The Ford Taurus continues to act as the American automaker's sole entry in the full-size sedan segment. Having soldiered on without signification changes for roughly 10 years, the Taurus is a relic in a field that has seen competitors create a sizable gap with more luxury and technology features. With Ford going all in on SUVs and crossovers, production for the Taurus is set to officially end on March 2019, making the 2019 model one of the last for the Taurus nameplate.
What's New for 2019
Besides a new black color option and adding blind-spot monitoring to the Limited trim's list of standard equipment, the 2019 Ford Taurus carries over unchanged.
Choosing Your Ford Taurus
Ford offers the Taurus with two powertrains. The standard setup is a 3.5-liter V6 that's paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Output for the engine is rated at 288 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard, while all-wheel drive is available. Buyers seeking more power can opt for the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that's only offered on the Taurus SHO. The more powerful motor is rated to generate 365 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard for the engine.
Fuel economy continues to be a sore spot for the Taurus, which isn't as efficient as some of its rivals. The most fuel-efficient variant is a front-wheel-drive model with the standard 3.5-liter V6. That combination is EPA-rated to get up to 18 miles per gallon in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 21 combined. The more powerful 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 in the SHO trim loses two mpg in all three categories with a rating of 16/24/19 mpg (city/highway/combined).
As a full-size sedan, the Taurus offers room for five passengers with plenty of interior space. The sedan has 102.2 cubic feet of passenger volume, which translates to roughly 38 inches of rear leg room and 38 inches of rear head room – generous figures for a sedan. Opening the trunk reveals 20.1 cubic feet of available cargo space.
There are four available trims:
Other competitors offer more luxury and tech features than the 2019 Ford Taurus, but few have the same level of sportiness. With that in mind, we'd go with the range-topping SHO trim. While it's the most expensive option, it brings out the sedan's athletic side. Choosing between the SHO Performance Package and the Driver Assist Package is a difficult decision, as one brings some much-needed safety features, while the other makes the sedan more enjoyable to drive.