I drove a Taurus about 18 years ago. I bought it used, but in good condition. It was a pretty forest green color, and I was satisfied, if not delighted, with it. It was a dependable and comfortable ride for several years. When Ford made the decision a few years ago to bring back the Taurus, I didn’t really understand the reasoning. Then I had the opportunity to test drive the new Taurus and it all became clear! Ford wasn’t bringing back the Taurus, just the name.
This new vehicle with premium materials and luxury appointments moves Taurus out of the realm of the ordinary and into the upper class. Yes, it is still dependable and comfortable, but now it is also beautiful, powerful and packed with conveniences.
For my week’s test drive, Ford brought me a 2013 model Taurus Limited with Kodiak Brown paint that was nearly black looking in the shade. But in the sun, it gleamed with a rich, warm brown glow that sometimes appeared burgundy colored. To say it was brown didn’t describe it at all. The interior had Dune Leather seating; a tan color that perfectly complimented the exterior paint, and was once again rich and inviting.
Sliding behind the steering wheel, I immediately recognized a level of comfort that was both visually and physically luxurious. From the ambient lighting, appliqués on the doors and IP, and the leather and wood steering wheel, to the center console with armrest, storage and cup holders, the power adjustable front seats and the dual-zone climate control, everything was styled and designed to answer all the needs of the driver and passengers. Who wouldn’t appreciate the media hub with 2 USB, SD card reader, and video input jacks, as well as SYNC with MyFord Touch and SiriusXM radio? I could definitely adjust to having this car to drive all the time!
Creature comfort is not all there is to the new Ford Taurus. Hit the ignition and the 3.5-liter V6 engine hums to life. Paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, the engine delivers abundant power for a variety of driving conditions. I found it responsive on the freeway for entering traffic, passing and just cruising along. Equally comfortable on the curving hilly roads around my country home, the Taurus performed well, no matter what I asked of it. Power steering, blind spot monitoring, cruise control, curve control and 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS gave me a sense of control and of safety. Remote start on the key fob and a reverse sensing and rearview camera are standard features, as are a message center with compass, outside temperature reading and trip computer. Although I didn’t have the chance to impress a carload of passengers this week, I did observe the generous proportions and the apparent comfort of the rear seats.
Optional equipment on my test vehicle included heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel (lovely on cold days), rain sensing wipers, rear window power sunshade, active park assist, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, adjustable pedals with memory and more! Really, who could ask for anything more?
The 2013 Taurus is EPA rated to get 19 miles per gallon in the city, 29 on the highway and 23 miles per gallon combined. It is a Top Safety Pick Award winner in the IIHS four category ratings. The standard vehicle price is $33,000. My test vehicle with the optional equipment package and voice activated navigation added, plus $795 destination and delivery came to $38,090. It would be a real challenge to find such luxury and all these features for this price in another brand!
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