The 2013 Ford Taurus: What the critics say

Albany Times Union (N.Y.)

If the 2010 Taurus represented a reinvention, “the byword for 2013 is refinement.” Three years after Ford’s flagship jumped up a class from midsize, passenger comfort and handling have been improved by “a bagful of tasteful tweaks and new technology.” Three engine choices include a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 31-mpg highway fuel economy.

Cars.com

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The Taurus is “a supreme highway cruiser,” with impressive ride quality. But a few “long-standing drawbacks” remain part of the package. It’s still cramped inside, the improved MyFord Touch infotainment system still responds too slowly, and the base-model transmission “hunts through gears on hilly roads.” Full-size cars “need to be damn good” to hold their own against midsize cars. Despite the Taurus’s strengths, “its drawbacks could leave it overrun by the changing tide.”

Car and Driver

Until reviewers get to test the fuel-efficient new four-cylinder, we can only judge the sporty SHO edition. More muscular in appearance than the standard model, it backs up its looks by being “agile, composed, quiet, and comfortable” on the road—”as long as you’re not in the tight backseat.” Overall, it “holds up well against cars with prestigious German pedigrees.”