With its roomy, comfortable interior and large trunk, the 2011 Ford Taurus is an appealing reinvention of the classic full-size American sedan.
Whether it’s actors or athletes, everybody loves a good comeback story. When it was introduced in 1986, the original Ford Taurus helped revolutionize the midsize family sedan segment. But then years of neglect caused the Taurus’ star to dim. Now a comeback is in order, as Ford redesigned the Taurus just last year to make buyers take notice once again.
The 2011 Ford Taurus continues to be a full-size sedan, leaving the midsize category to the Fusion. Its styling is hardly the revolutionary concept that the original Ford Taurus was, but it’s nevertheless attractive and more interesting than the previous model. On the inside you’ll find a handsome design and top-quality materials. Perhaps most appealing is the Ford Taurus’s generous passenger room and a trunk that’s bigger than nearly everything else on the market.
While the Ford Taurus makes for a comfortable family vehicle, those looking for some extra muscle can consider the Ford Taurus SHO version. Powered by a twin-turbo V6 known as the EcoBoost, this engine sends 365 horsepower to all four wheels, yet returns the same fuel economy as the normally aspirated 263-hp V6.
The 2011 Ford Taurus is powered by a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 263 hp and 249 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard. On all trims except the SE, the transmission features manual shift control and downshift rev-matching capability. Front-wheel drive is standard on the Ford Taurus with this engine and all-wheel drive is available on SEL and Limited trim levels. Fuel economy with front-wheel drive is an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city/28 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. All-wheel drive drops it to 17/25/20.