2008 Ford Taurus X

Starting with the exterior, you'll see that the Taurus X took some cues from the Ford Edge, with step-up headlamps and a three-bar chrome grille. In the rear, the taillights also recall Edge styling. Throw in the restyled hood, newly shaped front fenders and front/rear fascia as well as the dual chrome-tipped exhaust and you have a new sportier look.

Ford invested heavily in the Taurus X's safety features including the AdvanceTrac system, which uses a sensor to detect and measure oversteer and yaw. When it senses wheel slip or traction loss, it takes the necessary measures (e.g., reducing engine torque or applying brakes) to keep you on your intended course.

Every time you start the Taurus X, Sync confirms any Bluetooth connectivity with a paired phone by flashing "Device [name] Connected" on the source unit.

The 2008 Ford Taurus X, a midsize SUV, meets the criteria to win the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's TOP SAFETY PICK award.

If you've never heard of a Taurus X before, it's only because this is a new name for an existing product, the crossover SUV that used to be called the Ford Freestyle.

This new powertrain makes the 2008 Ford Taurus X a whole lot more fun to drive than the Freestyle crossover was. The new engine makes more power, and accelerates the truck much quicker (Ford says up to 44 percent quicker), but it also gets about 10 percent better fuel economy, even after adjusting for the new, stricter 2008 fuel economy rules that the EPA is using for fuel economy numbers on the window sticker.

The Ford Taurus X cabin has a light and airy feel, an important feature.

The Ford Taurus X is a much better vehicle than the Freestyle. The acceleration, shifting performance, powertain smoothness, and fuel economy are of a much higher order now. The instrument panel is more interesting and prettier to look at. The space, and use of space, is excellent. Taurus X is a solid crossover SUV, it's practical and it's affordable.