2011 Ford Taurus Limited
PRICE/AS-TESTED PRICE $25,995/$38,735
MILEAGE 27 MPG (HWY); 18 MPG (CITY)
ENGINE 3.5-LITER 6-CYLINDER
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE. 263/249
TRANSMISSION 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC
DRIVE WHEELS FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE
HOW MANY IT CAN FIT 5
ANTILOCK BRAKES YES
ANTISKID SYSTEM NO
CUPHOLDERS 7
FOLDING REAR SEAT NO
TRUNK PASS-THROUGH NO
STEERING WHEEL AUDIO YES
DVD PLAYER YES
SATELLITE RADIO YES
POWER SUNROOF NO
LEATHER UPHOLSTERY YES
POWER FRONT SEATS YES
HEATED FRONT SEATS YES
AUTO-OFF HEADLIGHTS YES
HEATED MIRRORS NO
POWER LOCKS. YES
REMOTE ENTRY YES
KEYLESS START YES
UNIVERSAL GARAGE OPENER YES
HANDS-FREE PHONE YES
As one of the emblematic brands within the Ford Motor Company, the Taurus has gone through quite a renaissance. From being one of the best-selling brands of the late ’80s and ’90s to being discontinued in 2006 in favor of the full-size 500 and the midsize Fusion brands, the Taurus got a redesigned look for 2010. The 2011 Taurus shows just how far the brand has come.
I test drove the 2011 Ford Limited FWD and quickly realized that Ford did the right thing by bringing this brand back into the limelight. This vehicle offers something for the entire family and can take on brands like BMW and Lexus.
My test drive came in one of the new colors for 2011, Kona Blue Metallic. Its beautiful exterior was highlighted with 19-inch chrome-clad wheels. The interior displayed a luxury that is not commonly anticipated with a Taurus.
Charcoal black leather seats with beige- accented stitching welcomed me along with lumbar-supported front seats (which are the most comfortable car seats I’ve ever sat in, and they have memory controls so it remembers the setting you prefer). The heated/cooled front-row seats were part of an additional package in my test drive and, boy, was it a nice feature.
Technology and infotainment has been a field that Ford has led the way in, and it was on display in my model. A premium Sony sound system and Sirius satellite radio system are standard. And, of course, Ford’s Microsoft-powered Sync system offers voice- activated music, navigation (an additional option) and real-time traffic and weather, and other satellite-delivered data, including local gas prices. All of this is displayed on a crystal-clear touch screen that functions as a DVD player and a reverse rear camera display, which is one of the many standard safety features.
Other safety features that come standard on the Taurus are a crash alert system, tire-pressure monitoring system and anti-lock 4-wheel disk brakes. One of the nicest options offered, for an additional $1,100, is the adaptable cruise control and collision warning system. This radar-based system is designed to prevent low-speed collisions by projecting a warning on the windshield when the car gets too close to the car in front. It also activates the braking to help shorten the stopping distance.
The adaptive cruise control was something special. It was almost like an airline pilot switching to autopilot. I set the cruising speed at 71 mph and drove up the highway through various levels of traffic. As traffic slowed and I approached cars, the car adjusted the speed down and then back up, without having to hit the brake or accelerator. I drove about a 35-mile stretch of highway without having to touch the adjustable pedals. This is not a standard feature, but well worth the add on.
Another safety feature worth the additional cost is the blind-spot monitoring system, which lights the side mirrors to indicate when a car is in your blind spot. This advancement by Ford’s engineering department makes the Taurus a safety-friendly, and therefore family-friendly, vehicle.
And while all those bells and whistles are nice, you expect the car to have a performance-driven engine. This Taurus Limited did not disappoint. The V6, 3.5-liter engine can hang with any of the luxury sedans coming out of Europe or Japan. The front-wheel drive handles well with just a slightly disappointing turning radius, due mostly to its increased redesigned size. Some SEL and Limited models come with AWD and I would think that would provide an even better driving experience. True driving enthusiasts will enjoy the steering-wheel paddles that allow for manual transmission operation, standard for all Limited models.
During my test drive, I averaged about 24 mpg. The estimated annual fuel cost of this vehicle (factoring in 87 octane fuel at $2.60/gallon) is about $1,800.
Other innovative features of the car included a keyless start, Securicode keyless entry and MyKey technology which allows parents to limit speed and audio volume to encourage teens to drive safer.
My wife, who is a car enthusiast, thought the LED ambient lighting in the cupholders, door frames and floorboard was a really nice aesthetic feature. She was also amazed at the resolution produced in the rear backing camera display on the center console.
Ford has definitely made its presence known again in the highly-sought full-size sedan market. The Taurus Limited provides the luxury needed to compete and the family-friendly features to emphasize the brand’s bullish revival.
Jimmy Dinsmore is Wheels editor at the Dayton Daily News and may be reached at (937) 225-2115 or jdinsmore@coxohio.com
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