The Taurus chassis is a good match for this forceful Duratec drivetrain. The fully independent suspension provides a smooth, impact-free ride. Taurus uses gas-pressurized shock absorbers, unusual in a family sedan; when pushed in the corners, it remains stable, nimble and ready for more. Cornered hard, its body roll is moderate, and the nicely tuned variable-ratio power rack-and-pinion steering delivers a steady stream of road information. And when the turning is done, this steering system provides improved on-center response, guiding you straight down the center of the course once more.
In an emergency lane-change demonstration set up in a parking lot, the Taurus stopped smoothly, with anti-lock brakes allowing steering control during hard braking. Braking performance was much smoother than that of a Dodge Intrepid tested at the same time.
With its excellent chassis and Duratec power, the Ford Taurus comes close to being a sports sedan for the price of a family mid-size sedan.
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