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- Outstanding crash-test scores
- Vast passenger and trunk space
- Comfortable ride
- Good visibility
- Child-seat friendly
- Available all-wheel drive
- Low starting price
- Unimpressive fuel economy
- Handling secure, but not agile
- Mushy brake feel
- Dull styling
- Interior finish
Free Price Quote for 2009 Ford TaurusExperts say the 2009 Ford Taurus isn't as luxurious or dependable as the top-rated Toyota Avalon (*est. $27,845 to $35,185), but the Taurus does have advantages: Its enormous back seat and trunk trump even the very roomy Avalon's, and the Taurus costs thousands less. The Taurus is a twin of the Mercury Sable (*est. $25,120 to $31,230), which dies after 2009. However, Ford has unveiled the 2010 Taurus, which seems primed to be better than its predecessor in just about every respect, from looks to power and handling.
Critics say the current 2009 Ford Taurus offers a well-cushioned ride, but it suffers from prodigious body roll in curves. "On back roads, the Taurus feels a bit like a dinghy caught in a squall," say editors at Edmunds.com. Braking is fine, despite the soft brake pedal feel, testers say. Electronic stability control is standard for 2009, which makes the Ford Taurus one of the safest family sedans you can buy. If you do get into an accident, the Taurus earns the highest possible ratings in all crash tests at both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The Toyota Avalon earns equally high safety scores, but one tester finds its hard-to-reach seatbelts and LATCH anchors make the Avalon's backseat a difficult place to secure children. Reviewers find the Ford Taurus much more child friendly, with multiple LATCH connectors making it easy to install an infant seat in the safest middle position.
Visibility is outstanding in the Ford Taurus, testers say: No pillar-peek or doubting your blind spot with these tall windows and outsized side mirrors. "I never wondered if I had missed something with my over-the-shoulder glances," Kelsey Mays reports at Cars.com. Some testers also like the way they sit up high in the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable twins, with a commanding view of the road that might placate those contemplating the switch from an SUV. All-wheel drive is an option -- another SUV-style offering -- but it lowers fuel economy.
All Ford Taurus trim levels are offered with front-wheel drive, which results in fuel economy of 21 mpg in mixed driving (18 city/28 highway). That's two mpg less than the Toyota Avalon. Upper-level trims are also offered with all-wheel drive for $1,850 extra, which drops the Environmental Protection Agency fuel-economy rating to 19 mpg mixed (17 city/24 highway). A 263-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 with a six-speed automatic transmission is the only powertrain combination offered in the Ford Taurus. Reviewers say acceleration is adequate, but it's not as fast as you might expect because the Taurus is heavy.
The entry-level Ford Taurus SE (*est. $25,170) includes amenities such as cruise control, remote entry, power mirrors, power locks and windows, and a power driver's seat. Reviews say the 60/40 folding rear bench and fold-flat front passenger seat add to the Taurus' already huge cargo capacity. The Taurus SEL (*est. $26,670) adds dual-zone automatic climate control, heated mirrors, satellite radio and more. The top-level Taurus Limited (*est. $30,670) makes heated leather seats and a rear obstacle detection system standard, among other things.
Experts predict that the 2009 Ford Taurus will be at least as reliable as the average car, based on owner surveys of past models, and it's covered by a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Consumer Reports provides the most complete picture of the Ford Taurus. Editors test the Taurus extensively and collect data from owners about its reliability. Road tests at Edmunds.com and Cars.com are written up into clear narrative reviews, while ConsumerGuide.com testers issue numeric scores. Write-ups at Car and Driver and Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine are much shorter and less complete than the best reviews. Other review and testing organizations concentrate on just one aspect of the Taurus: safety, fuel economy or reliability.
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
Consumer Reports tests the Ford Taurus, comparing its performance and value with other cars in its class. Experts here examine reliability, ride quality, handling and safety.
Review: Ford Taurus, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
2. Edmunds.com
Edmunds.com editors here praise the Taurus' roomy interior and excellent safety, but its "uninspiring handling" and the soft feel of its brake pedal keep it from making this site's list of top picks.
Review: 2009 Ford Taurus Review, Editors of Edmunds.com
The 2009 Ford Taurus is a Recommended pick at ConsumerGuide.com, which road tests virtually every car and truck on the market and assigns numeric ratings in 11 categories, such as fuel economy and value. The Taurus scores just above average for a large car, but editors say it provides a good balance of acceleration, fuel economy and roominess.
Review: 2009 Ford Taurus: Road Test, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
4. Cars.com
This Cars.com review is based on a road test of the 2008 Taurus, but it has been updated for 2009 and covers just about every aspect of the sedan. Writer Kelsey Mays criticizes the Taurus' interior finish, but its roominess, safety and reliability make it a Best Bet.
Review: 2009 Ford Taurus, Kelsey Mays, Nov. 18, 2008
5. Car and DriverDetails/Subscribe
Car and Driver usually looks at cars from an enthusiast's point of view. Not surprisingly, the "bland" Ford Taurus earns a rating of two out of 10 for enthusiast appeal. However, editors rate the Taurus eight out of 10 for consumer appeal. This buyer's guide capsule review lists the Taurus' pros and cons.
Review: 2009 Ford Taurus, Editors of Car and Driver
Editors at Kiplinger's name the Ford Taurus a Top Safety Pick for 2009, although the Mazda6 is the top pick overall. Write-ups here consist of short lists of helpful data about each car, such as projected insurance and maintenance costs.
Review: Kiplinger's 2009 Auto Buying Guide: Sedans $20,000-$25,000, Editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance
7. SaferCar.gov
The Ford Taurus earns very high scores in NHTSA government crash testing. The agency awards the Taurus perfect five-star ratings in frontal and side crash tests, with four stars out of five for rollover potential.
Review: 5-Star Safety Ratings, Editors of SaferCar.gov
8. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable is an IIHS Top Safety Pick, thanks to its outstanding performance in independent front, side and rear crash tests. This chart shows how the Taurus/Sable and 10 other large sedans compare.
Review: Large Family Cars, Editors of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The EPA lists fuel-economy estimates for the Ford Taurus in the "large cars" category, alongside dozens of its peers. A convenient sorting feature makes it easy to compare models.
Review: 2009 Large Cars, Editors of FuelEconomy.gov
The Ford Taurus (judged in its 2006 incarnation as the Ford Five Hundred) has been more reliable than the average midsize car over the years, according to this owner survey. Scores are based on a 2009 survey of owners who bought their cars in 2006. You can click on the Ratings tab to find out how each of the 12 models in this chart scores on other measures.
Review: 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study -- Large Car, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates
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