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.
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.

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