Used 2017 Ford Taurus SHO for sale 

The trims available for the 2017 Ford Taurus remain unchanged when compared with the outgoing 2016 model. The Taurus gets offered in three trims; the SE, SEL and Limited, all of which get a 3.5L V6 engine as standard. Depending on the trim one chooses from, the Taurus can be further categorized with a front-wheel or an all-wheel drivetrain. The SE is perhaps, the only trim that does not feature an all-wheel drive configuration and is priced at $27,345.

As standard, the Taurus comes equipped with a 4.2’ LCD screen with USB charging ports, day/night rear view mirror, halogen headlamps and keyless entry. As one moves up the ladder, an 8-inch LCD replaces the conventional screen and power windows and a leather steering wheel with wooden accents are made available at the user’s disposal.

Additionally, the Taurus also gets offered in the SHO trim which is the performance version of the car with an EcoBoost that uses the same engine to produce a higher power output at 365hp. The SHO trim gets priced at $42,250.

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The most feasible variant of the Ford Taurus will depend on the pocket size and the number of features that the buyer looks for in his car. We would recommend buying the SEL trim which gets offered both as FWD and AWD, and is a host of features and is the best bet in the Taurus lineup. However, with not-so-economical fuel figures and an average performance, it is better to look elsewhere, if you plan on buying a full-size sedan.

Under the hood of the Ford Taurus is a 3.5L V6 engine that churns out 288hp of power and 254lb.-ft of torque. It comes channeled to a 6-speed automatic transmission that transfer power to the front or all wheels of the Taurus depending on the trim one chooses for.

However, the competitors pack more power under the hood as compared to the Ford. The Nissan Maxima produces best-in-class power at 300hp followed by the Chrysler 300 and Kia Cadenza respectively at 292hp and 290hp of engine power. All cars in the segment come mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission as compared to the Ford’s 6-speed automatic transmission.

2017 Ford Taurus Acceleration

The Taurus may not house the most powerful engine in the segment but it sure is competitive and allows the car to stand neck and neck with the competitors when acceleration is concerned. The Ford Taurus boosts to 60 MPH from a still in 6.5 seconds and smashes the quarter mile in 15.1 seconds. The biggest disadvantage of the Taurus by far is its higher emission rates.

Owing to its lighter curb weight and more horsepower, the Nissan Maxima S rushes to 60 mph within 5.8 seconds. It is closely followed by Taurus and Cadenza's 6.5 seconds 0-60 mph while the Chrysler 300 is the slowest to reach the 60-mph marker.

2017 Ford Taurus Ride and Handling

The Taurus is a huge luxury sedan and its larger dimensions make maneuvering the car a tedious task. But even so, the ride quality is supreme and provides optimal comfort. The Taurus feels planted in the way that it drives and steering offers good on-center feedback to the driver and as speed starts to increase, the steering weighs up.

2017 Ford Taurus Braking

The Ford Taurus comes with the large brake calipers with the size of 13.9 inches at the front and 13.6 inches at rear wheels. The Taurus is expected to perform well in braking.

The competition does manage to pull off good braking performance. Both Kia and Chrysler decelerate from 60 mph to a standstill within 120 feet. The Nissan Maxima Stakes 125 feet to achieve a similar feat.

The Ford Taurus’ weakest aspect is its subpar fuel efficiency. The Taurus clocks an average mileage of 17 MPG in the city and that of 24 MPG and a combined mileage of 21 MPG. The Kia Cadenza and Chrysler 300 perform marginally better than the Taurus with a combined mileage of 23 MPG.

While the Maxima S lags behind its competitors in virtually all aspects, its fuel efficiency is its strongest suit. The Nissan manages 21 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway giving it a combined average of 25 MPG.

On the inside, the Ford Taurus feels upmarket and opulent. The wooden accents and a leather wrapped steering wheel make the cabin alluring. Features like powered bucket seats for both and the passenger, adjustable steering wheel with mounted controls and dual zone air conditioning are key value additions.

The Ford Taurus is your standard 5-seater premium sedan with the room for 3 persons at the rear. The comfort for the driver and front passenger is excellent. But things get a little tight on the back. Because if the shorter wheelbase the car doesn't leave much legroom for rear passengers.

The Taurus puts forward a total of 39.0/57.9/41.9 inches of head, shoulder and leg room at the front and 37.8/56.9/38.1 at the rear, which is above what the segment has on offer at average. At the front, the Kia Cadenza the maximum amount of space on offer while at the rear it is the Chrysler 300 Limited. In terms of passenger volume, the Kia Cadenza tops the chart with 107.8 cubic feet, followed by the Chrysler, Ford and Nissan at 106.3, 102.2 and 96.9 cubic feet of space.

• Heated front and rear seats
• Leather seats
• Cooled Driver Seat
• Power Driver and front Passenger seats
• Bucket Seats
• Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Adjustable Steering Wheel with controls
• Dual Zone Air Conditioning
• Small cabin under the Arm Rest housing USB ports

2017 Ford Taurus Infotainment system

The 2017 Ford Taurus flaunts a centrally placed intuitive and responsive infotainment system that features a 4.2 inches LCD screen for the SE and SEL trims and larger 8-inch screen for the Limited trim. It comes connected to Ford’s flagship SYNC 3 voice technology and a 6-speaker sound system.

For the Limited trim, Ford offers a Sony audio unit that delivers phenomenally. The infotainment supports smart device integration, the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Some salient infotainment features include:

• SYNC 3 Voice-Activated Technology
• BLIS with Cross-Traffic Alert
• SiriusXM and SiriusXM Travel Link
• 2 x USB ports
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• Premium Sound System
• Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Smart Device Integration
• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• 4.2" LCD Screen for SE and SEL trim
• 8" LCD Capacitive touchscreen for the Limited trim

2017 Ford Taurus Cargo Capacity

The way in which the Ford Taurus has been curated is an evidence of it being a full-size sedan. The cargo capacity on the Taurus is a mammoth 20.1 cubic feet and is leaps ahead of what competitors provide making it a key value proposition. The trunk is fairly large to accommodate your luggage for a weekend trip and is easily accessible.

Other cars in the segment like the Chrysler 300 limited and the Kia Cadenza have decent storage space, however it feels diminutive when compared with the Ford Taurus. The Nissan Maxima has a total cargo space of 14.3 cubic feet which is the lowest in the segment.

The designing elements of the Ford Taurus are polarizing. While its sleek design and simplicity might win praises of some buyers, for others the sheer subtleness and softness in the stance may seem outdated in a segment that features newer competitors with aggressive styling.

The Taurus is the longest, widest and the highest car in the segment standing at 202.9/76.2/60.7 inches respectively. However, it’s wheelbase falls short by 8 inches when compared with the Chrysler 300 Limited and is one of the reasons why the rear seat might feel a bit cramped for adult passengers.

The Chrysler 300 Limited is the heaviest car in the segment at 4235 lbs and also sports the longest wheelbase at 120.2 inches. Conversely, the Nissan Maxima S is the lightest car in the segment and has the smallest overall proportions. The Kia Cadenza has the best ground clearance at 6.4 inches that accords the car with the capability to tread over heightened pavements with minimal difficulty. 

The Ford Taurus’ key selling proposition is its extensive list of safety features, that make it reliable and reputable. The car fairs well in the IIHS crash test and receives an overall ‘good’ rating courtesy of its standard safety like a rear-view camera, dual front airbags and belt minder. Other safety features include:

• Belt-Minder front safety belt reminder
• Child-safety rear door locks
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (excludes spare)
• SecuriLock Passive Anti-Theft System
• SOS Post-Crash Alert System
• Emergency trunk release
• LATCH - Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children
• AdvanceTrac electronic stability control and Curve Control
• Airbags-Safety Canopy System with side-curtain airbags and rollover sensor
• Airbags-Personal Safety System for driver and front passenger includes dual-stage front airbags, safety belt pretensioners, safety belt energy-management retractors, safety belt usage sensors, driver's seat position sensor, crash severity sensor, restraint control module, and Front-Passenger Sensing System

Ford Taurus Sedan vs Chrysler 300

The Chrysler 300 and Ford Taurus are similar in many aspects. Both of these sedans are similar in size and are powered by a V6 engine. But the Chrysler 300 comes with a 3.6L engine and offers a marginal increase in power.

The Chrysler 300 possesses better braking capabilities and its longer wheelbase and higher passenger volume allow it to have more space on offer inside the car. The only downside of the Chrysler 300 is its lower cargo capacity and marginally lower acceleration figures despite a more powerful engine.

Ford Taurus Sedan vs Kia Cadenza

The Kia Cadenza is costlier than the Ford but offers similar performance. But the Ford Taurus has been in production for almost a decade and it has aged significantly. The Cadenza has received a major refresh and comes packed with a lot of standard features. The Cadenza is a better choice if luxury is more important for you.

When things come down to the new Nissan Maxima vs Taurus. The former is lighter, quicker, and more powerful. But the Taurus does pack a lot of features on the inside. Taurus gets features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also features Ford's advanced voice-activated SYNC 3 system. And if you decide to go for the SHO trim, then the Taurus packs more horsepower under the hood.

The latest iteration of the Ford Taurus receives minor changes. It uses the same engine as before and gets offered with both a front-wheel and an all-wheel drivetrain. While its advanced safety features, higher cargo capacity, and superior ride quality make it practical and reliable, the idiosyncrasy in its design is what will annoy buyers. The Taurus fails to impress with its performance and fuel efficiency and houses outdated features when compared with other cars in the market. The Taurus is a viable option considering its price, however, at a minimal difference, there are other cars in the segment that offer better features.