2008 Ford Taurus Ltd Awd

2008 FORD TAURUS LTD AWD

There are several changes for this car, this year. First, it loses the Five Hundred name and is now called Taurus. Next, a 3.5L engine supplants the 3.0L V6 and the continuously variable (CVT) transmission has been retired. Finally, there is a refreshed exterior and improvements to the interior and safety equipment. The drive wheels are up front, but an optional on-demand, four-wheel-drive system is available for both trim versions, SEL and Limited.

Interior and trunk

The vehicle’s high stance and wide doors make access easy. The front seats prove very comfortable. The driving position though good would be better with a telescoping steering wheel, and there is not enough room for the driver’s left leg. The power pedals (a standard feature in the Limited), can be adjusted even when the vehicle is moving, which is not safe. On the passenger side, room for the right leg is limited, which means you have to angle your legs left of centre. Headroom is tight with the sunroof for tall individuals. The passenger-side seatback folds down on the cushion, making room for objects up to 8 ft. (244 cm) long.

In back, the bench seat is comfortable for two adults. Legroom is generous, but headroom is at a premium for tall people. The 60/40 split seatback folds to provide access to a very roomy trunk, which has a large opening and low liftover height. When folded the seatback is higher than the floor of the trunk.

Convenience and safety features

The interior is well finished in good-quality materials. Road noise is insufficiently dampened. There are several storage compartments, including a spacious centre console. The glove compartment is not illuminated, which in this price range is hard to fathom.

Photo : Ford The controls and instruments are well laid out, except for the wiper control on the turn-signal lever, itself placed a bit too high. The heating system is a bit slow but eventually provides good heat. The air conditioner is fast and efficient.

Safety features include dual front air bags, big outside mirrors and four head restraints. It is strange that Ford chose to install four head restraints in a five-passenger sedan. The two rear restraints are not suitable for people of average height or more; however, we liked the fact that the head restraints adjust down into the seatback and out of one’s line of sight. Outward visibility is very good on all sides but to the rear, when backing up. Unfortunately, the headlights are weak. The wipers are faster than average.

In U.S. government safety tests, the Taurus obtained a five-out-of-five star rating for front occupant protection in a front impact and for all occupants in a side impact. It rated four stars for rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Taurus a “Good” rating, its highest, for driver protection in an off-centre front collision, and for all occupant protection in side and rear impacts.

Engine and transmission

The 3.5L Duratec 35 V6 develops 263 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque. With 60 extra horsepower and 42 lb-ft more torque than the former engine, it goes without saying that acceleration and pickup are more energetic and convincing than before. This engine is actually very well suited to the vehicle and runs easily at all times. However, it proved thirsty at the pump—13.5L/100 km during our test. Fortunately, it meets strict Tier2/Bin5 emissions control standards.

Developed jointly with GM, the six-speed automatic transmission generally shifts very smoothly and is well geared. Once again with a Ford product, you have to unlock he lever to shift from Drive to Neutral, which is not what you want if you have to shift quickly to Neutral in an emergency situation. There are only two forward gear selections, “D” and “L”; you cannot select second or third gear on a steep hill. This choice of gear selections is difficult to understand.

The four-wheel-drive system directs torque to the rear wheels when it detects front-wheel slippage. This system is supposed to respond in less than 50 milliseconds, but according to our experience with the Five Hundred in 2005, with all-season tires in snowy conditions, that is much too long if you want to accelerate at all quickly. Winter tires are a must.

On the road

Revised this year, the fully independent suspension has been tuned for a nicely firm, controlled ride that is very smooth on all types of pavement. There is no harsh reaction. Road holding is fully adequate for such a big car, with normal body lean in turns. Overall, the suspension has a sturdy feel. However, the suspension in our test vehicle was noisy on several bumps.

The power steering is a bit heavy at low speed and does not re-centre itself when you are driving very slowly. After that, it becomes better weighted. Steering is stable, precise and relatively quick; with a normal turning circle. It supplies a bit of road sensation. The brakes are powerful and resist well to fade.

In an inspection at a CAA-Quebec technical inspection centre, we noted the sturdiness of the platform and the absence of rust proofing. We also noticed some big openings under the front bumper through which debris could enter and eventually damage the air conditioner condenser and power steering cooler. Some joints are not completely sealed in the rear fender liners. The overhead camshafts are chain driven.

Conclusion

The Taurus displays some very appealing features, including a spacious interior, comfortable front seats, good road behaviour and a solid platform. With its new engine, it also achieves better balance. Hopefully, for Ford, a revitalized Taurus will attract more buyers.

PROS: roominess, front-seat comfort, road behaviour, well-adapted engine, visibility, storage space

CONS: perfectible sound insulation, fuel economy, heavy steering at low speed, weak headlights, heating rather slow, head restraints need work

2008 FORD TAURUS

Engine: 24-valve, 3.5-litre V6 Horsepower: 263 hp at 6,250 rpm Torque: 249 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm Transmission: 6-speed automatic Suspension: fully independent Brakes: 4-wheel disc Wheelbase: 286.7 cm Length: 512.5 cm

Width: 189.3 cm Height: 156,2 cm Weight: 1,697 to 1,782 kg Tires: P215/60R17; P225/55R18 Towing capacity: 454 kg Air bags: dual front, two side and two curtain air bags

Fuel consumption with all-wheel drive: Transport Canada rating: City: 12.7 L/100 km (22 mpg) Highway: 8.3 L/100 km (34 mpg) Test result: 13.5 L/100 (21 mpg) Test temperature: 11°C to 30°C

Fuel tank capacity: 72 litres

Fuel requirement: regular grade gasoline

Acceleration: 0-100 km/h: 7.9 seconds 60-100 km/h: 6 seconds

Competition: Buick Allure and Lucerne, Chevrolet Impala, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Hyundai Azera, Kia Amanti, Nissan Maxima, Saturn Aura, Toyota Avalon

Warranty: Full basic coverage: 3 years/60,000 km Powertrain: 5 years/100,000 km Surface corrosion: 3 years/60,000 km Perforation damage: 5 years/unlimited mileage Emissions control system: 3 years/60,000 km (full coverage); 8 years/130,000 km (catalytic converter, electronic control module and onboard diagnostic device)

Factory replacement parts: Rear bumper: $825 Front brake disc: $120 Brake pads: $146 Muffler: $861 Front fender: $200

Average insurance premium (Quebec City, replacement cost endorsement, claim-free insurance record, male or female driver 30 to 40 years old): $738 to $1,014

Price according to trim line: SEL: $30,899 Limited: $36,699

Main options: AWD: $2,500 All weather package: $1,500 (SEL) Sun roof: $1,020 (SEL) Navigation system: $2,695 Entertainment system: $1,000

Price as tested: $43,879

Freight and preparation: $1,250

Dealers: Quebec: 127 Canada: 600