2001 Ford Taurus: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Ford's best-selling car. Sedans come in LX, SE, SES, and SEL trim, the wagon in SE form. Taurus seats six with available front bench seat, five with front buckets. A 2-passenger rear-facing 3rd-row seat is a wagon option. Base ohv V6 has 155 hp. Standard on SEL and optional for SES and the SE wagon is a 200-hp dohc V6. A 4-speed automatic is the only transmission. Traction control and head and torso front side airbags are optional. ABS is standard on SES and SEL, optional on others. Adjustable pedals are available on all but LX. Taurus shares its basic design with Mercury Sable.

COMPETITION

Perennial Best Buys Honda Accord and Toyota Camry continue to shine with refinement, model diversity, and comfort. Both come in coupe and sedan forms, offer economic 4-cylinder or sporty V6 power, have room for four adults, and are reasonably priced.

Recommended models include the smooth Chevrolet Impala, the import-flavored Chevy Malibu, the sporty Nissan Maxima, surprising Olds Intrigue, and the good-looking Pontiac Grand Prix. All come with V6 power, offer lots of standard equipment, and have pleasing road manners that will suit a variety of driving styles. We've also added the Ford Taurus and clone Mercury Sable to our Recommended list.