2003 Ford Taurus Review

The Ford Taurus won't draw admiring stares directed at wild concept cars during next month's Chicago Auto Show. But this front-drive Ford is a production model that provides solid family transportation.

The Chicago-built Taurus comes as a mid-size sedan, and also as one of few mid-size station wagons. The Taurus is overlooked by many auto buyers because they only consider Japanese cars. However, this Ford deserves a close look by such folks.

The Taurus once was the top-selling car in the country, but the 1996 model looked too radical for the mostly conservative mid-size family sedan market with its oval styling theme. That caused many people to opt for cars such as the more conventional looking Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

Ford thus gave the 2000 Taurus more conventional styling, although not a completely different look. The new Taurus still was handsome. And it looked larger and heftier despite virtually unchanged dimensions. There was a little more room for passengers and cargo, and a controversial oval dashboard control panel was replaced.

The revised styling was no magic bullet because the Camry and Accord have alternately grabbed the No. 1 auto sales slot, with the Taurus a consistent third. Ironically, Toyota and Honda have made the Camry and Accord sedans look less conservative because they're after younger buyers, although there are no such plans for the Taurus.

The 2003 Taurus looks the same as the 2000 model. But improvements have made the car quieter and more refined. The interior has been dressed up with such items as an available wood-and-leather trimmed steering wheel. And there are improved cloth and leather seating fabrics--and available dark paledo wood trim. The Taurus is plenty roomy for four tall adults, although rear door frames cause taller people to crouch a little to get in and out. There's an available front bench for six-passenger seating in the sedan, but its center area is suited only for children, who should be in the back seat anyway. The more comfortable front bucket seats, which offer more support, are the best way to go

The wagon can seat up to eight with the front bench seat and available rear-facing third seat, but that seat is only suitable for children.

The sedan's trunk area is impressive and has a low opening for easy cargo loading, although getting objects at its far end calls for astretch. The wagon offers even more cargo capacity and has a tailgate with a flip-up rear window to make it easier to load small objects.

Base prices range from $19,180 to $23,490. And even the entry LX sedan is well equipped with standard items including air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, AM/FM radio and power locks, windows and mirrors.

There's an alphabet soup of Taurus model designations. They begin with the LX four-door and then move to the SE, SES and SEL sedan and wagon models. There also are Standard, Deluxe and Premium versions of those models. But don't let all that throw you. As with other cars, the higher you go in the model lineup, the more equipment you get. Simple as that.

For example, the SEL Deluxe adds such items as automatic climate control and power-adjustable pedals.

A variety of options and option packages allows buyers of lower-line Taurus models to add features standard on the higher-line ones, such as a split-folding rear seat. However, some options, such as a $350 power front passenger seat, are offered only for the high-line models.

A new Sport package contains a floor shifter, monochromatic look and five-spoke sport wheels.

Safety features for the rigidly built Taurus include traction control, head-and-torso front side air bags and anti-lock brakes. The Taurus has received double front five-star crash safety ratings from the government for four straight years.

All Taurus models have a 3-liter V-6 that generates 155 horsepower with a single overhead camshaft or 200 horsepower with double overhead camshafts. Both engines are designed to go 100,000 miles before the first scheduled tune-up, with normal fluid and filter changes.

The lower-horsepower engine provides decent performance, while the 200-horsepower V-6 is smoother and delivers stronger acceleration on the highway.

Surprisingly, fuel economy of both engines is nearly identical, with the 155-horsepower unit delivering an estimated 20 mpg in the city and 28 on highways. The figures are 20 and 27 for the higher-horsepower V-6.

My test SEL Premium sedan with the 200-horsepower V-6 proved to be a relaxed long-distance cruiser, although the fuel gauge should have a more linear action.

The only transmission offered is a four-speed automatic, which upshifts smoothly and downshifts crisply.

The Taurus is no sports sedan, but is responsive enough to be fun to drive. It has quick variable-assist rack-and-pinion steering, sure braking and good handling with such items as gas-pressurized shock absorbers.

The ride is generally comfortable, although some road imperfections such as deep potholes occasionally register sharply.

In all, the Taurus is an attractive, nicely developed car that should be on the shopping list of every mid-size family sedan or station wagon buyer.


FORD TAURUS
Prices:
$19,180-$23,490

Likes:
Roomy. Good handling. Comfortable. Nicely equipped. Safety features. Movable pedals. Wagon version offered.

Dislikes:
Small gauge markings. Design causes taller occupants to duck a bit when entering or leaving. Wagon's third seat only for kids.