2006 Ford Taurus Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Taurus sedan returns for what Ford says is its final model year. For 2006, the wagon and available 201-hp V6 have been dropped. Taurus comes in SE and SEL trim. Both have an automatic transmission and a 153-hp V6. Antilock brakes and traction control are available. SE models have a three-passenger front bench seat for six-passenger capacity; SELs have two front buckets for five-passenger capacity. Leather upholstery and head and torso front side airbags are available. The similar Mercury Sable has been discontinued.

Competition

Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Midsize Cars represent the heart of the U.S. car market. Most are price-sensitive, conservatively designed, family oriented sedans and wagons.

Our Best Buys include Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Our Recommended picks include Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda 6, Nissan Altima, and Subaru Outback and Legacy.

New or significantly redesigned models include Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Volkswagen Passat.

2006 Ford Taurus Road Test

Pros	Cons

Rear-seat comfort	Midrange acceleration

Cargo room (wagon)

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

SE	SEL	Class Average
4	4	5.6

Full-throttle standing-start acceleration is adequate. Transmission kicks down quickly for passing, but most V6 rivals are stronger.

Fuel Economy

SE	SEL	Class Average
5	5	5.2

No opportunity to measure. Taurus uses regular-grade fuel.

Ride Quality

SE	SEL	Class Average
5	5	6.1

Stiff and somewhat harsh over potholes, expansion joints, and pavement patches, but good resistance to wallow or float.

Steering/Handling/Braking

SE	SEL	Class Average
6	6	6.1

Stable, with little body lean in turns. Good highway-speed tracking. Some testers find steering feel heavy and numb. Stopping power adequate, though brake pedal suffers mushy feel and long travel.

Quietness

SE	SEL	Class Average
5	5	6.2

Engine and road noise are low enough that wind rush is the most prominent sound at highway speeds, but it doesn't require a raised voice to overcome.

Controls

SE	SEL	Class Average
6	6	6.8

Gauges unobstructed, but their markings are small and hard to read. Multitude of look-alike buttons control audio and climate functions, but they're well-marked and easy to reach. All controls nicely lit at night.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

SE	SEL	Class Average
6	6	6.6

Front outboard seating positions uncrowded and comfortable. Bench's center position suits only toddlers--who should ride in the back seat anyway.

Room/Comfort (rear)

SE	SEL	Class Average
6	6	5

Three adults is a squeeze, but two have ample head, leg, and foot room on comfortable, well-bolstered seat. Easy entry/exit, but sloping upper door frames force taller persons to crouch a bit.

Cargo Room

SE	SEL	Class Average
5	5	4.5

Trunk is roomy for the class. Useful split folding rear seatback is available.

Value within Class

SE	SEL	Class Average
4	4	6.1

In the process of being replaced by the Ford Fusion, Taurus still delivers capable road manners, comfortable accommodations, commendable cargo room, and plenty of safety features at a competitive price. But ride comfort is a sore point, and build quality and refinement trail standards set by midsize sales leaders Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

Total Score

SE	SEL	Class Average
52	52	58.2

Scores for all Midsize Cars

Low Score		44
Average Score		58
High Score		70

2006 Ford Taurus Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 05/26/2006

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

SE 4-door sedan	$21,830	$19,400	$685

SEL 4-door sedan	$22,980	$21,127	$685

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

Powertrain

3.0-liter V6 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission.

Safety

Dual front airbags, emergency inside trunklid release.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Air conditioning, power steering, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, cloth upholstery, 6-passenger seating, front split bench seat w/flip folding center console, column shift, cupholders, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/cassette, digital clock, tachometer, variable-intermittent wipers, visor mirrors, map lights, rear defogger, floormats.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Theft-deterrent system, 215/60R16 tires, wheel covers.

SEL adds to SE:

Comfort and Convenience Features

5-passenger seating, front bucket seats, 6-way power driver seat w/lumbar adjustment, center console w/floorshifter, split folding rear seat, keypad entry, AM/FM/CD player, trip computer, compass, outside-temperature indicator, automatic day/night rearview mirror, illuminated visor mirrors.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Alloy wheels.

Optional Equipment

Major Packages	Retail Price	Invoice Price
Preferred Equipment Group 90A
SE	$965	$840
6-way power driver seat w/lumbar adjustment, split folding rear seat, rear spoiler, alloy wheels.

Preferred Equipment Group 96P
SEL	$2,235	$1,944
Leather upholstery, power passenger seat, automatic climate control, AM/FM/cassette w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer, universal garage door opener, automatic headlights, rear spoiler.

Safety and Security Pkg.
SE, SEL	$1,165	$1,014
Traction control, front side airbags, antilock brakes.

Powertrain
Traction control
SE, SEL	$175	$152
Requires antilock brakes.

Safety
Front side airbags
SE, SEL	$390	$340


Antilock brakes
SE, SEL	$600	$522


Comfort and Convenience Features
Leather upholstery
SE sedan	$1,035	$900
SE sedan w/Group 90A	$895	$779
Includes split folding rear seat. Requires 5-passenger seating.

Black leather upholstery
SE sedan	$1,175	$1,022
SE sedan w/Group 90A, SEL sedan	$945	$822
SE includes split folding rear seat. SE requires 5-passenger seating. SEL available w/2-tone leather.

5-passenger seating
SE	$125	$109
Front bucket seats, center console, floorshifter.

Leather-wrapped steering wheel
SE	$85	$74


AM/FM/CD player
SE	$150	$131


AM/FM/cassette and 6-disc CD changer
SEL	$350	$305


Mach Premium Sound
SEL	$345	$300
Requires Preferred Equipment Group 96P or AM/FM/cassette w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer.

Power sunroof
SE, SEL	$895	$779


Heated power mirrors
SE	$95	$83
SEL	$35	$30
SE includes approach lights.

Appearance and Miscellaneous
Alloy wheels
SE	$420	$366

2006 Ford Taurus Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Ford Taurus 4-door sedan

Wheelbase, in.	108.5

Overall Length, in.	197.7

Overall Width, in.	73.0

Overall Height, in.	58.1

Curb Weight, lbs.	3322

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	16.9

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	18.0

Seating Capacity	6

Front Head Room, in.	40.0

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	42.2

Rear Head Room, in.	38.1

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	38.3

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	ohv V6

Size, liters/cu. in.	3.0 /182

Horsepower @ rpm.	153 @ 5800

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	186 @ 3250

Availability	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

4-speed automatic	20/27

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	Ford Taurus 4-door sedan

Front Impact, Driver	4

Front Impact, Passenger	5

Rollover Resistance	4

Side Impact, Driver	3

Side Impact, Rear Passenger	3

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	None/--	5/100,000 on Focus. 8/100,000 on Escape Hybrid components.

Bumper-to-bumper	3/36,000	--

Corrosion	5/Unlimited	--

Free roadside assistance	3/36,000	--

Free scheduled maintenance	None/--	--

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: USA

Drivewheels: front-wheel drive

< 2006 Ford Taurus Photos

Also in the 2006 Ford Taurus Review:

Ford Taurus

Ford Taurus Road Test

Ford Taurus Prices & Equipment

Ford Taurus Specs & Safety

Ford Taurus Photos

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