Vehicle Tested
| 2013 Ford Taurus Limited AWD
Base Price: $34,850
At-Tested Price: $39,940
Built in Chicago, Illinois.
Options
Navigation System
Adjustable Pedals
Auto-Dim Mirror
Blind-Spot Alert
HD Radio
Heated/Cooled Front Seats
Push-Button Start
Power Tilt-Telescope Steering Wheel
Sony Audio System
Active Park Assist
Rain-Sensing Wipers
Floormats
Heated Steering Wheel
Rear-Window Power Sunshade
Heated Rear Seats
Engine: 3.5-liter V6
Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic
Drive Wheels: All-Wheel Drive
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Taurus has been a mainstay in the Ford lineup for decades. The original Taurus debuted in 1985 as a midsize sedan. Today, Taurus is a full-size sedan that competes with vehicles like the Chevrolet Impala, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Hyundai Azera and Toyota Avalon. For 2013, Taurus is mildly updated with freshened styling inside and out, more-powerful four-cylinder and V6 engines and the addition of MyFord Touch.
Available only as four-door sedan, Taurus seats five on twin front buckets and a three-place rear bench and comes in SE, SEL, Limited and SHO trim levels. SE, SEL, and Limited models come with a 288-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. Optional is a 240-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. SHO gets a 365-horsepower turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine. Regardless of engine, all Taurus have a six-speed automatic transmission.
SE, SEL and Limited come standard with front-wheel drive. Standard on the SHO and available on the SEL and Limited with V6 is all-wheel drive.
Standard safety features include antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, tire-pressure monitor, wiper-activated headlights, post-crash alert, top-speed limiter and dual-front, front-side and curtain-side airbags. Optional safety features include rear-obstacle detection, rear-view camera, blind spot alert, and cross-traffic alert.
The SE lists for $26,600 and includes Comfort and Convenience Features air conditioning, interior air filter, tilt-telescope steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, cloth upholstery, six-way power front bucket seats with lumbar adjustment, center console, split-folding rear seat, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, keypad entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with digital-media player connection, trip computer, intermittent wipers, Illuminated visor mirrors, rear defogger, automatic headlights, floormats, theft-deterrent system, 235/60R17 tires and alloy wheels.
The $28,800 SEL adds to SE dual-zone automatic climate controls, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated power mirrors, satellite radio, automatic day/night rearview mirror, outside-temperature indicator, remote engine start and 235/55HR18 tires.
The Limited lists for $33,000 and adds to the SEL rear-obstacle-detection system, wood/leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery, ten-way power front seats, memory system (driver seat, mirrors), rear-view camera, Sync (services and assistance), USB port, Bluetooth cell-phone connection, voice recognition, universal garage door opener and 255/45VR19 tires.
The sport-minded SHO lists for $39,200 and adds to the Limited all-wheel drive, leather/synthetic-suede upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals with memory, aluminum interior trim, keyless access and starting, driver-side automatic day/night outside mirror, HID headlights, rear spoiler, uprated brakes and sport suspension.
All-wheel drive on SEL and Limited adds $1850. Options include navigation system, sunroof, power-operated tilt-telescope steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seat, power rear sunshade and self-dimming headlights. A SHO-only Performance package includes specific brakes, suspension, antiskid system, axle ratio, and power steering. A heated steering wheel and 20-inch tires are included as well.
The Taurus has a $795 destination charge and is built right here in Chicago at Ford's Torrence Avenue assembly plant.
Get Up and Go Though they are about 40 horsepower apart in the ratings, the base V6 and 2.0-liter turbo offer very similar acceleration. Both will push the full-size Taurus from 0-60 mph in about 7.5 seconds -- which is pretty quick for the class. The V6 is very refined and smooth while the four can be a bit gruff at times. That said, both engines have good passing response and mate well to the smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission.
The SHO's powerful turbo V6 has the grunt of a V8 at all times. Foot-to-the-floor acceleration will result in a 0-60 mph time of about 5.5 seconds. That's fast, on par with ultra-expensive luxury imports. What's more impressive though is the passing response. Usually turbo engines have a bit of lag in power delivery and with the SHO turbo V6, throttle response is almost instant.
EPA numbers are quite good for a large car. The turbo four is the fuel-economy champ with ratings of 22/32 city/highway mpg. Standard V6 models net out at 19/29 mpg. Even the sporty and fast SHO gets reasonable ratings of 17/25 mpg. According to Ford all engines will run fine on regular-grade gasoline, but premium-grade is recommended on SHO for best performance.
Real-world fuel economy numbers can vary greatly depending on your driving style. Spend a lot of time on the highway with the new turbo four and you'll happily see 30-plus mpg. However, if you are stuck in a city-slog commute; don't expect anything better than about 20 mpg -- regardless of engine. One interesting note is the turbo four and base V6 have similar performance, but the four should be substantially more efficient overall, making the extra dollars spent for that option more palatable.
On the Road Taurus is a large sedan with a long wheelbase. This combination usually yields a comfortable ride and Taurus is no exception. Regardless of model, the suspension does an excellent job of absorbing bumps and jolts while minimizing excess body motions. Step up through the model lineup and the ride goes from compliant and soft to controlled and firm. The SHO model has the firmest ride, but it's still far from the harsh ride of a typical sports sedan.
Around town and on the highway Taurus imparts confidence, but that's tempered by the sheer size of the car. Steering has great road feel and centers nicely on the highway. Brakes have ample stopping power and the pedal is easy to modulate. Turning radius is tighter than expected and that comes in handy when parking.
When the road grows twisty, you'll want to be in the SHO. It's got the meatiest tires and firmest suspension. Though it's not as nimble as a BMW 5-Series or even a Chrysler 300 SRT8, it's still quite fun to hustle through sharp curves and backroads.
In most cases, the standard front-wheel drive is all you'll need to combat a Chicago-style winter. The all-wheel drive system works well, but adds a little weight and hurts fuel economy.
Overall, Taurus offers a quiet interior. Wind and road noise are well muted and the engines are only audible in hard acceleration. SHO has a bit more tire noise, but it's never objectionable.
Behind the Wheel Inside, Taurus sports a contemporary, if a bit dark, interior. Materials are appropriate for the class and assembly quality is good. As you step up in the lineup, materials are upgraded somewhat, but even the lesser models have lots of soft-touch surfaces and high-finish plastics.
Gauges are straightforward and quite easy to read. On models without MyFord Touch, audio and climate controls couldn't be simpler. The MyFord Touch system complicates controls somewhat but improvements to graphics and functionality for 2013 are a step forward toward making the system more user friendly. The SYNC system beautifully integrates Bluetooth phone and audio control and helps drivers focus on the road.
Well-padded and nicely contoured, the front seats are amongst the most comfortable in the industry. They adjust both fore-and-aft and up-and-down, combine that with the standard tilt-telescope steering wheel and its likely most any driver will find a comfortable driving position. Headroom is quite expansive and leg room ample. Outward visibility is somewhat blocked by fairly thick roof pillars.
Though Taurus is a large car on the outside, back seat space is not as expansive as you'd expect. There's good room for two adults, but three-across seating is tight and the sloping roofline cuts into rear head room for tall adults.
Taurus' trunk is large and will easily accommodate a week's worth of groceries with room to spare. The trunk opening is large and the split-folding seats are a nice touch for the class. Interior storage is quite good with lots of cubbies and covered bins throughout.
Bottom Line Ford's Taurus is a must-see for large-car shoppers. It offers a good blend of comfort, room, economy and safety and technology features. The new turbocharged 2.0-liter four is surprisingly refined and efficient. The biggest nits are a slightly cramped rear seating area and overly fussy MyFord Touch controls. Still, prices are reasonable and Taurus offers traditional American large-car values in a contemporary package.
Specifications
2013 Ford Taurus Limited AWD
| Dimensions
| 4-door sedan | Engine
| DOHC V6
| Wheelbase, in.
| 112.0 | Size, liters/cu. in.
| 3.5 / 214
| Length, in.
| 202.9
| Horsepower | 288 @ 6500
| | Width, in. | 76.2
| Torque (lb.-ft.)
| 254 @ 4000
| | Height, in. | 60.7 | Transmission | 6-Speed Automatic
| Weight, lbs.
| 4196
| EPA MPG
| 18 city / 26 highway
| Cargo Capacity, cu. ft.
| 20.1 |
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| Fuel Capacity, gal.
| 19.0
| Warranty | Seating Capacity
| 5
| Bumper-to-Bumper
| 3 years / 36,000 miles
| Front Head Room, in.
| 39.0.0
| Powertrain
| 5 years / 60,000 miles
| Front Leg Room, in.
| 41.9
| Corrosion
| 5 years / Unlimited miles
| Second-Row Head Room, in.
| 37.8
| Free Roadside Assistance
| 5 years / 60,000 miles
| Second-Row Leg Room, in.
| 38.1
| Free Scheduled Maintenance
| None
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