Road Test: Five Reasons Why the 2010 Ford Taurus is the Best American Sedan Ever Built

Sometimes when you review new cars each week you find yourself utterly blown away by a vehicle's ability to throw every preconception out the window. One such car is the 2010 Ford Taurus Limited that I am testing this week. Not only is it a game changer for Ford, it is a game changer for the entire full size sedan market. It really is that good.

I test a lot of cars and have to put a lot of miles on them to really make sure I get a feel for how they will treat their owner over the long haul. With the Taurus, I enjoyed driving it so much that I was making up reasons to take long road trips. I visited people I hadn't seen in a while and put more miles on this car than any other I have tested previously over a week long period. If that doesn't tell you something, I don't know what does.

So during my long stints behind the wheel of this Taurus I came up with five main reasons why I loved to drive this car. So say goodbye to any preconceptions you may have of the Taurus nameplate. This is a whole new kind of sedan from Ford and definitely a whole new type of Taurus.

It Rides Smoothly But Handles like a Sports Sedan

On the rough and tumble freeways of Southern California the suspension of my 2010 Ford Taurus Limited sedan proved ready to absorb the worst uneven pavement and expansion joints that the incompetent state construction crews could throw its way. Then, once I got off the freeway the Taurus was always a willing playmate with a taught, agile feel to the handling on curvy back roads.

The steering always tracked straight and true yet offered up plenty of feel. The suspension was never harsh yet never felt so softly sprung that it was riding on marshmallows, much like the Camry Hybrid I tested over the same period. Overall, the Taurus is one fun to drive sedan.

It is Fast, Really Fast

The 3.5 liter 263 horsepower/249 lb. feet of torque V6 engine made a lovely growl under hard acceleration and never offered up anything less than breathtaking acceleration. The standard six-speed automatic worked perfectly with this engine and always made sure I was in the perfect gear no matter what the situation.

Although it wasn't the burly turbochaged SHO motor, most owners will be perfectly happy with the power offered by this "basic" engine. As an added bonus, this engine also returns 18 city/27 highway.

The Interior is Absolutely Stunning

I hate to sound like an advertisement but if you haven't been in a Ford lately the aesthetics and quality of the Taurus' interior will blow you away. The dashboard is cleverly canted away from you to add a feeling of roominess but all of the controls are within easy reach. All of the knobs and switches are chrome ringed while the leather seats are simply the best in any American car. I would buy this car just because of the interior.

The Sync/iPod/Navigation/Sony Audio Electronics System is Peerless in the Industry

The center color screen splits into three sections displaying audio, climate control and navigation information. The Sync system allows you to control all of these functions via voice activation. The iPod integration is simple and easy to navigate. Simply put, this is the easiest electronics dash interface of any car I have ever driven.

It has a Huge Interior and Trunk

So, if you need a sedan that is bigger and more luxurious than your average Accord, Camry or Altima but don't want to pay luxury brand prices, check out the 2010 Taurus Limited which starts at $31,770. So how big is the trunk? How does 20.1 cubic feet sound to you? That's almost the size of my apartment.