2008 Ford Taurus Review

 Regardless of life experiences, we’ve all encountered multiple types of average – appearance, intelligence, ability, size, and more. Anyone who has been on a date with an average person or has been an average job applicant understands how utterly forgettable average can be. Along that same vein comes the 2008 Ford Taurus, the vehicular counterpart to a nondescript gent named Joe who selects vanilla ice cream and the color tan as two of this earth’s greatest gifts. With a competent powertrain, unassuming looks and a reasonable price, the Taurus succeeds at everything, yet excels at nothing…just as one would expect of a perfectly average car.

By: Thom Blackett Photo credit: Oliver Bentley

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Ford offers the renamed 2008 Taurus, previously known as the Five Hundred, in two trim designations, each available with front- or all-wheel-drive capability. For this evaluation, Ford provided our editors with a pre-production 2008 Taurus Limited AWD model dipped in Dark Ink Blue paint and sporting a Medium Stone leather interior. Added to the $28,695 base price was a Limited Convenience Package ($475), a power sunroof ($895), Advance Trac traction control ($495), a touch-screen navigation system ($1,995), Sirius satellite radio ($195), and destination charges ($750). Put it all together and you arrive at a grand total equaling $33,500.

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Under the hood is a respectable 3.5-liter V-6 engine brandishing 263 horses and 249 lb.-ft. of torque. Those figures translate to acceptable performance during routine drives, with a well-modulated throttle offering smooth starts when the light turns green and sufficient giddy-up-and-go for quick merges. This creates the type of car that allows you to turn off, or neglect, all senses and simply operate it without issue – perfect for those who don’t appreciate the art of driving. The six-speed automatic transmission, sans a manual-shift function or sport mode, also serves to keep the excitement level down. We recorded a disappointing 15.6 mpg over several hundred miles.

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For everyday commuting, a task the Taurus’s target audience may view as a car’s primary responsibility, this big Ford fits the bill with a soft ride and compliant suspension. This is a comfortable cruiser, one reminiscent of past oversized domestics.

With vague steering system, excessive body roll, grip-averse Pirelli P6 tires, Big Brother-like traction control, and fade-prone brakes, the ’08 Taurus proves less than capable on twisty roads, but that matters little since buyers of this particular sedan are more apt to find themselves enjoying daily commutes than tearing up canyons.

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As a rather large sedan with a commensurate amount of glass, the 2008 Ford Taurus grants its occupants a clear view of the outside world. The greenhouse is expansive, pillars narrow, and rear head restraints retract so as to not infringe on rearward visibility. Ample side mirrors aid in the overall effort as well, working with rear quarter windows to alleviate stress associated with merging at highway speeds. Another bonus found in the Taurus is an SUV-like feel from the driver’s seat. Riding high on its AWD platform, our tester boasted that elevated ride height sought by so many of today’s car shoppers.

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“Fun” doesn’t exactly capture the Taurus’s demeanor – we’d say a better term would be pleasant. Power from the V-6 engine is adequate, the handling is fine for everyday driving by those who view vehicle ownership as a necessity and not a privilege, and the still-bland styling is more effective than any blood pressure medication your doctor might prescribe. It hardly gets the adrenaline pumping, but in terms of doing what a spacious family sedan is supposed to do, the Taurus can be considered a success. But fun? No.

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Hand it to Ford for delivering one heckuva comfortable sedan. Our Limited AWD tester featured leather-clad power front buckets that were wide and soft, though at the same time supportive as we spent hours stuck in traffic. Without any true side bolsters, these seats, along with all other aspects of the Taurus, are by no means sporty, but that shouldn’t come as a big shock to most shoppers. No, the Taurus is built to be cozy cruiser, one with wide and padded sills, padded armrests, leather trim on the shift knob and tilt steering wheel, and generous amounts of passenger room.

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Adjusted for shorter drivers, there are copious amounts of leg and foot room in the 2008 Ford Taurus; adjust for a taller pilot and it shifts to just a little less copious. Head room is on par with the other measurements, and the padded sills and armrests simply add to the comfort level. That being said, not all is perfect for rear passengers. The bottom of the bench seat feels flat, while the firm backrest provides the sensation of a constantly-engaged lower lumbar support – great for those who like it, but not so much for those who don’t.

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Interior noise is one area where we see a need for improvement. While you won’t go deaf from all the clatter inside the new Taurus, you and your passengers will definitely notice some wind noise at highway speeds and the unrefined engine note at higher revs. The droning sound of the V-6 reminds one that this is a mainstream Ford and not a Lincoln or other premium/luxury model. At about $33,000 loaded, shoppers shouldn’t necessarily expect the Taurus to be tomb quiet, but calling for a bit more refinement and sound deadening material would be well within reason.

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Whether you’re a mobster looking to transport former acquaintances or a teenager using Dad’s car to sneak all your friends into the drive-in, the Taurus’s trunk will easily meet your needs. Open up that rear lid and you might catch yourself saying, “Wow.” If moving bodies isn’t your thing, there are gobs of room for more luggage than you probably own, countless grocery bags or birthday presents for sextuplets. Utilize the split rear seat to toss some skis or lumber into the mix. The liftover height is a bit high, but the lined lid includes handles and the hinges don’t close down on cargo.

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Our 2008 Ford Taurus Limited AWDtest vehicle was a pre-production unit. We did not assess build quality, as it is our rule to praise or critique this aspect of a vehicle only when it is reflective of what consumers find at the local dealership.