Somehow the Ford Taurus manages to be a rather large sedan with a tight and cramped interior. Poor packaging efficiency, with a center console that resembles the Great Wall of China and not much rear seat room, results in an interior that feels smaller than many midsized sedans. Small windows and thick pillars add to the claustrophobic feel, making it difficult for the driver to see out, and there's an awkward driving position to boot.
Maybe some of these faults could be forgiven if the Taurus was rewarding to drive, but that's not the case either. It feels like a big car, and comes up short on agility. At least the cabin is quiet and the ride is smooth.
Power and fuel economy are decent from the standard 3.5-liter V6, but this isn't a particularly refined powerplant. The SHO version adds more power with a twin-turbocharged V6 and all-wheel-drive, but this sports model feels more fast than fun, lacking truly sporting reflexes.
Overall, the Taurus is outdated and outclassed by competitors.