Ford Taurus Interior Review
Climbing behind the wheel, the new Taurus's interior, controls and instrumentation are admirably simple, straightforward and easy to use. The Taurus's well-publicized adjustable pedals make possible a comfortable driving position for even very short-legged drivers. The small-diameter leather-wrapped steering wheel has a pleasingly thick grip. Buttons for manipulating the cruise control are mounted on the steering wheel and are easy to operate. The highly legible dashboard gauges, which include an analog speedometer and tachometer, are white-on-black. A single stalk on the left of the steering column operates the washer and wipers and the bright/dim control for the headlights. The power window automatic-down circuit operates the driver's-side window only, and there is no automatic-up. On the dashboard just below the tachometer is an on/off switch for the SE's traction control, useful when driving with chains and/or in snow.
The central console containing audio and (HVAC) heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls is an intimidating sea of similar-looking push-buttons and toggle switches. While elsewhere the Taurus is ergonomically first rate, operating the controls on this panel requires very careful reading of the various closely spaced buttons. Among the audio controls, only the volume control is a radial knob--it would be more convenient to have the station-tuner a radial knob as well. In our SE Comfort Sedan, the audio included a CD capability. The removable six-CD changer cassette was cleverly concealed in the center console at the driver's right elbow. This is far more convenient than the remote 12-CD changers commonly hidden in the trunk of other cars. Excellent.
The center console is furnished with twin foldaway cupholders, though the swing arm meant to hold your cup in place was not as firm as it might've been. Overhead, our SE had a tilt/slide sunroof, with a difference. Opening the sunroof required only one touch of the button, whereupon it opened automatically. Very bright idea. Closing the optional moonroof required holding the button down.
The five-seat layout of our test car was excellent, with the front seats providing very good lateral support for a family sedan--without being overly limiting laterally for the Big Guy driver. The cushions and seatbacks are not cushy, but firm seats are usually best on long drives. Each of the SE Comfort's lighted vanity mirrors in the two front visors features a rheostat for regulating their brightness, a novel touch.
The roomy rear three-place seating includes two semi-buckets and a pull-down central armrest containing two cupholders. An HVAC duct at the rear of the center console provides climate control for rear passengers. Dual baby-seat anchors are provided on each side of the rear seat. In the SE SVG and SE Comfort, the rear seatback is split 60/40 and folds down, providing an enormous pass-through luggage capability for skis and other long items. Again, excellent. The trunk is of generous size and contains the Taurus' mini-spare tire.
Ford Taurus Road Test
While the 2000 Taurus is rich with interesting features, no list of hardware can sum up this car's greatest strength--its behavior on the road. In the past, the driving manners of the Taurus have been utilitarian; it did everything competently but without cause for excitement. And surely, the base LX model maintains that familiar marketing position. After all, Ford has had no trouble selling huge numbers of this sedan.
But the 2000 SE Comfort we tested has an excitingly new personality. Its Duratec V6 is as responsive as a finger snap, delivering crisp acceleration from low revs straight through to the four-speed automatic's glass-smooth full-throttle shift point. This engine not only provides good thrust, it makes an understated but nicely throaty declaration that it means business. In the tradition of the high-performance Taurus SHO, this SE Comfort is a genuinely satisfying car to drive.
Automatic transmissions have been improving by leaps and bounds in the past five years, and the Taurus four-speed is no exception. Its shifts are positive, authoritative, and at the same time, almost impossible to feel. The kickdown response not quite as quick as some of the best European automatics, but it's still very, very good.
If you ever wonder just how important modern systems have become, the Taurus with its powerful Duratec engine can quickly demonstrate the benefits of traction control: Simply switch off the traction control, nail the throttle, and the front tires will shriek as they claw for traction. With a powerful modern front-wheel drive package like the SE Comfort's Duratec engine, traction control works very well, reducing wheel spin to help you better control the car.
The 2000 Taurus chassis proves an uncommonly successful home for this forceful Duratec drivetrain. As a family sedan, the SE Comfort's gas-pressurized shock absorbers provide a smooth, impact-free ride. Yet when pushed in the corners, the Comfort proves stable, nimble and ready for more. Cornered hard, its body roll is moderate, and the nicely tuned variable-ratio power rack-and-pinion steering delivers a steady stream of road-information alerts every step of the way. And when the turning is done, this steering system provides improved on-center response, guiding you straight down the center of your course once more.
As we learned in an emergency lane-change demonstration set up in a parking lot, the brakes bring the Taurus to a smooth stop and the ABS allows you to maintain steering control during hard braking. Braking performance was much smoother than that of the Dodge Intrepid.
We hate to say it, but in SE Comfort form, this 2000 Taurus family sedan comes uncomfortably close to being a very good mass-produced sports sedan.
Ford Taurus Lineup
The 2000 Taurus comes in two trim levels: the base LX Sedan ($17,695) and the high-end SE Sedan and Wagon.
The most fully equipped, luxurious and attractive versions of the SE are the $19,620 SVG (Special Value Group) and top-of-the-line $20,895 Comfort editions.
Key elements distinguishing the SE Sedan from the base LX are the SE's body-color exterior mirrors, alloy wheels, AM/FM/cassette stereo (the LX lacks cassette), available six-passenger seating and remote keyless entry. The upscale SVG includes anti-lock braking (ABS), power driver's seat, 60/40 split fold-down rear seat and dual lighted vanity mirrors. The SE Comfort adds to this machined five-spoke alloy wheels, leather seating and electronic automatic climate control. The SE Wagon adds four-wheel disc brakes.