New Car Review: 2010 Ford Taurus

By Bob Plunkett

These wheels de jour amount to a new flagship 2010 Ford Taurus in the package of a mid-size model but the cabin of a big car with high-riding seats and a load of high-tech and luxury gear.

The doors run deep to make cabin entry and exit easy and seats are elevated so passengers sit a few inches higher than in other sedans of comparable size. Ford labels the design as 'Command Seating' and compares the upright seat position to that of a crossover utility vehicle.

 And while the beltline is high, so too is the wrap of windows around the cabin so a driver has good sight lines with virtually no blind spots -- note triangular glass in rear roof pillars to diminish corner vision blockage.

 The spec sheet for Taurus lists lots of active and passive safety equipment.

 Passive devices include smart dual-stage frontal air bags for front riders, plus seat-mounted side air bags up front and curtain-style side air bags front and rear.

 Active safety systems range from four-wheel disc brakes tied to an anti-lock brake system (ABS) and traction control system (TCS) or Ford's AdvanceTrac electronic anti-skid mechanism.

 Essentially, the passenger compartment on Taurus was designed around body sizes of intended occupants, with more than adequate room for long legs and broad shoulders.

 Cool ideas make it nice inside:

 * Intelligent Access with Push Button Start -- a driver totes a keyless fob, taps a touch pad on the door pillar to enter, then cranks the engine from a push-button starter.

 * Adaptive Cruise Control -- a radar-based system capable of maintaining a precise distance between the Taurus front bumper and the back bumper of a vehicle ahead.

 * BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert via icons in side mirrors.

 * Ford Sync -- voice-activated control over in-car phones, media players and USB storage devices.

 Ford surprises with price points on the 2010 Taurus at the level of 2009 models, beginning at $25,180 for base Taurus SE FWD.

The 2010 Ford Taurus won the 2010 International Car of the Year Award. Click here for more information.

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