you get nothing less than the impressive Swedish Haldex all-wheel-drive system.
Once inside the Taurus you will get accustomed to good sightlines and good visual layout of all the dash gauges. I found the seats to be adequate in bolstering and cushion, but one long trip did leave me wanting maybe a bit more support. Cabin noise was minimal, and controls and buttons all seem to be located at the perfect distance from the driver. I found the nav system to a quick learn (unlike so many others) and it was intuitive for me from the first time I punched in a destination.
The Taurus' cabin is big. With 108 cubic-feet inside, 21 cubic-feet dedicated to the trunk, this is the largest interior in the class. Folding rear seats allow for access to the trunk for pass-through items as long as 9 feet.
The Taurus has a 3.5-liter V-6 that delivers 263 horsepower while mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. I found the Taurus to be better than average in every category of performance. Most notable were the quick accelerations from a dead stop and the easy merging into highway traffic. This family sedan is a fun drive around town.
Safety features are important for all cars, but family sedans have some of the best. Taurus has front, side and curtain airbags, ABS and traction control, and optional electronic stability control is highly recommended. Taurus has been awarded as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The brand name Taurus has a history of success. With Ford's commitment to this new incarnation offering so much, bringing the star quarterback out of retirement could have been one of the smartest things they have done in the last five years.