2011 Ford Taurus Review and Prices

by Chuck Giametta

Table of Contents
2011 Ford Taurus Review and Prices
2010 Ford Taurus Review and Prices
2009 Ford Taurus Quote

2011 FORD TAURUS BUYING ADVICE

• The 2011 Ford Taurus is the best car for you if a big, bold sedan expresses your automotive self-image.

• The 2011 Ford Taurus follows the splashy introduction of the reinvigorated 2010 Taurus. This five-passenger full-size four-door isn’t expected to change in any significant way from the restyled 2010 model. Curiously, though, reports suggest Ford is ready to reskin this sedan yet again -- and as early as the 2012 model year.

• Should you wait for the 2011 Ford Taurus or buy the 2010 Ford Taurus? Buy a 2010 Taurus. You’ll more quickly tap into the thrill of driving one of the flashier new cars on the road. And if Ford does restyle the Taurus for model-year 2012, you’ll get to enjoy it longer before the trendy looks fade. Finally, the buyer’s market that’s juicing 2010-model sales might not be in place when the 2011s roll out.  

2011 FORD TAURUS CHANGES

• Styling: Don’t look for 2011 alterations to sheetmetal that was completely revamped for the 2010 Taurus. Ford’s 2010 restyling gave the Taurus an aggressive new look inside and out, but didn’t really alter the size of a car that traces its basic chassis to the 2005 Ford Five Hundred. Taurus is among the largest cars on the road and is in fact longer overall than the seven-passenger Ford Flex crossover SUV. But a relatively low roofline, bulging hood, and Mustang-inspired cockpit position it as a car Ford hopes will appeal to drivers who believe a big sedan conveys an image of sporty power, not necessarily family car practicality. That concept is amped to the max in the high-performance 2011 Ford Taurus SHO. Oddly enough for so large a car, the Taurus doesn’t quiet have the expansive interior roominess you might expect. 

• Mechanical: The 2011 Ford Taurus carries over with a 3.5-liter V-6 and a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine is rated at 263 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque, and the transmission includes manual-shift steering-wheel paddles in all but the base-model Taurus SE. The midline 2011 Taurus SEL and top- line 2011 Taurus Limited models are available with all-wheel drive (AWD) as an alternative to the standard front-wheel drive. Every 2011 Taurus comes with Ford’s AdvanceTrac Electronic Stability Control that combines traction control, antilock four-wheel disc brakes, and an antiskid system. All models have aluminum wheels. The SE comes with 17-inch tires, the SEL with 18s; 19s are standard on the Limited and optional on the SEL. Taurus has satisfying handling and top-notch ride quality, but only adequate power for its size and weight. Acceleration junkies are advised to look at the Taurus SHO with its 360-plus-horsepower twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6.            

• Features: Between options and standard equipment that escalates as you ascend the line, the 2011 Ford Taurus presents an impressive balance of comfort, infotainment, and safety features. Among comfort features are heated and cooled front seats -- even front seats with air bladders that inflate and deflate to massage your back and buns. For information and entertainment there’s voice-activated navigation, Ford’s popular Microsoft-developed Sync hands-free link to real-time traffic and other satellite-delivered data, and iPod USB and Bluetooth connectivity. On the safety front, Ford’s Collision Warning with Brake Support uses radar to sense if the Taurus is closing too quickly on the vehicle ahead. Designed to prevent low-speed rear-end collisions, it first projects a warning on the windshield, then begins to apply the brakes to shorten stopping distance. Also optional is Ford’s Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert (BLIS). This also uses radar to detect and warn of vehicles in over-the-shoulder blind spots and in proximity when you’re backing from a parking space. 

2011 FORD TAURUS PRICES

• No major changes to 2011 Ford Taurus pricing is likely. That means base prices starting around $26,500 for the 2011 Taurus SE, which comes only with front-wheel drive. (Estimated base prices in this review include Ford’s destination fee, which was $825 for 2010.)

• Estimated base price for the 2011 Taurus SEL is $28,500 with front-drive, $29,300 with AWD. It adds to the SE such features as dual-zone automatic climate control and a message center with trip computer and compass.

• Estimated base price for the 2011 Taurus Limited is around $32,500, or around $34,300 with AWD. Standard on the Limited is leather upholstery, the Sync system, and ambient interior lighting.

• Among key options, the Taurus SEL can be equipped with leather upholstery for around $1,400 and with Sync for around $700. About $2,500 adds to the Limited the BLIS system, heated and cooled front seats, and heated rear seats. For 2010, the navigation system option was exclusive to the Taurus Limited and SHO.

2011 FORD TAURUS FUEL ECONOMY

• Fuel economy ratings for the 2011 Ford Taurus should duplicate those of the 2010 model. That means EPA estimates of 18/28 mpg (city/highway) with front-wheel drive and 17/25 with AWD.

2011 FORD TAURUS RELEASE DATE

• The 2011 Ford Taurus should appear in showrooms during summer 2010.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE FORD TAURUS

• Reports that hint at a restyling for model-year 2012 also hold out the possibility the freshening could come for model-year 2013.

• In any event, Ford won’t be making any major near-term alterations to Taurus’s size or mechanical components. Those sorts of extensive changes would likely come with the model-year 2015 Taurus, which could see a re-engineering similar to the 2010 makeover. In the alternative, Ford could choose 2015 to introduce the next-generation of this platform, which shares its basic engineering and powertrains with the Lincoln MKS luxury sedan and the Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT crossover SUVs.

• Among these, a future Taurus is the most likely candidate for use of Ford’s coming EcoBoost four-cylinder engine – if Ford determines it has enough power in the big sedan. Four-cylinder EcoBoost prototypes are being tested in conjunction with a dual-clutch transmission Ford is developing. Similar to such transmissions already available in Volkswagens, BMWs, and other import brands, Ford’s PowerShift is essentially a manual without a clutch pedal and can take the place of an automatic.     

2010 FORD TAURUS COMPETITION

• Buick LaCrosse: Redesigned for model-year 2010, it has softer styling than Taurus inside and out, reflecting the influence of GM designers in China, where Buick is popular and aspirational. LaCrosse is fractionally smaller than Taurus and has far less trunk space, but boasts about as much usable passenger room. It also features two V-6 engines and a four-cylinder. Like Taurus, LaCrosse offers AWD as a front-drive alternative. LaCrosses are priced slightly higher than their similarly equipped Taurus counterparts as Buick takes aim upmarket at a more conservative buyer.

• Chrysler 300: The model-year 2005 introduction of this bravely styled sedan helped re-energize Chrysler and spark renewed interest in big, rear-wheel-drive cars. V-6 engines, Hemi V-8 power, and available AWD are highlights. To the original design’s credit, the 300 still holds some appeal and actually has more interior space than the 2011 Taurus. A redesign is likely for model-year 2012, and pressure to increase fuel economy is just one of the challenges in the 300’s future.

• Toyota Avalon: Yes, it’s the librarian of full-size sedans. But anyone shopping for an astonishingly roomy, utterly refined, and impressively reliable five-passenger four-door in the $30,000-$36,000 range ought to set aside prejudices and consider this stretched Toyota Camry that acts like a Lexus. Avalon comes only with front-wheel drive and a single V-6 that has surprising verve. Road manners are genteel but more than capable. Avalon’s current design dates to model-year 2005. An all-new replacement is due in model-year 2012.