Vehicle Tested
| 2010 Ford Taurus SHO
Base Price: $37,770
At-Tested Price: $44,835
Built in Chicago, Illinois.
Options
Rapid Spec 402A
Special Paint
Adaptive Cruise Control/Collision Warning
Navigation System
Engine: Turbocharged 3.5-Liter V6
Transmission: Six-Speed Automatic
Drive Wheels: All-Wheel Drive
|
If you hadn't noticed, Ford's quietly dropped the Crown Victoria and boosted Taurus, both in size and price, into the full-size segment. That means it plays with cars like the Buick Lucerne, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Hyunda Azera and Toyota Avalon. For 2010, Taurus gets a complete makeover with new interior and exterior styling, additional features, and the return of the much-loved SHO high-performance model.
Retaining the basic running gear of the 2008-09 model, the new Taurus shares components with the Lincoln's flagship sedan, the MKS. Taurus comes in SE, SEL, Limited, and new SHO trim. All but the SHO come standard with front-wheel drive. Standard on the SHO and optional on the SEL and Limited is all-wheel drive. All Taurus models seat five on twin front bucket seats and a three-place, split-folding rear bench.
SE, SEL, and Limited get a 263-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine. SHO gets a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that makes 365 horsepower. Both engines mate to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Standard safety features include antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, tire-pressure monitor, wiper-activated headlights, top-speed limiter, and dual-front, front-side, and curtain-side airbags. Also available is blind-spot and cross-traffic alert, rear-obstacle detection, crash warning and rear-view monitor. Post-Crash Alert is standard on all models. It unlocks the doors, sounds the horn and activates the emergency flashers in an accident when the airbags are deployed.
The SE starts at $25,170 and includes air conditioning with interior air filter, tilt-telescope steering wheel with integrated radio controls, cruise control, cloth upholstery, six-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustment, center console, 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, floormats, theft-deterrent system, 235/60R17 tires and alloy wheels.
The SEL has a base price of $27,370 and adds to the SE manual-shift capability for the automatic transmission, dual-zone automatic climate controls, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated power mirrors, satellite radio, automatic day/night rearview mirror, compass, outside-temperature indicator and 235/55HR18 tires.
The Limited lists for $31,770 and adds to the SEL rear-obstacle-detection system, wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery, ten-way power front seats, driver memory system, in-dash six-disc CD/MP3 changer with iPod adapter, Bluetooth cell-phone connection, voice recognition, universal garage door opener, 255/45VR19 tires and chrome alloy wheels.
The line-topping SHO starts at $37,770 and adds to the SEL leather and alcantara upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum interior trim, keyless access and starting, driver-side automatic day/night outside mirror, HID headlights, rear spoiler, sport suspension and alloy wheels.
All-wheel drive, which is optional on the SEL and Limited adds $1850 to the base price.
Options include navigation system, adaptive cruise control, and Ford's Sync voice-activated control interface. Also available is MyKey, which allows owners to program an ignition key to can limit the vehicle's top speed and audio volume. A SHO-exclusive "Performance Pack" includes uprated brakes and 20-inch summer-only tires.
The Taurus is built in Ford's Chicago, Illinois, assembly plant and has a $825 destination charge.
Get Up and Go Most published reports have the 2010 Taurus accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in about eight seconds. That's more than acceptable for everyday driving, but certainly not top of the class. The non-boosted V6 provides decent punch off the line and average highway passing power.
Buyers wanting a little more oomph need look no further than the new-for-2010 Taurus SHO. It's turbocharged V6 pushes the big sedan from 0 to 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds. That's as quick as the V8-powered Chrysler 300C. Power delivery isn't as instant or seamless though, as the turbocharged engine takes a second to "boost up," both around town and in passing situations.
In either case the six-speed automatic is a buttery smooth transmission. It upshifts quickly and quietly and downshifts promptly when called upon in passing maneuvers. On hilly roads it hunts for gears, but that problem is quickly remedied by switching over to the manual mode.
EPA fuel-economy for the Taurus SHO come in at 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. Though Ford says the SHO can run on regular-grade gasoline, it recommends premium-grade for best performance and economy.
Around-town driving is likely to yield about 18 mpg with the show. Straight highway driving will bump that number to 23 or 24. Routine Chicagoland commuters should see about 20 mpg overall.
On the Road In general, Taurus rides with the comfort and composure that you'd expect from a large car. The long wheelbase, absorbent suspension, and large tires do an excellent job at filtering out most road imperfections without adding additional bounce or rebound. The SHO model, with its 20-inch wheels and sport suspension have much less impact absorption, but the overall ride isn't diminished to the point that it is unacceptable.
Conversely, the SHO is by far the most athletic-driving of the Taurus models. Still, all models hold the road with more confidence than you'd expect from a sedan this large. All have direct and accurate steering and good braking response. An additional plus is a tight turning radius.
Though not as quiet as premium competitors like the Toyota Avalon, Taurus seems to have less wind and tire noise than full-size cars. SHO models have more tire roar than expected. Engines are muted in cruising and have a refined growl in hard acceleration.
Behind the Wheel Taurus sports a business-class interior that's functional and attractive. Materials are bargain-bin on SE models but scale up to elegant on the Limited and SHO.
Driver's face a large steering wheel with brightly illuminated gauges that are easy to read day or night. Window, lock and mirror controls are within easy reach. The center stack is loaded with buttons and knobs--at least on the SHO model--that can be somewhat off-putting at first. However, thanks to SYNC and a logical layout, they are mostly easy to use for both driver and passenger.
SHO features multi-contour seats that are both comfortable and supportive. They have a massage feature that's interesting, but also somewhat annoying. Head and leg room are generous. The driving position is upright and slightly higher than expected, giving drivers an excellent view of the road ahead.
Adult-friendly, the rear seat is quite expansive and comfortable. Taller riders might want a bit more headroom, but as long as the front seats aren't all they way back, they won't complain a bit about leg or knee room. Three-across seating is possible, but everyone gets squeezed a bit and there an intrusive driveline hump that eats into center-seat leg room.
Cargo space is a Taurus strong point. The trunk is quite large and has a big opening. Also, the rear seats fold in a snap. Interior storage is good with lots of open and covered bins throughout.
Bottom Line Simply put, Taurus is perhaps the best example of a true American full-size car. It offers plenty of interior room, loads of safety features, a huge trunk and, best of all, reasonable pricing. The 2010 redesign makes the car more family friendly with features like MyKey and SYNC. Also the return of the SHO gives performance-sedan fans a reason to visit Ford showrooms again.
Though the Limited and SHO models are by far the best overall in terms of equipment and refinement, the best value is probably a nicely equipped SEL. Tipping the scales at less than $30,000 is only slightly more expensive than a traditional V6-powered midsize sedan.
Specifications, 2010 Ford Taurus SHO
| Dimensions
| 4-door sedan
| Engine
| Turbocharged DOHC V6
| Wheelbase, in.
| 112.9
| Size, liters/cu. in.
| 3.5 / 213
| Length, in.
| 202.9
| Horsepower @ rpm
| 365 @ 5500
| Width, in.
| 76.2
| Torque (lb.-ft.) @ rpm
| 350 @ 1500
| Height, in.
| 60.7
| Transmission
| 6-Speed Automatic
| Weight, lbs.
| 4368
| EPA Estimates, mpg
| 17 city / 25 highway
| Cargo Capacity, cu. ft.
| 20.1
| |
| Fuel Capacity, gals.
| 19.0
| Manufacturer's Warranty
| Seating Capacity
| 5
| Bumper-to-Bumper
| 3 years / 36,000 miles
| Front Head Room, in.
| 39.0
| 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
|
|
|