Now in its sixth and final generation, the Ford Taurus first appeared for the 1986 model year. The Taurus is the largest sedan, geared for federal agencies, fleets, and families who want a sedan for long trips with lots of luggage.
First Generation (1986 – 1991)
The first Taurus was a success with its wide and varied option packages, as well as Taurus’ quality and impressive fuel economy. Taurus sold more than 200,000 sedans in 1986 and by 1991, Americans had purchased more than 2 million of these vehicles. A choice of 4-cylinder or V6 engines was offered, as well as a manual or automatic transmission. You could buy it in a sedan or a station wagon style. An available front bench seat provided seating for six, where its rivals could only seat five. In 1989, Ford introduced the high-performance Taurus SHO. It was powered by a Yamaha-built V6 engine with 200 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission was included with a firmer suspension and a wheel and tire package.
Second Generation (1992-1995)
In 1992, the Ford Taurus had its first redesign, but with not many changes. The exterior was similar but with smaller head lights, taillights and front panel. It added a standard 3.0-liter V-6 and got rid of the last generations’ four-cylinder engine. In 1994, the Taurus became the first midsize sedan to offer dual front airbags as standard equipment. This generation sold just as well as the first generation, becoming the best-selling car in the United States.
Third Generation (1996-1999)
In this generation, the SHO trim lost its manual transmission and became more powerful with a 3.4-liter V-8 engine. A new dual overhead camshaft 24-valve 3.0-liter V6 engine and the option of a flex-fuel engine became available. The cabin added bucket seats, a floor shifter, and a center console. Oval designs inside and out were made for this generation, as well as being larger and heavier.
Fourth Generation (2000-2007)
The Ford Taurus changes to sharper creases and corners instead of oval designs, giving it a more formal look. The SHO was dropped, but the Taurus wagon remained. Other changes included dual-stage airbags with sensors, and a 153 horsepower, 3.0-liter V6 engine. The Taurus faded in the background while Ford focused on its truck and SUV sales. As a result, Ford pulled the plug on the Taurus in 2007.
Fifth Generation (2008-2009)
The Taurus name was revived in 2008 by affixing it to another car. Ford’s Five Hundred sedan and Freestyle SUV became the 2008 Ford Taurus and Taurus X, making it Ford’s biggest sedan. It came available with front- or all-wheel drive and was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that was paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. Six airbags became standard, as well as new safety features.
Six Generation (2010-2019)
Redesigned for 2010, this is the final generation for the Ford Taurus. Some new features included all-wheel drive, cross traffic alert, collision warning, blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine was available, and a high-performance SHO trim is still on the market. The Taurus received a refresh for the 2013 model year. The body featured a new front fascia and slightly updated rear fascia with LED tail lamps, as well as all-new wheel options. In 2016, MyFord Touch multimedia system was replaced with the upgraded Sync 3 system. In March 0f 2019, the last Ford Taurus built in the United States came off of the assembly line. It was priced at $28,000.