2010 Ford Taurus SHO Waterville ME

September 29, 2009   By Brian Alexander, Road Test Editor
2010 Ford Taurus

2010 Ford Taurus

DriverSide Overview
Twenty years after the debut of Ford’s front-tire liquefying, Super High Output (SHO) Taurus variant , the Blue Oval is bringing back its street fighting, bulked up everyday hero sedan – albeit this time with twin-turbos, a smattering of modern technology and the reassuring grip of all-wheel drive. While its name might suggest the rather low-tech approach of the past, the fact is this new SHO is far more than a dull Taurus sedan morphed into a straight-line bruiser. Sure, its 365 horsepower twin-turbo V-6 gives it plenty of street cred, but in practice this is a car that isn’t best enjoyed when pushed at ten-tenths or savagely hustled on the edge of control. This is not to say that the SHO’s performance isn’t eye-opening – it most certainly is quick, grippy and entertaining – but at the end of the day what impresses most is its ability to make rapid progress across large chunks of road. And equally impressive is how normal you feel after a long day in the seat. No matter the length of the trip, you will emerge without aches, sore muscles and – thanks to the particularly immodest quantity of techno-wizardry crammed into the cabin – a sense of freeway-zombie boredom. Call it a sign of the times, but the fact that Ford has managed to wrap this drivetrain and superb interior into a package that comes in under $38k makes it that much sweeter.

What's to Like
Ford’s turbocharged EcoBoost engine has a torque curve as flat as an ironing board and its entire 350 lb-ft is available at just 1,500 rpm, meaning full-force pull is available just about anywhere in the powerband. Interior quality has risen leaps and bounds over the previous generation Taurus. Where hard plastics and dull styling cues once lingered you will now find soft-touch materials, plush leather, ice-blue backlighting and one of the industry’s top tech packages. At 20.1 cubic feet, the trunk is utterly cavernous.

What's Not to Like
All-wheel drive is a welcome addition, but at over 4,350 lbs the SHO is a bit of a glutton, as is evidenced by the mediocre fuel economy numbers and slightly sluggish chassis response. The blind spot warning system has a tendency to detect objects on the side of the road, such as trees and posts. Use of the Taurus name badge may present a perception barrier for some consumers – what was once a humdrum everyday sedan is now Ford’s four-door, luxury- and tech-laden flagship. 

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
Throw all of your concerns about turbo lag off a cliff, because the Taurus SHO’s tiny turbochargers render the engine essentially immune to this annoying forced-induction phenomenon.

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