The Ford Taurus marked a turning point in American car design. Introduced for the 1986 model year, the original Taurus and its Mercury-branded sibling, the Sable, looked so modern and streamlined that they would go on to influence car designers around the globe, ushering in an era of aerodynamic styling that still has echoes in the appearance of new cars four decades later. With a front-wheel-drive chassis and engine choices that included both economical four-cylinder and powerful V6 options, the Taurus would go on to become the best-selling car in the United States from 1992 through 1996.
Ford Motor Company also introduced Americans to the idea of a high-performance mainstream family sedan with the Taurus SHO—which stood for Super High Output, referencing the SHO’s 3.0-liter V6 engine and its then-impressive 200-horsepower rating—a car that combined strong acceleration with world-class handling. The Ford Taurus SHO nameplate would carry on for a few generations, moving from a naturally aspirated V6 engine to a high-revving V8 and, finally, a twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6. It still stands out today as an automotive milestone worth celebrating.
Although the Ford Taurus, which was offered in both sedan and station wagon body styles until the 2004 model year, would lose its title as the best-selling car in America following its controversial redesign for the 1996 model year, sales were sufficient for Ford to continue refining it before briefly discontinuing the nameplate in favor of the Ford Five Hundred for the 2007 and 2008 model years. The Taurus returned after a year-long hiatus as a full-size sedan with a bold three-bar grille and was redesigned one last time for the 2010 model year. The final version of the Ford Taurus SHO also debuted in 2010, now powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine and featuring all-wheel drive.
Ford Taurus Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ford Taurus Pros and Cons
- Ford Taurus Generations
- Ford Taurus Sixth Generation (2010-2019)
- Ford Taurus Fifth Generation (2008-2009)
- Ford Taurus Fourth Generation (2000-2006)
- Ford Taurus Third Generation (1996-1999)
- Ford Taurus Second Generation (1992-1995)
- Ford Taurus First Generation (1986-1991)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Ford Taurus years are the best?
In the case of the Ford Taurus, “best” depends on what you’re looking for. In reliability terms, Taurus models with the least complaints recorded by CarComplaints.com cover the final five model years from 2014 through 2019. Those end-of-run examples are pretty boring cars, but if cheap and reliable transportation is paramount, then one of those model years may be a decent option.
Buyers looking for a family sedan with some flair may be tempted by the Ford Taurus SHO, a high-performance version of Ford’s bread-and-butter family sedan that was offered from 1989 through 1999, then again from 2010 through 2019. While the first (1989-1991) and second generations (1992-1995) of the Ford Taurus SHO have real potential as collectibles, they’re too old for us to recommend as daily drivers. Later versions of the Ford Taurus SHO built on the sixth-generation platform and powered by Ford’s well-regarded 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine can still be found with relatively low mileage and at reasonable prices.
What are the worst Ford Taurus years?
Any Ford Taurus with a four-speed automatic transmission should be considered a reliability risk. Despite Ford’s efforts to fix the transmission’s issues over the course of its lifetime from 1986 through 2006, a perusal of CarComplaints.com shows the four-speed automatic transmission never overcame its reputation for poor reliability. The worst year was 2003, but the entire block from 2000 through 2005 stands out as receiving a lot of complaints from owners.
Buyers looking at the high-performance Ford Taurus SHO would be wise to avoid the third-generation that ran from 1996 through 1999. These models used a 3.4-liter V8 engine that was smooth and sounded lovely but riddled with reliability woes. Camshafts that would detach from their sprockets, a problem severe enough that it could completely destroy the engine.
Is a used Ford Taurus a good deal?
For buyers who want to pay as little as possible for a spacious, reliable car, a late-model Ford Taurus ought to stand out as a good deal. Buyers who don’t fit into that admittedly small segment should look elsewhere. By the time the Ford Taurus exited the American market in 2019, it was outclassed by full-size sedan competitors from the likes of Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota.
Ford Taurus Pros and Cons
Pros
- Multiple body styles
- Multiple powertrain options
- Spacious
Cons
- Polarizing third-generation design
- Pedestrian performance from non-SHO models
- Outdated technology
Ford Taurus Generations
Ford Taurus Sixth Generation (2010-2019)
The sixth and final generation of the Ford Taurus launched for the 2010 model year with an attractive if somewhat pedestrian design. For the first time, the Mercury Sable was no longer offered as a more upscale version of the Taurus. As a full-size sedan, the 2010 Ford Taurus was intended to compete with large competitors such as the Chrysler 300, the Dodge Charger, the Hyundai Azera, and the Toyota Avalon. The Ford Fusion was directed at the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry, which had previously been the Taurus’ main competition.
Ford’s 3.5-liter V6 engine remained standard in the 2010 Ford Taurus and produced 263 horsepower from 2010 through 2012, then 288 horsepower for the 2013 model year. The 2013 Ford Taurus was refreshed, and a Police Interceptor version was offered to law enforcement agencies with a 3.7-liter 305-hp V6 engine. A 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine joined the Taurus lineup for the 2014 model year and remained on the menu through the 2017 model year. The 2.0-liter turbo engine provided the best fuel economy of any Taurus at the time, with EPA ratings of 22 miles per gallon in the city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. The standard 3.5-liter V6 engine was rated at 19 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined for the 2013 model year.
A new version of the Ford Taurus SHO also debuted alongside the sixth-generation model in 2010. Powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that delivered 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels, the AWD Taurus SHO from 2010-2019 was the most powerful and quickest Taurus SHO in the model’s illustrious history.
The sixth-generation Ford Taurus was refreshed for the 2013 model year. A new grille and front fascia were the main exterior changes, and the suspension was also updated. The latest version of Ford’s Sync and MyFordTouch infotainment software was added, and the front seats were improved. The entry-level Ford Taurus SE was well equipped, featuring 17-inch wheels, automatic headlamps, a keypad for entry, a power driver’s seat, and a six-speaker audio system. The Taurus SEL got 18-inch wheels, smarter interior upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and the Sync infotainment system. MyFordTouch, an upgraded infotainment system, was optional with the Taurus SEL along with keyless entry and ignition, leather seats, and a power sunroof. The Ford Taurus Limited was basically loaded, and options included advanced safety features such as a blind-spot warning system with cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and collision warning with brake support.
Ford Taurus Fifth Generation (2008-2009)
Ford killed the Taurus sedan in 2007, replacing the long-running nameplate with a new full-size sedan called the Ford Five Hundred. That nameplate was short lived, though, as Ford CEO Alan Mulally recognized the Taurus badge still carried a great deal of presence. On the downside, both the Ford Five Hundred and its Ford Taurus sibling were rather pedestrian cars that trailed competitors from Chrysler, Dodge, Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota.
Ford finally refreshed the Taurus’s ageing powertrain options. While the Ford Five Hundred used a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the reborn Taurus arrived with a conventional six-speed automatic. All versions of the fifth-generation Ford Taurus were fitted with a 3.5-liter Cyclone V6 engine that delivered 263 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels or, optionally, all four wheels. This was the first Ford Taurus offered with all-wheel drive. In base FWD form, the Taurus could deliver 18 miles per gallon in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined—which compared well against the competition. With AWD, those figures dropped significantly to 17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined.
The 2008 and 2009 Ford Taurus was offered in three trim levels. The base Taurus SE kicked off the lineup, while the mid-level Ford Taurus SEL benefited from 17-inch alloy wheels, power functions for the driver’s seat and upgraded interior trim. Top of the pile was the Ford Taurus Limited with 18-inch wheels, leather seats, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and an upgraded audio system with a six-disc CD changer. The Microsoft-developed and voice-activated Ford Sync system debuted in this generation.
The Taurus name also appeared on a three-row crossover called the Ford Taurus X for the 2008 and 2009 model years. That crossover SUV had previously been known as the Ford Freestyle for the 2005 through 2007 model years.
Ford Taurus Fourth Generation (2000-2006)
The Ford Taurus received a much-needed redesign for the 2000 model year in the wake of declining sales in the late 1990s. It still had a windswept body, with oval-shaped highlights dominating the design, but wasn’t nearly as pronounced as the third-generation Taurus. The Taurus didn’t change much under the skin, as the car’s chassis wasn’t the reason it was falling behind segment leaders such as the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry, not to mention Ford’s own Fusion midsize sedan.
The Ford Taurus sedan saw more design changes for its fourth generation than the station wagon, which shared much of its bodywork with its predecessor. This would be the final generation in which Ford offered a Taurus wagon.
The interior was subject to just as many tweaks as the exterior. While the third-generation Taurus used ovoid shapes wherever possible and clustered its controls into pods, the fourth generation adopted a more traditional dashboard design with some straight lines. At first, a column-mounted shifter remained standard, but a center console with a floor-mounted shifter along with front bucket seats eventually took over.
Ford Taurus trim levels for 2000 started off with an LX model that again featured the long-serving 3.0-liter Vulcan V6 engine with 155 horsepower. The Ford Taurus SE was a new mid-level trim and also came with the Vulcan V6 engine, as did the Taurus SES that was offered from 2001 through 2004. The desirable 3.0-liter Duratec V6 engine was optional for the Taurus SES, the SE Comfort, and the Taurus SEL. The aging four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive remained in use for all Taurus models. There was no Ford Taurus SHO from 2000 through 2009.
Ford Taurus Third Generation (1996-1999)
Ford instituted a radical redesign of the Taurus for the 1996 model year. In place of the heavily streamlined look of the first- and second-generation models was a completely new design with what would turn out to be a controversial oval-dependent appearance. In addition to the exterior that relied heavily on bubble-shaped elements, including the headlamps and the rear window glass, the interior, too, had flowing lines and oval-shaped clusters of buttons and gauges.
The base Taurus G and mid-level Taurus GL used a revised version of the 3.0-liter Vulcan V6 engine with power bumped to 145 horsepower, and both had a shifter mounted on the steering column. The top-level Ford Taurus LX featured an all-new 3.0-liter Duratec V6 engine that spun out 200 horsepower. All three standard Taurus models featured a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive.
A new version of the Ford Taurus SHO debuted for 1996. This third-generation Taurus SHO featured a completely new 3.4-liter V8 engine that delivered 235 horsepower to the front wheels. While this engine seemed sweet and free revving when new, it quickly developed a reputation for camshaft failures that required major work to fix. A four-speed automatic transmission was the only unit offered in the third-generation Taurus SHO.
The Ford Taurus remained the best-selling car for the 1996 model year, but only because a large number of units were sold to fleet operators for use as rental cars. The controversial redesign was not a hit with the buying public, and sales faltered as the third generation remained on the showroom floor through the 1999 model year.
Ford Taurus Second Generation (1992-1995)
The second-generation Ford Taurus debuted for the 1992 model year. While the Taurus in both sedan and wagon styles still rode on the same platform, the interior and exterior were heavily revised. Ford Taurus models included the base L, the mid-level GL, and the range-topping LX. The interior was completely redesigned with a sleeker, more modern look. A passenger-side airbag was optional in 1992 and standard in 1993, making it the first car to offer standard dual front airbags.
Ford continued to offer two V6 engines in the second-generation model; the standard 3.0-liter Vulcan V6 produced 140 horsepower, while the optional 3.8-liter Essex V6 engine also produced 140 horsepower but increased torque from 160 lb-ft to 215 lb-ft. Both engines sent power to the front wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive.
The Ford Taurus SHO returned for a second generation along with its 3.0-liter V6 engine. For the 1992 model year, the Taurus SHO was again offered only with a five-speed manual transmission. For 1993, however, Ford created a new version of the Taurus SHO powered by a bigger 3.2-liter version of the high-revving V6 engine hooked to a four-speed automatic transmission. The original 3.0-liter version would carry on alongside the 3.2-liter SHO through the 1995 model year.
The success of the Ford Taurus line carried through from the first generation to the second generation. In fact, the Ford Taurus was the best-selling car in the United States for the entirety of its second-generation run from 1992 through 1995.
Ford Taurus First Generation (1986-1991)
The first Ford Taurus debuted to much fanfare for the 1986 model year and looked nothing like any Ford product before it. The Taurus, along with the Mercury Sable that shared the same platform, featured windswept styling, a modern interior, and excellent handling from a stiff and well-tuned chassis. The Ford Taurus sedan could seat up to six passengers, while the station wagon could fit two more in the reverse-facing third row that could be folded flat.
The first-generation Ford Taurus influenced other products from Ford, including the long-running Thunderbird line. The 10th-generation Ford Thunderbird, built between 1989 and 1997, introduced a sleek new design with no traditional grille and headlamps integrated into the front fascia, seemingly inspired by the Taurus.
Power options for the 1986 Ford Taurus included a 2.3-liter fuel-injected four-cylinder engine mated to either a five-speed manual transmission in the European-inspired Taurus MT5 or three-speed automatic transmission in the Taurus L or a 3.0-liter fuel-injected V6 engine hooked to a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive in the Taurus GL and the LX. The V6 engine was standard in the wagon, except for the MT5 version of the people hauler that was only available for the 1986 model year. The Ford Taurus MT5 was dropped altogether in 1988.
A 3.8-liter V6 engine was added to the lineup in 1988, and although both V6 engines were rated at 140 horsepower, the larger option had quite a bit more torque.
The Ford Taurus SHO debuted for the 1989 model year with a highly advanced 3.0-liter dual-overhead-cam V6 engine that spun out 220 horsepower. That’s only five ponies shy of the 5.0-liter V8 in the Ford Mustang offered that year. It came standard with a five-speed manual transmission, and no automatic was offered.
The Ford Taurus would prove very popular with American buyers. More than 200,000 units were sold in its first year, and by the end of 1989, Ford had sold more than a million.
