2013 FORD TAURUS: Taurus for all

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This article was published 24/08/2012 (5018 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Less than three years after giving its Taurus a complete makeover, Ford has rolled out a “freshened” version of the iconic large sedan, complete with more high-tech features and better fuel economy.

Among the new technology is an optional system that allows the car to parallel-park itself, something that resonates with female buyers, the automaker says.

Although prices begin at $28,799 excluding destination charge for the base SE model, the Taurus continues its move upscale. The test model — the all-wheel-drive Limited version — has a starting price of $41,999, but our tester topped $45,000, complete with options and freight.

That puts the car in the premium class, where it competes with Ford’s own Lincoln luxury brand. Ford says the 2013 Taurus was benchmarked against the Audi A6, whose prices for 2012 begin at $58,800. So if the Taurus is truly an equal, its base sticker price makes it a bargain.

The Limited isn’t even the top model, though. For performance addicts, the Taurus SHO continues in the lineup with a base price of $49,199.

Ford says the 2013 Taurus has an enhanced design that includes an “imposing” front end, new trunk lid, full LED taillights, new soft-touch materials in the cabin and a quieter ride.

The base 3.5-litre V6 engine gets a boost of 25 horsepower — up to 290 horsepower and 255 foot-pounds of torque — yet has better fuel economy than the 2012 model in both city and highway driving. The new ratings are 11.7 city/7.8 highway.

For even better mileage, there is a new, optional 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 240 horsepower and 270 foot-pounds of torque, delivering fuel-consumption ratings of 10.6 city/7.5 highway.

The SHO (Super High Output) model, which Ford calls a “sleeper performance vehicle,” retains the 3.5-litre EcoBoost turbo engine from 2012. It produces 365 horsepower and 350 foot-pounds of torque, and has Transport Canada ratings of 12.3 city/8.0 highway.

Available with the SHO is the Performance Package, which adds a special sport-tuned suspension with unique dampers and springs; performance brake pads and unique track-tuned calipers; electronic stability control with a setting for track driving; a 3.16-1 final drive ratio for quicker starts; an “extreme-duty” cooling system; and 20-inch alloy wheels with P245/45VR20 summer-compound tires.

All Taurus models come with a six-speed automatic transmission, and no manual is offered even on the SHO. Each engine has its own version of the six-speed gearbox, however.

All-wheel drive is standard on the Limited and SHO, and optional on the mid-level SEL; SE models come only with front drive.

SEL starting prices for 2013 are $33,799 with front-wheel drive, and $36,199 with all-wheel drive. The Limited AWD model begins at $41,999.

I had the opportunity to drive the Limited AWD model and found the car has the look, feel and driving characteristics of a premium sedan — it’s easy to imagine oneself in a luxury brand rather than “just” a Ford. But the line between “regular” and “luxury” brands gets more blurred every year, with prices being the only real differential on some of them.

There was plenty of power from the base V6 engine, and shifting of the six-speed automatic was quite smooth — it didn’t seem to be “hunting” for the right gear on either uphill or downhill runs.

The ride was smooth and quiet and the driver’s seat quite comfortable. There’s room for up to five adults inside, and plenty of legroom for the rear passengers. While most people wouldn’t want to be stuck in the middle position of the back seat in any car for a long time, it’s not as bad in the Taurus as it is in many others.

With the redesign of the interior, the 2013 Taurus has new seat fabrics and cloth-wrapped door pillars. The headrests are now four-way adjustable, which helps limit neck fatigue on a long ride.

The Limited model, though, comes with perforated leather seats, along with other standard amenities such as heated outside mirrors with memory, chrome on the exterior, puddle lamps, bright metal front doorsill plates, premium 19-inch painted wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way power front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with wood insert and rear-view camera with reverse-sensing, universal garage/gate opener.

It also has the MyFord Touch connectivity system with 20-cm color touch screen in the centre of the dash, along with two 10.6-cm LCD instrument-cluster screens.

The self-parking system — Active Park Assist — comes in an options package along with other new technology, including rain-sensing wipers and heated/cooled front seats. A 12-speaker premium Sony audio system is part of this package, as well.

Adaptive cruise control was included on our tester, along with the voice-activated navigation system. We did not get to test the self-parking system, as that option package was not included on our vehicle.

A less-expensive options package brings some of those items, such as a blind-spot warning system, the heated/cooled front seats, heated rear seats, the Sony audio and automatic high beams. But it leaves out the self-park system.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram

DETAILS

TYPE OF VEHICLE: Full-size, four-door, front- or all-wheel-drive sedan.

ENGINES: 3.5L V6; 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder (optional); 3.5L EcoBoost turbo V6 (SHO model only).

TRANSMISSION: Six-speed automatic.

POWER/TORQUE: 290 hp/255 lb-ft (V6); 240 hp/270 lb-ft (2.0L EcoBoost); 365 hp/350 lb-ft (3.5L turbo V6).

BRAKES: 4-wheel disc

LENGTH: 515.5 cm

WHEELBASE: 286.8 cm

CURBWEIGHT: 1,821-1,981 kg.

TRUNK SPACE: 569 L.

FUEL CONSUMPTION (L/100 km): 11.7 city/7.8 hwy (V6); 12.3 city, 8.0 hwy (V6 turbo)

PRICE: $28,799 — $49,199