2014 Ford Taurus: The Classic Name with a Bevy of Upgrades

Having to compete in the full-sized sedan class is a tough one, especially one that contains the Toyota Avalon and Chevrolet Impala, but the 2014 Ford Taurus does a phenomenal job competing and in many ways outperforming others in the class. Offering three engines to choose from helps set the Taurus apart from competition, especially when one of those is a four-cylinder engine which is not often seen in the full-sized sedan class.

With a long list of great features to add to the car the Taurus can turn quickly from a simple sedan to a luxury-inspired vehicle very quickly. The Taurus even offers a great feeling of power seen in many sports cars with the SHO model, allowing those who need to transition from the sporty two-seater to a family car to still feel the power churning under the hood. Because the Taurus is not yet scheduled to be redesigned the updates for 2014 are minimal focusing on the Lane Keeping System to help the driver stay in their own lane.

Taking a drive in the Taurus is amazing to start with offering a very adept steering and stability from many of the added technologies such as the Torque Vectoring and Curve Control. Without a V8 in the lineup, the car would be expected to be sluggish at best, but Ford Indianapolis tells us that instead it offers plenty of power for passing and maneuvering in traffic, a great surprise considering it is a full-size sedan and not a smaller one. Add to all this control and power the quiet cabin achieved through exceptional insulation and sound dampening technologies and all occupants can enjoy the sounds they desire instead of the road noise.

At the base model, the engine offered is a 3.5-liter V6 engine carrying 288 horsepower and 254 lb.-ft. of torque. When teamed up with the six-speed automatic transmission this powertrain offers the driver 19 city/29 hwy mpg in the front-wheel drive (FWD) models and 18 city/26 hwy mpg for the all-wheel drive (AWD) versions. Even at this base model the engine offers plenty of power to get the car where it needs to go and choosing the AWD is a great trade off of only a couple mpg to gain the added control.

Next up is the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine which has a still very strong 240 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine partnered with the same transmission brings the fuel economy up to an impressive 22 city/32 hwy mpg offering the best of both worlds of power and fuel efficiency to any owner.

Filling out the power bracket with the SHO model is a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 using direct-injection to achieve a massive 365 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. Even though this is the most powerful engine in the lineup, the fuel economy lost is still minimal coming in at 17 city/25 hwy mpg which is amazing considering this is such a massive engine.

Offering a good list of comfort features inside the Taurus the inhabitants can enjoy the comforts of a soft material all around on the upholstery as well as some technological advances for comfort and control such as the power sunshade for the rear window, automatic high-beam dimmers, and adaptive cruise control. The controls are smartly positioned and anyone who has owned a Ford in the past will find all controls very easily. The cabin is very comfortable for up to five adults to enjoy with ample legroom all around everyone can fit and relax on even a long vacation.

On the outside the Taurus is big and beefy with excellent and powerful lines from front to rear. The added height and wider doors add to the feel of extra heft from this beastly machine, along with offering a great road presence for all to enjoy. The size also adds to the extra-large trunk which is a full 20 cubic feet of space to fill up. The snub-nosed look up front offers and even more imposing look to the Taurus as it grinds up the road. To finish it all off a full set of dual-spoked wheels give the final touch to the look of menacing power to the vehicle.

Offering a generous list of standard features, the Taurus is one of the most popular cars on the road today. The list of standard features includes a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power driver’s seat, cruise and audio controls on the steering wheel, power windows, the programmable key with the MyKey system, a six-speaker audio system with auxiliary port, anti-lock disc brakes, electronic traction and stability control, dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain airbags. This list offers great control and safety for all to enjoy.

As with most of the Ford products, the Taurus offers a very lengthy list of optional features including seats with a massage function, automatic high beams, a heated steering wheel, rain sensing windshield wipers, adaptive cruise control, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, push button start, a power rear sunshade, power adjustable pedals, the SYNC voice-activated infotainment system, a 12-speaker premium Sony audio system, Blind Spot Information System, Cross-Traffic Alert System, and the Lane keep System. All the options allow anyone to make the Taurus fit their style as well as add a great deal of safety features to keep the family safe and secure.

Starting out at a very reasonable $27,500 for the base SE trim on the Taurus and moving up to $29,700 for the SEL and on up to a start of $35,000 for the Limited trim. When the high-performance SHO is selected the price comes in around $40,500, still very reasonable for the entire price range for this car. With all the features standard and optional, there is sure to be a combination of Taurus out there to please just about every driver, and with a long reputation of excellence it is a great choice to drive.