2008 Ford Taurus

*Est. $23,485 to $29,320

Pros

Reviewers say that the 2008 Ford Taurus may not emerge as a top seller, but has a lot to offer, including a roomy trunk and cabin, quiet ride, award-winning safety ratings and a fairly modest sticker price. Options include all-wheel drive and Sync, Ford's new integrated entertainment and communications system.

Cons

All that interior volume comes at a cost; the Taurus is one of the heavier sedans on the market, and the weight differential is somewhat detectable in the steering and handling. Raised front seats improve visibility, but can also compromise headroom for taller drivers. A few sources complain that styling is rather dull and indistinct.

Our Analysis

The new 2008 Ford Taurus offers a smooth, comfortable ride. Perhaps its most attractive trait is its roomy interior and cavernous trunk, though some reviewers complain that the added weight detracts from the car's steering and handling. As noted by IIHS, safety ratings are among the best in the segment, though reviewers are surprised that stability control isn't a standard feature. Increased sound-dampening diminishes road noise to near luxury-sedan levels. Sync, Ford's new integrated communications and entertainment system, is available on all trims. The majority of reviewers say the price is right, too. The new Taurus is among the most economical choices in the full-size sedan class, besting the Toyota Avalon (*est. $27,075 to $34,415) on sticker price, but the Avalon gets more consistently good reviews.

Ford has rebranded the outgoing Ford Five Hundred sedan as the new-for-2008 Ford Taurus. The most credible reviews we found come from perennially reliable sources such as Consumer Reports, where editors perform extensive road evaluations and combine those results with owner-reported data. Consumer Guide engages in similar road-testing, although results are reported in a more quantitative, chart-based form. Editors at Motor Trend include the Taurus in their evaluation of all-new or redesigned 2008-model vehicles, which form the basis for Motor Trend's prestigious Car of the Year award. The four members of The Car Family evaluate the Taurus in relation to its peers. Edmunds.com offers a helpful single-car review detailing the design changes inherent in the Five Hundred-to-Taurus transformation, while Car and Driver gives a very condensed assessment of the new Taurus's strengths and weaknesses. Features at MyRide.com and Cars.com highlight the 2008 Ford Taurus as a leading contender in its class, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety honors the Taurus as one of its Top Safety Picks for 2008.

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Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Consumer Reports tests the new 2008 Ford Taurus, comparing its performance and value with other cars in its class. Consumer Reports' analysis examines reliability, ride quality, handling and safety.

Review: 2008 Ford Taurus Review, Editors of Consumer Reports

2. Motor Trend

Motor Trend evaluates each new and significantly redesigned vehicle available in a given model year as part of its Car of the Year award process. Ford's switch from the Five Hundred to the Taurus nameplate earns this family sedan a spot on Motor Trend's roster, but judges agree that the upgrades, while signifying an improvement over the outgoing Five Hundred, aren't enough to make the Taurus a standout in its class.

Review: 2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year: The Contenders, Editors at Motor Trend

3. ConsumerGuide.com

Consumer Guide does road-testing on virtually every car and truck available, then compares them with a class average. While Consumer Guide's numerical format can be hard for some readers to decipher, these thorough analyses and the editors' value-based picks make this a helpful resource for car buyers. The 2008 Ford Taurus's overall score is slightly above average for the large-car segment, with especially strong showings in the areas of room/comfort and class-related value. The Taurus and Sable both receive the "Recommended" label from Consumer Guide's editors.

Review: 2008 Ford Taurus Review, Editors at ConsumerGuide.com, Mar. 11, 2008

4. The Car Family

The 2008 Ford Taurus is a big car with a smooth ride, although it might be too big for some families. This assessment is offered by The Car Family -- a four-member reviewing team that judges cars from a unique perspective. The Taurus gets an overall grade of "B+," and interior design and cargo flexibility are highlights.

Review: The Compleat Guide to Family Sedans, The Haskvitz Family, Mar. 21, 2008

5. Edmunds.com

This single-vehicle evaluation mainly covers the changes that accompany the rebranding of the Ford Five Hundred to the new-for-2008 Ford Taurus, but the author does compare the Taurus to other large sedans in an informal way.

Review: First Drive: 2008 Ford Taurus, James Riswick

6. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash-tests cars and trucks for three impact scenarios. Cars then receive ratings based on the results for each position. In order to merit recognition as a Top Safety Pick, a car must get the highest rating of "good" in all three crash tests, plus offer electronic stability control. Six family sedans, including the Ford Taurus and the Mercury Sable, are awarded the "Top Safety Pick" designation for 2008.

Review: Top Safety Picks 2008, Editors at IIHS.gov

7. MyRide.com

Editors at MyRide.com tested a number of vehicles, and voted for the one they'd most often recommend in each of a number of categories. The Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable twins were the winners in the Best New Large Car category, chiefly on the strength of their exceptional passenger and cargo volume.

Review: MyRide's 2008 Editors' Choice Awards, Staff at MyRide.com

8. Cars.com

Reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder considers safety, practicality, comfort and performance when choosing Cars.com's annual "Best Bets." This is a fairly long list, and the attached reviews aren't lengthy or comparative, but they do offer a balanced approach. Interested shoppers can follow links to more detailed and comprehensive reviews. Cars.com also provides consumer reviews and a side-by-side comparison tool.

Review: Best Bets: New Passenger Cars, Joe Wiesenfelder

9. Car and Driver Details/Subscribe

Car and Driver offers only a brief capsule review for the 2008 Ford Taurus, but this full-size sedan's pros and cons are quickly covered here. Editors also assign a score measuring the Charger's rating to car enthusiasts and consumers.

Review: 2008 Ford Taurus, Editors at Car and Driver

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