Boring but competent
By Christian Wardlaw
|
May 26, 2005
Introduction
Twenty years ago, Michael J. Fox and a pimped DeLorean struck box-office gold with “Back to the Future,” a fantasy film about a 1980s kid who goes back in time to the 1950s, tickling that “what-if” itch we all want to scratch. By divine coincidence, the 1986 Ford Taurus arrived shortly thereafter, capitalizing on societal interest in time travel. A radically styled family car that looked like it had come from the future, that first Taurus redefined what the midsize sedan should be. w Fast-forward to the future, circa 2006, and after a two-decade run that included at least one “best-selling car in America” title, the Ford Taurus meets the executioner. Consumer interest in this bread-and-butter sedan dropped off a cliff when the bulbous, fish-faced 1996 model debuted, and with buyers converting to the religions of Honda, Nissan and Toyota by the hundreds of thousands, the Taurus hasn’t stood a chance since President Clinton was turning the Oval Office into the No-Tell Motel.Despite huge cash-back incentives to both buyers and dealers, the Ford Taurus usually lands in American driveways only when out-of-town relatives visit with a rental or when salespeople get a free company car. But is this fleet-special status justified? Is the Taurus a victim of bad press, poor design, or both?
We rented one to find out, and as it turns out, it’s mostly bad press.
Model Mix
Model Mix Choose between a sedan or a station wagon, in SE or SEL trim. Crash-test scores are good for frontal impacts, average for side impacts.
Available as a sedan capable of carrying up to six people or a wagon seating up to eight passengers, the 2005 Ford Taurus is offered in two trim levels this year: SE and SEL. Our test car was a Grandma gold 2005 Taurus SEL sedan with a boring beige interior, rendering us virtually invisible to everyone.
Standard SE equipment includes power windows with driver’s side one-touch down, power door locks, power mirrors, six-passenger seating, air conditioning, cruise control, and remote keyless entry. The optional SE Preferred Equipment package adds five-spoke aluminum wheels, a rear spoiler for the sedan, a power driver’s seat, and the 60/40 split-folding rear seat that comes standard on the wagon.
SEL models add a driver’s door keypad for remote access, approach lamps, seven-spoke aluminum wheels, a CD player, a compass, an exterior temperature display, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power driver’s seat with manual lumbar adjustment, illuminated visors, a programmable garage door opener, and wood grain interior accent trim. The optional SEL Premium package adds a six-disc CD changer, electronic climate control, leather seating surfaces, a rear spoiler, a power adjustable passenger’s seat, and automatic headlamps.
Either model can be equipped with the Safety and Security package, which adds antilock brakes, side-impact airbags, and traction control. Stability control is not available. In NHTSA crash tests, the 2005 Ford Taurus turned in an average performance, providing three-star side-impact protection with or without the side airbags. Frontal crash scores were four stars for the driver and five stars for the front passenger. But the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) calls the Taurus a “Best Pick” in the 40-mph offset front crash test. The IIHS has not performed side-impact testing on the Taurus.
Judged by the price on the window sticker, the 2005 Ford Taurus is a poor value. Our SEL test car was saddled with an estimated cost of nearly $27,000. But actual selling prices are far below that figure, thanks to customer rebates, dealer incentives, and other discounts. It’s easy to buy a new Taurus with lots of features for less than $20,000, and used models just two years old can be had for around $12,000.
Nuts and Bolts
Nuts and Bolts Neither Ford Taurus engine is competitive in the class, though our average fuel economy of 25 mpg is at least one reason to consider the car.
Neither Ford Taurus engine is competitive in the class, though our average fuel economy of 25 mpg is at least one reason to consider the car.
Standard on both models is an ancient 3.0-liter, pushrod, iron-block V6 that makes a paltry 153 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 185 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,250 rpm. The optional engine is an all-aluminum, dual-overhead cam V6 of the same displacement, making 201 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 207 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm, for a premium of about $1,000.
Each engine comes connected to a four-speed automatic transmission with adaptive shift control programming, driving the front wheels. Suspension is independent front and rear, with MacPherson struts holding up the front and a four-link arrangement charged with keeping the rear end planted to the ground. Wagon models have a short- and long-arm rear suspension with gas shocks and progressive rate springs to better handle loads.
Wagons also get four-wheel disc brakes, while sedans make do with a front disc, rear drum setup. Variable-assist, power rack-and-pinion steering guides the Taurus.
Driving Impressions
Driving Impressions Stable and secure, the 2005 Ford Taurus features decent handling but the ride is rough on bad pavement and it feels heavier than it really is.
Our 2005 Ford Taurus SEL rental had 1,100 miles on the odometer when we picked it up. It looked like new, smelled like new, and the rear outboard three-point seatbelts had never been used, still clipped into the buckles from the factory. It had been five years since we had driven the Taurus, last made-over for the 2000 model year.
Compared to the competition, the 201-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6 under the hood is not a paragon of refinement or power, but it’s hooked up to a smooth-shifting four-speed automatic transmission that short-shifts to maximize fuel economy. After 400 miles of highway and city driving we averaged 25 mpg, which is impressive for a V6-powered midsize sedan.
Other impressive Ford Taurus traits are the steering, handling, and braking. Certainly, the 215/60R16 tires contributed to the car’s stable and secure feel. The Taurus corners well, provides quick steering response and good heft off-center, tracks perfectly on the highway, and stops reassuringly despite the rear drum brakes. But, it always feels heavy and ponderous, revealing its decade-old engineering. Still, given the Taurus’s value for the dollar, we only wished for an improvement in terms of brake pedal feel, and better ride quality.
Pounding over the mottled surfaces of Massachusetts roadways, the 2005 Ford Taurus rides stiffly – almost like a sports sedan. Plus, it feels heavier than it is, lacking the lightness that comes through the controls when driving a Honda Accord. Also, there’s a fair amount of wind and road noise making it into the cabin.
Despite these quibbles, the 2005 Ford Taurus is fine to drive. Not fun, mind you, just fine. Forgettable, in fact. But remember that forgettable experiences are such in equal parts due to both boredom and competence.
Interior
Interior Comfortable, roomy, and equipped with a big trunk, the 2005 Ford Taurus is a great car for people who want simple, functional, basic transportation.
Thanks to firm seating and plenty of room front and rear, nobody will complain that the 2005 Ford Taurus is a penalty box. But neither is it a poster child for sophistication, with large gaps between panels, an odd mix of materials and grains, and somewhat small front door openings.
Our Taurus SEL came with a cloth interior, a power driver’s seat with height adjustment, and fake woodgrain trim that even Ray Charles could have identified as counterfeit. The cloth upholstery feels good and seems durable, but sticks to clothes, making it harder to clamber out. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is thick and nice to hold for hours at a time, and all controls are easy to find and use thanks to clear markings and logical locations.
We particularly liked the front bench seat and its flip-folding center console. With the console folded and stowed, a middle front-seat passenger will fit into the Taurus. But for those times when six aren’t aboard – 99.9 percent of total miles accumulated on the odometer – a handy console with cupholders and a soft center armrest deploys, providing a great space to store a cell phone, toll tickets, a sunglasses case, or whatever.
Pop the trunk, and once you clear the rather tall liftover height a good-sized luggage bay can accommodate 17 cubic feet of cargo. The rear seat also splits and folds to maximize utility when needed.
We spent hours at a time driving the 2005 Ford Taurus, never uncomfortable for a moment, never searching for a place to stow something securely, and never frustrated that we couldn’t find and use a particular function or feature.
Wrap-up
Wrap-up New or used, the Ford Taurus represents value. It’s not a great car – it never was – but it is perfectly serviceable for commuters needing a decent set of wheels.
Replaced in dealer showrooms this year by the bigger Ford Five-Hundred and next year by the smaller Ford Fusion, the Taurus is primarily sold at big discounts to fleet buyers looking for maximum bang-for-the-buck. This matters to you because thousands of these cars will ultimately land in the used car marketplace, where a good two-year-old Ford Taurus equipped like our test car goes for about the same price as a bare-bones Hyundai Accent.
New or used, the Ford Taurus represents value. It’s not a great car – it never was – but it is perfectly serviceable for the Point A to Point B commuter who simply needs a decent set of wheels and doesn’t care about what the neighbors think.
Just make sure to get that pile of rebate cash in your pocket, and if you’re buying a used Taurus, consider yourself forewarned that most spent their first several thousand miles in the hands of people who didn’t care one bit for break-in procedures or proper maintenance, which could ultimately render it boring and incompetent.
Specifications
Specifications Big trunk, lots of room, good fuel economy, but down on power and performance.
Test Vehicle: 2005 Ford Taurus SEL
Price of Test Vehicle: $26,980 (est.)
Engine Size and Type: 3.0-liter DOHC V6
Engine Horsepower: 201 at 5,500 rpm
Engine Torque: 207 at 4,500 rpm
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Curb weight, lbs.: 3,313 pounds
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 20/27 mpg
Observed Fuel Economy: 25 mpg
Length: 197.6 inches
Width: 73 inches
Wheelbase: 108.5 inches
Height: 56.1 inches
Legroom (front/rear): 42.2/38.9 inches
Headroom (front/rear): 40/38.1 inches
Max. Seating Capacity: 6
Max. Cargo Volume: 17 cu. ftches
Competitors: Buick Century, Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Stratus, Ford Five-Hundred, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Mazda 6, Mercury Montego, Mercury Sable, Mitsubishi Galant, Nissan Altima, Pontiac Bonneville, Pontiac G6, Pontiac Grand Prix, Saturn L300, Subaru Legacy, Suzuki Verona, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Passat
Model Mix Choose between a sedan or a station wagon, in SE or SEL trim. Crash-test scores are good for frontal impacts, average for side impacts.
Available as a sedan capable of carrying up to six people or a wagon seating up to eight passengers, the 2005 Ford Taurus is offered in two trim levels this year: SE and SEL. Our test car was a Grandma gold 2005 Taurus SEL sedan with a boring beige interior, rendering us virtually invisible to everyone.
Standard SE equipment includes power windows with driver’s side one-touch down, power door locks, power mirrors, six-passenger seating, air conditioning, cruise control, and remote keyless entry. The optional SE Preferred Equipment package adds five-spoke aluminum wheels, a rear spoiler for the sedan, a power driver’s seat, and the 60/40 split-folding rear seat that comes standard on the wagon.
SEL models add a driver’s door keypad for remote access, approach lamps, seven-spoke aluminum wheels, a CD player, a compass, an exterior temperature display, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power driver’s seat with manual lumbar adjustment, illuminated visors, a programmable garage door opener, and wood grain interior accent trim. The optional SEL Premium package adds a six-disc CD changer, electronic climate control, leather seating surfaces, a rear spoiler, a power adjustable passenger’s seat, and automatic headlamps.
Either model can be equipped with the Safety and Security package, which adds antilock brakes, side-impact airbags, and traction control. Stability control is not available. In NHTSA crash tests, the 2005 Ford Taurus turned in an average performance, providing three-star side-impact protection with or without the side airbags. Frontal crash scores were four stars for the driver and five stars for the front passenger. But the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) calls the Taurus a “Best Pick” in the 40-mph offset front crash test. The IIHS has not performed side-impact testing on the Taurus.
Judged by the price on the window sticker, the 2005 Ford Taurus is a poor value. Our SEL test car was saddled with an estimated cost of nearly $27,000. But actual selling prices are far below that figure, thanks to customer rebates, dealer incentives, and other discounts. It’s easy to buy a new Taurus with lots of features for less than $20,000, and used models just two years old can be had for around $12,000.
Nuts and Bolts
Nuts and Bolts Neither Ford Taurus engine is competitive in the class, though our average fuel economy of 25 mpg is at least one reason to consider the car.
Neither Ford Taurus engine is competitive in the class, though our average fuel economy of 25 mpg is at least one reason to consider the car.
Standard on both models is an ancient 3.0-liter, pushrod, iron-block V6 that makes a paltry 153 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 185 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,250 rpm. The optional engine is an all-aluminum, dual-overhead cam V6 of the same displacement, making 201 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 207 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm, for a premium of about $1,000.
Each engine comes connected to a four-speed automatic transmission with adaptive shift control programming, driving the front wheels. Suspension is independent front and rear, with MacPherson struts holding up the front and a four-link arrangement charged with keeping the rear end planted to the ground. Wagon models have a short- and long-arm rear suspension with gas shocks and progressive rate springs to better handle loads.
Wagons also get four-wheel disc brakes, while sedans make do with a front disc, rear drum setup. Variable-assist, power rack-and-pinion steering guides the Taurus.
Driving Impressions
Driving Impressions Stable and secure, the 2005 Ford Taurus features decent handling but the ride is rough on bad pavement and it feels heavier than it really is.
Our 2005 Ford Taurus SEL rental had 1,100 miles on the odometer when we picked it up. It looked like new, smelled like new, and the rear outboard three-point seatbelts had never been used, still clipped into the buckles from the factory. It had been five years since we had driven the Taurus, last made-over for the 2000 model year.
Compared to the competition, the 201-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6 under the hood is not a paragon of refinement or power, but it’s hooked up to a smooth-shifting four-speed automatic transmission that short-shifts to maximize fuel economy. After 400 miles of highway and city driving we averaged 25 mpg, which is impressive for a V6-powered midsize sedan.
Other impressive Ford Taurus traits are the steering, handling, and braking. Certainly, the 215/60R16 tires contributed to the car’s stable and secure feel. The Taurus corners well, provides quick steering response and good heft off-center, tracks perfectly on the highway, and stops reassuringly despite the rear drum brakes. But, it always feels heavy and ponderous, revealing its decade-old engineering. Still, given the Taurus’s value for the dollar, we only wished for an improvement in terms of brake pedal feel, and better ride quality.
Pounding over the mottled surfaces of Massachusetts roadways, the 2005 Ford Taurus rides stiffly – almost like a sports sedan. Plus, it feels heavier than it is, lacking the lightness that comes through the controls when driving a Honda Accord. Also, there’s a fair amount of wind and road noise making it into the cabin.
Despite these quibbles, the 2005 Ford Taurus is fine to drive. Not fun, mind you, just fine. Forgettable, in fact. But remember that forgettable experiences are such in equal parts due to both boredom and competence.
Interior
Interior Comfortable, roomy, and equipped with a big trunk, the 2005 Ford Taurus is a great car for people who want simple, functional, basic transportation.
Thanks to firm seating and plenty of room front and rear, nobody will complain that the 2005 Ford Taurus is a penalty box. But neither is it a poster child for sophistication, with large gaps between panels, an odd mix of materials and grains, and somewhat small front door openings.
Our Taurus SEL came with a cloth interior, a power driver’s seat with height adjustment, and fake woodgrain trim that even Ray Charles could have identified as counterfeit. The cloth upholstery feels good and seems durable, but sticks to clothes, making it harder to clamber out. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is thick and nice to hold for hours at a time, and all controls are easy to find and use thanks to clear markings and logical locations.
We particularly liked the front bench seat and its flip-folding center console. With the console folded and stowed, a middle front-seat passenger will fit into the Taurus. But for those times when six aren’t aboard – 99.9 percent of total miles accumulated on the odometer – a handy console with cupholders and a soft center armrest deploys, providing a great space to store a cell phone, toll tickets, a sunglasses case, or whatever.
Pop the trunk, and once you clear the rather tall liftover height a good-sized luggage bay can accommodate 17 cubic feet of cargo. The rear seat also splits and folds to maximize utility when needed.
We spent hours at a time driving the 2005 Ford Taurus, never uncomfortable for a moment, never searching for a place to stow something securely, and never frustrated that we couldn’t find and use a particular function or feature.
Wrap-up
Wrap-up New or used, the Ford Taurus represents value. It’s not a great car – it never was – but it is perfectly serviceable for commuters needing a decent set of wheels.
Replaced in dealer showrooms this year by the bigger Ford Five-Hundred and next year by the smaller Ford Fusion, the Taurus is primarily sold at big discounts to fleet buyers looking for maximum bang-for-the-buck. This matters to you because thousands of these cars will ultimately land in the used car marketplace, where a good two-year-old Ford Taurus equipped like our test car goes for about the same price as a bare-bones Hyundai Accent.
New or used, the Ford Taurus represents value. It’s not a great car – it never was – but it is perfectly serviceable for the Point A to Point B commuter who simply needs a decent set of wheels and doesn’t care about what the neighbors think.
Just make sure to get that pile of rebate cash in your pocket, and if you’re buying a used Taurus, consider yourself forewarned that most spent their first several thousand miles in the hands of people who didn’t care one bit for break-in procedures or proper maintenance, which could ultimately render it boring and incompetent.
Specifications
Specifications Big trunk, lots of room, good fuel economy, but down on power and performance.
Test Vehicle: 2005 Ford Taurus SEL
Price of Test Vehicle: $26,980 (est.)
Engine Size and Type: 3.0-liter DOHC V6
Engine Horsepower: 201 at 5,500 rpm
Engine Torque: 207 at 4,500 rpm
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Curb weight, lbs.: 3,313 pounds
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 20/27 mpg
Observed Fuel Economy: 25 mpg
Length: 197.6 inches
Width: 73 inches
Wheelbase: 108.5 inches
Height: 56.1 inches
Legroom (front/rear): 42.2/38.9 inches
Headroom (front/rear): 40/38.1 inches
Max. Seating Capacity: 6
Max. Cargo Volume: 17 cu. ftches
Competitors: Buick Century, Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Stratus, Ford Five-Hundred, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Mazda 6, Mercury Montego, Mercury Sable, Mitsubishi Galant, Nissan Altima, Pontiac Bonneville, Pontiac G6, Pontiac Grand Prix, Saturn L300, Subaru Legacy, Suzuki Verona, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Passat
Photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company and Automotive Information Center