Simplify your laptop buying2010 Ford Taurus SHO
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company Part number: 101135472
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO combines an impressively fast, cutting-edge engine with cabin tech that is still ahead of the competition--even after appearing in Ford cars for a year already.
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CNET editors' review
2010 Ford Taurus SHO price range: $37,170.00
- Reviewed by: Wayne Cunningham
- Reviewed on: 07/15/2009
The good: The EcoBoost engine in the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO turns in blistering acceleration, while sport suspension elements and standard all-wheel-drive keep the car steady in the corners. Sync delivers excellent phone and MP3 player support while Sirius Travel Link makes traffic reports and gas prices available.
The bad: With its high sides, judging the size of the Taurus SHO from the driver's seat can be difficult. Its bulk makes it less than nimble in turns.
The bottom line: The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO combines an impressively fast, cutting-edge engine with cabin tech that is still ahead of the competition--even after appearing in Ford cars for a year already.
After losing its mantle as most popular sedan to the Toyota Camry in 1997, the Ford Taurus went through a bit of an identity crisis, but it's back with a vengeance for the 2010 model year with a whole new platform. Right out of the gate, Ford is showing confidence in the model by simultaneously releasing the SHO, or super high output, version. The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO is a big sedan, packed with the cabin tech that currently sets Ford apart from the competition. Also, it features a whole new drivetrain: Ford's V-6 EcoBoost engine comprised of a direct injection V-6 and twin turbochargers.
With extraordinarily high sides, the Taurus SHO, a big, beefy sedan, embodies American muscle. Externally, it doesn't differ from the standard Taurus, sharing details such as the notched bars in the grille. Only an aficionado will notice the SHO badges that indicate this Taurus is built for speed. That sleeper status makes the SHO fine for an everyday commute yet able to blast to 60 mph in 5 seconds.
The cabin of the Taurus SHO, although lacking a real luxury feel, is covered in quality materials. The dashboard is made up of soft plastics with patterned metal insets. The shifter, with its meaty handle, suits the nature of the car, but feels a little last century. The steering wheel holds the buttons we would expect from a Sync-equipped vehicle, and a touch-screen LCD sits front and center, showing the home screen we've grown familiar with over the past year. The screen shows the map, audio system, and climate control all in their own little windows, but it's the last time we will look at it because we prefer the full-screen map for everyday driving.
Out on the road, the Taurus SHO feels comfortable. Its plush seats feel like overstuffed easy chairs, complete with heating and cooling in front. Ford also makes what it calls multicontour seats available, basically massage chairs, but we didn't have that option. The Taurus SHO does a very good job of insulating against external noise, helping with the impression of quality. We're used to dropping the height adjustment on seats down low, but the high sides of the car make it hard to judge the space around it, forcing a higher seat position.
As a fuel-saving measure, Ford fits the Taurus SHO with electric power steering. The steering is tuned well, providing enough resistance to feel like we are in control. Over time, that power unit proves to limit road feedback to the wheel, but around the city it feels just fine. Likewise, the power delivery from this new power train comes on smoothly, with no turbo lag evident. Of course, in the city we're only asking the turbos for occasional bursts of speed to get around another car or squeeze in a traffic opening. The six-speed-automatic transmission, also tuned for fuel-saving, goes to the highest gear possible, keeping the engine revs at 1,500rpm to 2,000rpm.
A blind-spot warning system called BLIS, technology lifted from Volvo, is present on our car. Our favorite safety tech, BLIS lights up a warning in the side view mirror if a car is in the lane next to the Taurus SHO. Ford is just starting to incorporate this type of driver aid technology, and also makes adaptive cruise controls available as an option, along with automatic high beams. We experienced the latter on the Lincoln MKS and were impressed by their utility.
Route guidance
Of even more utility is the hard-drive based navigation system that serves as an onboard information system. It's very easy to enter an address while underway with the voice command system, which recognizes full city and street names, providing good feedback every step of the way. The touch-screen-entry system is equally easy with its direct inputs. The system shows maps in 2D or 3D, while route guidance graphics indicate upcoming turns. Voice guidance has text-to-speech, reading out the names of streets.
But what really sets this system apart from the competition are its external data sources sent through satellite radio. Its live traffic feature shows incidents and traffic flow information, but it only offers detours around bad traffic when a route is programmed into the system. We've got into the habit of programming a destination even when we know the way. Out roaming California's highways in the Taurus SHO, we got stuck in a few traffic jams; however, that was the fault of the local traffic authorities not providing updated reports, as the navigation system showed clear sailing. As they say, garbage in, garbage out.
Another key feature of this navigation system is its integration with local gas prices. Using the Sirius Travel Link feature, the car shows a list of nearby gas stations complete with their current price per gallon. Touch any item in the listing, and the car offers to set the gas station's location as its destination. Sirius Travel Link also includes weather reports, a nice feature for travel in less sunny parts of the country. Of more niche usefulness are the movie times and sports scores data feeds.
When we get into some easy freeway cruising, the Taurus SHO starts to remind us of the BMW 750Li we tested the previous week. These cars, vastly different in price and luxury, both get up to ridiculous speeds without the driver realizing how fast they are going. The Taurus SHO and 750Li share very good noise and vibration engineering, along with engines willing to accelerate easily from 65 mph to 85 mph. Of course, this willingness to get up to excessive speeds means the driver needs to pay attention to the speedometer, or at least have a very good radar detector.
Interestingly, both cars have twin turbocharged engines, although the BMW's power train is based on a V-8 rather than the Taurus' V-6. The Taurus SHO's engine is new from Ford and will also get used in the Lincoln MKS. It's based on a 3.5-liter V-6 that uses direct injection and variable valve timing to increase its efficiency. But it's the twin turbochargers that make this engine worthy of the Taurus SHO. Although providing only 12 PSI of pressure, these turbochargers help get the power plant up to its peak of 365 horsepower at 5,500rpm and 350 pound-feet of torque at 3,500rpm.
Normally, that kind of power would mean a sacrifice in fuel economy. EPA numbers haven't been published for the Taurus SHO as of this review, but we saw the fuel economy rise to 21 mpg on the freeway. Our overall fuel economy during our review came in between 18 mpg and 19 mpg, numbers we've often seen with nonturbocharged V-6 engines.
Timed runs
More impressive is what you can do with this engine. We found a lonely, straight country road and set about doing some timed runs. For the first run, we left the car in its normal automatic mode and stomped the gas pedal. It took off without drama, the car's standard all-wheel-drive moving torque from front to back. The transmission let the tach needle brush 6,000rpm before each shift and the car hit 30 mph in 1.9 seconds. 50 mph only took 3.8 seconds, while the run to 60 mph came at 5.02 seconds. That is fast, and some time could probably be trimmed with a more rigorous testing procedure.
As the transmission has a manual mode, we attempted to best the automatic programming by using the paddle shifters to optimize the acceleration. For our first run, we shifted about 5,500rpm, but only ended up hitting 5.1 seconds to 60 mph. Another attempt, really pushing the boundaries, had us overshooting redline before a shift, resulting in engine cut out and a dismal 6.12 seconds to 60 mph. With this car, the automatic programming takes it up as close to redline as it's going to get, but we like the fact that its manual mode lets it run over.
Taking the Taurus SHO onto a winding country road, we quickly get the feeling that the car is out of its element. Its high sides make it difficult to judge the narrower parts of the road, and how close the car is to the occasional cliffs dropping off the outsides of the turns. The SHO incorporates a special sport suspension, with unique springs and shock absorbers that does a great job of keeping the car composed in the corners. It doesn't wallow or lean, but the car shows a tendency to slide sideways, mostly from the back.
Of course, it doesn't help that the car masks its speed so well. After feeling that slide in a corner, a glance at the speedometer shows that we've come through the turn at a faster speed than we expected. This happens repeatedly, as it's difficult to get a visceral sense of speed from the car. A head-up display would help. Of course, more experience with the Taurus SHO would help, as we could better judge its sliding tendency and use it in the turns.
The transmission doesn't have a sport setting, so the manual setting is best for driving the twisties. Third gear almost works as an all-purpose gear, although its ratio is a little too high, not keeping the revs up enough for the tight turns. And second gear over revs too easily. However, in manual mode the gear changes happen quickly, responding to the paddle shifters with a minimum of hesitation. Standard drive mode seeks the highest gears to keep the engine revs low, and doesn't do any aggressive downshifting.
Audio enjoyment
During this road testing, we're taking advantage of the Taurus SHO's audio system, which is identical to what you can get in the standard Taurus. Sony started a partnership with Ford last year, and the Taurus benefits from the partnership with a premium 12 speaker system. With 390 watts of power and 5.1 surround sound, this system delivers clear audio that almost seems too good for the car. The highs come through distinctly, with a clarity that would work well reproducing symphonic music. Vocals are good, but maybe not as defined as we would like. The big snag comes from the two subwoofers providing bass for the system. With some of our test tracks that emphasize bass, noticeable rattle comes from the rear of the car, as if the speakers and supporting areas weren't fastened together as well as they could be.
With any Ford vehicle, we always look forward to using the Sync system that lets us plug in an MP3 player and get full access to its music library on either the screen or through voice command. Sync never fails to impress us as we request music by an artist or album name with voice command. The stereo also supports Bluetooth streaming, so we could bring an iPhone into the car and not even bother plugging it into the Sync port. Of course, with Bluetooth, the only control you get from the car is volume, play, and pause--you have to select music on the device.
Similar to the music hookup, Sync works well with just about any Bluetooth phone. We paired an iPhone up to the car and it made our contact list available on the LCD almost instantly. Voice command also works with that contact list, letting us say the name of any person we want to call to dial the number. The only system offering similar functionality is that coming out in the new Lexus RX 450h. One great thing about this Bluetooth implementation we found is that we could stream music from an iPhone to the stereo, then seamlessly use the Bluetooth phone application. If a call comes in, it pauses the music and the call comes through.
In sum
We found a lot to like about the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO, not least of all the impressive output from the new engine. Five seconds to 60 mph is a more than respectable number. Its suspension elements and all-wheel-drive have to fight against the overall weight of the car, and the keep it under control in the turns, but the Taurus SHO in no way feels nimble. The cabin tech is first-rate--we love the functionality of Ford's navigation, phone, and stereo systems. Other car companies are starting to get close to what Ford is offering, but none are quite there yet. The addition of driver aid technology, such as blind spot warning, make the cars cabin tech even better. The look of the car earns it points on design, as does the easy to use interface for the cabin tech. Although somewhat homogeneous with other sedans on the road, the Taurus SHO should prove recognizable with its notched grille bars and meaty look.
| Model | 2010 Ford Taurus |
| Trim | SHO |
| Power train | EcoBoost twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 |
| EPA fuel economy | not available |
| Observed fuel economy | 18.9 mpg |
| Navigation | Optional hard drive-based with traffic |
| Bluetooth phone support | Standard |
| Disc player | Single CD/DVD, MP3 compatible |
| MP3 player support | iPod, Zune, many others |
| Other digital audio | USB drive, internal hard drive, Bluetooth streaming, auxiliary input |
| Audio system | Optional 12 speaker Sony system |
| Driver aids | Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, rearview camera |
| Base price | $37,170 |
| Price as tested | $42,690 |
User reviews
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Don't Be Swayed By Reviewers Who Have Not Driven One
by rjwilton on August 11, 2009
Pros: I have test driven 3 different 2010s (SE, SEL, Ltd). Compared to it to a Accord, Genesis Avalon and Volvo that I test drove; the ride is smooth, quiet and feels like a luxury car. I'm a big guy with a bad back so I need comfort and it provides it.
Cons: Yes, I wish the MPG was better. But I am looking for comfort first,then quality then MPG.
Summary: It is hard to take some of the prior reviews serious when they have not seen a 2010 Taurus, let alone driven one. The SEL and Ltd. come in well ...
Summary: It is hard to take some of the prior reviews serious when they have not seen a 2010 Taurus, let alone driven one. The SEL and Ltd. come in well under $40k and with a decent deposit the payments are manageable.
Resale value ? It is an interesting discussion but let?s put it in perspective. First off, if you buy the Taurus and plan to trade it in a couple of years then yes, resale value has some value in the discussion.
I test drove 7 different cars looking for the best buy in the $32-$38K range. This is the car I selected and ordered. I was lined up to order a Avalon or Genesis until my test drives.
In the end, the comfort, safety features, crash tests results and quality of the interior convinced me to buy.
The SHO look like it is a terrific car but how well the SEL and Limited do will decide the Taurus' success or failure. Those trims are more affordable.
Updated on Aug 12, 2009
If you are like me and usually keep a car until major problems start (my current Taurus went 12 years before my first problem ? the transmission) then resale is a very minor issue.
I?m showing my age (mid 50s) and I remember when Toyota, Datsun (now Nissan) and Honda all had less resale value than US cars. Companies can improve the value of their cars and I believe Ford is moving in that direction.
Updated on Aug 12, 2009Resale value ? It is an interesting discussion but let?s put it in perspective. First off, if you buy the Taurus and plan to trade it in a couple of years then yes, resale value has some value in the discussion.
If you are like me and usually keep a car until major problems start (my current Taurus went 12 years before my first problem ? the transmission) then resale is a very minor issue.
I?m showing my age (mid 50s) and I remember when Toyota, Datsun (now Nissan) and Honda all had less resale value than US cars. Companies can improve the value of their cars and I believe Ford is moving in that direction.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Also Interested to see this IRL
by bdlyon on July 16, 2009
Pros: World class, well matched engine choice, understated but high quality interior, top notch tech, excellent perfomance numbers, decent mpg for the size and power of the car.
Cons: No manual transmission available. Would also be nice if the glass line started a little lower but it seems all cars these days have a high belt line and shallow greenhouse. What's up with that? ......High price but I guess you get what you pay for...
Summary: I wanted to love this car. I had two, 1st generation SHOs and loved them both. Price and lack of a manual transmission are the deal breakers for me. I ...
Summary: I wanted to love this car. I had two, 1st generation SHOs and loved them both. Price and lack of a manual transmission are the deal breakers for me. I realize I am in the minority but I insist on having a clutch pedal under the steering wheel. There really should have been a manual tranny for us original SHO owners. .....Ford will need a great low lease price to get people behind the wheel of this SHO because the monthly payment on one financed is going to be huge without a similarly huge down payment.
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Interested to see this IRL.
by troyoverton on July 16, 2009
Pros: Impressive looks
SHO package
SYNC systemCons: Sub 20 MPG
Ticket pricesSummary: It seems that in a struggling economy, the folks at Ford are making the right decisions. Other auto companies are seeing layoffs and struggling stock prices, but it appears as ...
Summary: It seems that in a struggling economy, the folks at Ford are making the right decisions. Other auto companies are seeing layoffs and struggling stock prices, but it appears as though the Taurus is another step into a secure future.
The '10 Taurus is a good looking car, it really is. Aggressive enough to satisfy a family man, but roomy and luxurious enough to satisfy the soccer mom. It's not a minivan, but if a sedan will fit the bill, American car buyers will be giving this one a good, hard look.
I don't like the sticker being over $40k. People realize now that cars just shouldn't cost this much new, and its really pricing itself out of most people's budgets,
(which they need to remember... are suffering too.)
The looks and the specs (with the exception of the MPG rating) make me want one, or at least to check this one out... but the sticker price is that huge reminder that we're not ready to look at a new car purchase.1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This is a great car!
by spareme66 on November 15, 2009
Pros: Power, comfort, design, handling, electronics
Cons: The price is a bit high
Summary: I just bought an SHO yesterday and I love it! I forked over the extra for the performance package and have not been disappointed. There is a huge difference between ...
Summary: I just bought an SHO yesterday and I love it! I forked over the extra for the performance package and have not been disappointed. There is a huge difference between the standard, SEL, Limited, and the SHO. I have driven the other models and they pale in comparison when it comes to power. You can really feel the power of the twin turbo. The AWD keeps the acceleration smooth with no steering wheel pull. The cockpit is very well designed and comfortable. I disagree with those who say it isn't a luxury car. It is so smooth, even with the 20" tires, that I am finding it difficult to keep the speed down. You should drive it before you review it. The first thing you need to do is forget about what the Taurus was . . . because this is a totally different car! It is a bit pricey, but I think it is worth every penny
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Fine combo of Luxury & Performance for the RIGHT price.
by svtscott on November 12, 2009
Pros: Smooth and quite acceleration. Braking is very good for a car this weight. Fit and finish is great, center console flow is nice and at just the right height to rest my arm on. I also love the attention it gets when I pull in for vallet parking.
Cons: The car is a bit heavy, but it's also a big car. It's actually longer than my Escape. Steering around tight curves can feel a little loose, could be a little tighter with less roll. The exhaust needs a little more aggresive tuning.
Summary: For those that say this is too expensive, you're nuts. It's a very high quality car with more options than you'd find in any other car of ...
Summary: For those that say this is too expensive, you're nuts. It's a very high quality car with more options than you'd find in any other car of this caliber. I bought this car 2 weeks ago, and absolutely love it. It's not meant to soley be a "performance" car like some people are making it out to be. I've owned an Acura TL that was very disappointing to me and I've also driven a BMW 550I and 528 (these cars cost in the Mid 50's) My co-worker just picked up a nicely loaded '07 5 series for 29K so lay off the depreciation arguement, it's getting old. I let him drive my car from PA to Atlantic City and he was all smiles. Like other folks have mentioned in the reviews, if you haven't driven one or own one, you've got no clue what you're talking about.
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Super silky, very responsive, great fit and finish.
by kjc1210 on October 18, 2009
Pros: Immediate response to gas peddle, fabulous sport handling without hard feel from some competitors, Mercedes-like quality and solid feeling build, SYNC
Cons: Front seats are a little bit short for larger drivers
Summary: Some people who haven't had the opportunity to drive the new Taurus may have a tough time wrapping their minds around a domestic auto with this much quality and ...
Summary: Some people who haven't had the opportunity to drive the new Taurus may have a tough time wrapping their minds around a domestic auto with this much quality and engineering, but a few minutes behind the wheel will quickly change that misconception. Quick immediate response to modest pedal pressure makes the Taurus easy to pull into traffic. Steering is crisp and precise. It handles like a much smaller and lighter car, but the build quality is so solid you'd swear you're riding in a German luxury sedan. To be honest, I'm amazed that a domestic manufacturer can build vehicles of this high quality and performance. I drove it with two friends of mine, and we were all amazed. There's no hint of compromise anywhere, which we've all grown accustomed to seeing in American cars. I'm 6'3" and the driving position was excellent. A/C and heat in the seats, SYNC, all wheel drive, gorgeous exterior, rear sun screen, adjustable cupholders, navigation, 6 speed transmission, 365 hp...these are all extras for a well balanced vehicle with fantastic fit and finish. I've had 3,5, and 7 series BMWs as well as several Mercedes, and this car rivals anything I've ever driven or owned. Welcome back to the game, Ford!
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Wow...I'm impressed!
by bcapezzone on September 30, 2009
Pros: 1) Engine 2) creature comforts 3) Low end torque 4) Seating comfort 5) SHO package...the list goes on!
Cons: To get everything that I'd want....yea....+$45K is a little high....BUT....read bottom-line
Summary: I first saw the SHO online and was in disbelief that this was a Ford sedan. The dropped roof line, stunning design, attention to details...The SHO is an awesome ...
Summary: I first saw the SHO online and was in disbelief that this was a Ford sedan. The dropped roof line, stunning design, attention to details...The SHO is an awesome car from a great American auto manufacturer. I've been looking for a nice sports sedan and was considering quite a few cars out there...even the Hyundai Genesis. All of the creature comforts that are added to the SHO are really quite amazing. I test drove one at a dealer near my house in Lake Elsinore CA. I was impressed by the car right away....before I even got the engine on. The MyKey is great too?along with the SecureCode entry on the driver side. When I drove the car it was very comfortable. I?m 5?5? and was very pleased with how the seats and steering wheel adjusted to fit me. I also loved the cooled seats!...I mean heated and cooled on both front seats and heated in the rear seats. Wow! I really liked the car and I would buy one if I had the cash.
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Excellent Car with fantastic driving dynamics.
by HKGuns on September 23, 2009
Pros: This car is well made and you know it the minute you sit behind the wheel.
Excellent base V6 engine acceleration and performance. Extremely comfortable to drive, and very quiet cabin.Cons: Rear visibility is somewhat restricted, but not a huge issue.
Summary: Great car, great build quality, handles extremely well and is excellent value for the money.
Updated to add that I actually own the vehicle, unlike ...
Updated on Sep 23, 2009Summary: Great car, great build quality, handles extremely well and is excellent value for the money.
Updated to add that I actually own the vehicle, unlike most of the other reviews on this marginally useful site.
Updated on Sep 23, 2009 -
No other car compares for the cash
by Mrsims1103 on August 2, 2009
Pros: The new ford taurus is in a class by itself you cannot compare this with a camry or accord because it is much larger and has technologies that they don't offer. The taurus is fast and agile for it's size and weight. I love this car, see it to believe
Cons: I have no cons as of yet but time will tell. people can't give honest experienced reviews because they haven't arrived at the dealer yet only a few demos.
Summary: Please don't make up fake reviews for a car you have not driven or seen this is a great car I have seen it not drove but I can ...
Summary: Please don't make up fake reviews for a car you have not driven or seen this is a great car I have seen it not drove but I can put my honest opinion on it, You'll love it. if you can find a better car at that price point prove it.
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Great Car, Great Value!
by RangeRoverSport on July 26, 2009
Pros: Loaded with Technology, Full Size car with huge cargo space, great engine with awesome torque curve.
Cons: Heavy, Pushing new price points for Ford
Summary: Bottom line is this is a great car with Great value. You can't compare the Taurus to any other entry-level luxury car from Infiniti, Lexus, BMW etc. because the ...
Summary: Bottom line is this is a great car with Great value. You can't compare the Taurus to any other entry-level luxury car from Infiniti, Lexus, BMW etc. because the Taurus is full sized. Find another car that is full sized with this much horsepower and technology for this price. The only vehicle I can think of is the Genesis.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Part number: 101135472
- Bottom Line: The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO combines an impressively fast, cutting-edge engine with cabin tech that is still ahead of the competition--even after appearing in Ford cars for a year already.
Basic car properties
- Body style Sedan
- Available Engine Gas
Safety Features
- Smart airbags Standard
- Antilock brakes Standard
- Traction control Standard
- Stability control Standard
- Back-up cameras Optional
- Roadside assistance Standard
- Adaptive cruise control Standard
- Rain-sensitive wipers Optional
Entertainment
- Satellite radio Standard
- Video entertainment system Optional
- Connection for portable MP3 sound system Standard
- MP3 CD-enabled sound system Standard
- USB connection Standard
Climate/convenience
- Multizone climate control Standard
- Heated/cooled seats Optional
- Keyless start Standard
- Two-way security system Standard
- 12V power outlet Standard
Drivetrain Technology
- Drivetrain available All-wheel drive
Navigation
- Trip computer Standard
- Voice activated navigation Optional
- DVD navigation system (non-GPS) Optional
Communication
- Bluetooth phone interface Standard
- Home automation integration Standard
Manufacturer info
- Ford Motor Company
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Ford Motor Company products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.ford.com
