2012 Ford Taurus Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Ford Taurus review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Taurus, and includes Ford Taurus safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

Though the Ford Taurus was a midsize family sedan for decades, today the nameplate is attached to Ford’s full-size family sedan. Roomy, comfortable, and equipped with one of the biggest trunks in the segment, the Taurus is available a variety of styles including a luxury model and a sport sedan variant.

The only changes to the Taurus for 2012 are the addition of standard blind-spot mirrors and a new color called Ginger Ale Metallic. Ford is planning a significant update for the Taurus in 2013.

Ford is able to satisfy different kinds of buyers with the 2012 Taurus. The SE and SEL models appeal to people looking for the biggest car at the lowest cost. The Limited is the luxury variant, and the SHO is the performance version.

Standard equipment for the Taurus SE includes air conditioning, power windows, power blind-spot mirrors, power door locks with remote keyless entry, floor mats, a CD player, and an auxiliary audio input jack. Ford MyKey technology allows parents to program artificially low stereo volume and vehicle speed limits, and the SE model is equipped with a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, a six-way power driver’s seat, a message center with a trip computer, a SecuriCode keypad entry system, automatic headlights that also activate when the wipers are turned on, and 17-inch alloy wheels.

The Taurus SEL includes several desirable upgrades over the SE. Dual-zone automatic climate control, heated side mirrors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, satellite radio, a compass, and an outside temperature display are included on this model. The SEL is distinguished by 18-inch alloy wheels, and can be equipped with several options that are not available on the Taurus SE.

The Taurus Limited is all about understated luxury. On the outside, a set of chrome 19-inch wheels and chrome mirror caps are the only outward signs of glitz. Inside, perforated leather, wood steering wheel trim and ambient lighting signify the Limited’s position as a more dignified ride, and both front seats feature 10-way power adjustment. The Limited also comes with a CD changer, HomeLink remote control, rear parking assist sensors, a reversing camera, a better stereo with an iPod connection, and Sync technology with 911 Assist and Traffic, Directions and Information services.

The Taurus Super High Output (SHO) is equipped like the Limited model, but comes with a thick-rimmed leather-wrapped steering wheel and painted 19-inch alloy wheels. The leather seats are equipped with suede inserts, the dash is trimmed in genuine aluminum, and the SHO is equipped with a twin-turbo V6 engine, a sport suspension, a rear spoiler and Xenon headlights.

To access most of the options offered for the 2012 Taurus, you need to buy the SEL, Limited, or SHO model. Extras include Intelligent Access with push-button ignition, a Sony premium sound system, a navigation system, a power moonroof, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic high-beam headlights. Multi-contour front seats with massagers, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, and a power rear sunshade are also available.

Depending on the trim level selected, the 2012 Taurus is available with several technologies uncommon on mainstream vehicles. For example, there’s an active cruise control system with collision mitigation technology. This feature can automatically maintain safe following distances when cruising on the highway, and can also identify when a collision might be about to occur, sounding a visual and audible warning, preparing the brakes for full braking power as soon as the brake pedal is activated, and even taking steps to slow the car to minimize impact force if necessary. Additionally, an optional blind spot assist system warns the driver when cars are hidden in the Taurus’s blind spots, and a cross-traffic alert system can warn the driver when cross traffic is approaching while reversing from a parking space.

Taurus SHO buyers can select the Performance Package, which upgrades the sport sedan’s standard hardware with performance brakes, upgraded electric steering calibration, a revised transmission for better acceleration, and 20-inch alloy wheels equipped with Goodyear Eagle F1 summer performance tires. The stability control system also gets a sport mode to allow for more aggressive driving.

Speaking of the Taurus SHO, Ford’s performance-oriented model has a twin-turbocharged, 3.5-liter V6 engine making 365 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, significantly more than the 263 horsepower and 249 lb-ft provided by the non-turbo 3.5-liter V6 that is installed in other models. Furthermore, the SHO’s EcoBoost V6 makes its peak torque across a broad rev range between 1,500 and 5,250 rpm. A six-speed automatic transmission is installed in every model, and comes with SelectShift paddles mounted to the steering wheel for manual shifting in the SEL, Limited, and SHO. All-wheel drive is optional on SE, SEL and Limited, and comes standard on the SHO.

As this review is published, the EPA has not finalized fuel economy figures for the 2012 Taurus. Last year, the Taurus SE was rated at 18 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, while the SEL and Limited were expected to get 18-city/27-highway. Models with all-wheel drive, including the more powerful turbocharged SHO, carried a 17-city/25-highway rating.

Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, a traction and stability control system, and six airbags come standard on every 2012 Taurus. Ford’s SOS Post Crash Alert technology sounds the horn and flashes the hazard lights if the airbags deploy so that rescue personnel can easily find the car and assist occupants. Parents will like the standard MyKey system, which lets the Taurus’s owner program a lower maximum stereo volume, a limited top speed, and speed warning chimes at various increments. Models equipped with Sync feature 911 Assist service, which connects the car to a live operator if the airbags deploy, so that the operator can contact vehicle occupants and even send emergency vehicles to the car’s exact location if necessary. Additionally, the Taurus is available with adaptive cruise control, collision warning with brake support, a blind-spot information system, and a cross traffic alert system.

The Taurus is also engineered with Side Protection and Cabin Enhancement (SPACE) safety architecture, and the benefit is reflected in the full-size sedan’s crash-test scores. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Taurus receives 5-Star ratings in every crashworthiness assessment except for 4-Star ratings for the front passenger in a frontal impact and for resistance to rollover. It is instructive to point out that those scores apply to the NHTSA’s new, stricter performance guidelines. Impressive. More impressive is that in 2011 the Taurus was a Top Safety Pick for the third year in a row, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The IIHS has not rated the 2012 Taurus as this review is written.

The Taurus is an extremely safe car, and it is expected to be dependable, too. J.D. Power and Associates gave the 2011 Taurus an award for its initial quality, and says the car’s long-term dependability is expected to be better than average. Consumer Reports agrees, predicting above average reliability for the Taurus.

If you like the way the 2012 Ford Taurus looks, and you find it comfortable and affordable, there’s no good reason to skip it in favor of some other full-size sedan. Vehix heartily recommends the 2012 Ford Taurus, however, you should know that a significant freshening is coming for the 2013 model year.

By Christian Wardlaw