Reactions to the original Taurus were that Ford had made a giant gainin ride, handling, steering feel and overall mechanical quality. Megadittos
for the new Taurus. As good as the old Taurus had become, the new Taurus
is a leap ahead, a leap that starts with one of the best chassis in the
midsize class.
The basic Vulcan V6 provides adequate performance, but we prefer the
Duratec V6, which makes for easier merging and passing. It is smooth, quiet
and responsive, with good stoplight getaway.
The automatic is a very good match. Thanks to improved control programming,
the shifts are clean and precise.
Thanks to the new car's improved chassis, the suspension performs as
advertised, keeping the car flat in corners and sopping up bumps and bangs.
Visibility is excellent all around, with the sloping hood lending an
Imax vista up front. Seat comfort is good, but we found the bench seat
limited in lateral support. It doesn't take much sideloading to scoot your
bottom left or right. The bucket seats are definitely more comfortable