2013 FORD TAURUS: Optional EcoBoost engine broadens sedan’s appeal

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This article was published 05/04/2013 (4764 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If you agree that, all things being equal, North Americans will buy the largest car their fuel budget will allow, then you will understand the thinking behind the updated 2013 Ford Taurus.

For the new model year, Ford is offering an optional engine. But in a deviation from the norm in Detroit, the extra-cost power plant doesn’t have more horsepower than the standard engine. It has less.

The Taurus’s base engine is a 3.5-litre V-6 that produces 290 horsepower and is rated by Transport Canada at 10.7 litres per 100 kilometre city, 6.9 L/100 km highway.

But, for an extra $1,000 on the front-wheel drive SE and SEL models, you can choose a smaller EcoBoost 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that generates 240 horsepower and is rated at 9.2 L/100 km city, 6.2 highway.

Ford delivered a mid-level SEL model with the optional EcoBoost engine for a week. I was looking forward to a full-size sedan that could return 6.2 L/100 km.

So much for that thought; the best that I managed was 8.7 L/100 km. Around town, mileage fell in the 12.4 to 10.7 L/100 km range. Disappointing? Yes. But the mileage was still admirable for a 1,821-kg, full-size sedan. And, in other ways, the Taurus with EcoBoost delivers on its promise.

While the four-cylinder develops 50 fewer horses than the V-6, it produces 15 more pound-feet of torque. You’ll never miss the extra ponies — the car accelerates with authority. The six-speed automatic transmission responds quickly and smoothly, which, when coupled with the potent engine, allows the driver to easily hustle this husky-sized sedan through corners, despite the expected body lean.

But when asking for extra power at cruising speed, there’s a slight lag while you wait for the turbocharger to kick in. And at idle, there’s noticeable vibration from the four-cylinder engine, something you wouldn’t get with a V-6.

The Taurus is offered in SE and SEL front-wheel drive trims, and Limited AWD trim. There’s also a high-performance AWD model, the Taurus SHO.

For 2013, Ford has added two new safety features. The first is called torque-vectoring control, which lightly applies the brakes on the inside wheels in corners to enhance cornering performance. The second is called Curve Control, which applies the brakes if a turn is entered too quickly, ensuring the Taurus maintains its intended path.

Otherwise, the Taurus remains largely unchanged. It’s a full-sized car with room for five and a gargantuan trunk. The interior has decent legroom and headroom, but the driving position feels snug due to the large centre console. The car also has small windows and a high rear deck, so make sure to order the optional rear-view camera.

And MyFord Touch, the system that controls a variety of navigation, entertainment, communication and climate functions, is still frustrating, although less so than last year.

While the Taurus with EcoBoost didn’t reach the Olympian heights that Transport Canada predicted, it still proved to be fairly fuel-efficient for such a large car.

Couple that with a spacious interior, large trunk, impressive safety credentials, a long options list and a price that’s not much higher than a fully loaded mid-size car, and you have a large car with the heart of a mid-size.

— The Virginian-Pilot

THE SPECS

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).

POWER/TORQUE: 290 hp/255 lb-ft (V6); 240 hp/270 lb-ft (2.0L EcoBoost)

TRANSMISSION: Six-speed automatic.

TRANSPORT CANADA FUEL ECONOMY (L/100 km): 10.7 city/6.9 hwy (V6); 9.2 city, 6.2 hwy (2.0L EcoBoost)

PRICE: $27,299 (SE) — $41,999 (Limited)