2008 Ford Taurus X Limited AWD

by Jo Ann Holt

The 2008 Ford Taurus X Limited All-Wheel Drive is nothing like the Taurus sedan that I remember driving years ago. The Taurux X Limited is not a sedan at all, but a great-looking full-size crossover SUV, with a 3.5 liter V-6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission that delivers 263 HP.  Dig deeper to discover the Taurus X is actually an improved version of the discontinued Ford Freestyle.

Ford’s designers borrowed step-up headlamps and distinctive three-bar chrome grille for the Taurus X from their popular Edge, also adding a restyled hood and new shape front fenders and fascia.  Headlamps and fog lamps are mounted in chrome surrounds, and Taurus X also sports a new rear fascia with tail lamps also “borrowed” from the Edge. 

There is more than enough room for the family and a few friends with three rows of seating, and the ability to reconfigure it however you like with one-touch, flip and fold second row seating. 

There is plenty of space for even the 6 footers in the family, and great visibility, thanks to the stadium style seating that makes the third row higher than the second row.  With the third and second rows folded, Taurus X has 85.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row so you can haul items up to nine-feet long, plus easy loading thanks to a power rear lift gate.  The Taurus X also has a roof rack that adds to its rugged design look.

Other features included on the test model were voice activated DVD-based navigation system and SIRIUS Satellite Radio.  For long trips, there’s a available DVD player with an 8-inch screen to entertain the “are we there yet” crowd.

Rated the safest 7-passenger crossover in the U.S., the Taurus X also received a top safety pick rating from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.  With standard anti-lock brakes and AdvanceTrac® electronic stability control, the Taurus X earned five-stars in all government crash test categories. 

The Taurus X intelligent all-wheel-drive system is also similar to the Ford Edge AWD system, incorporating an active, on-demand electro-mechanical center coupler that provides a precise amount of torque front to rear—up to 100% to either axle.  This system anticipates wheel slip before it happens…a feature I was able to test successfully just this morning on a slippery drive to the airport! 

The Ford Taurus X sells for $26,855-$32,425. The only thing I didn’t like about driving this very safety-conscious and stylish SUV was the in-town gas mileage, which was supposed to average 15-16 mpg--I could almost swear it wasn’t that good. On the highway it promised to average 22-24 mpg, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to do much freeway driving, so I spent a lot of time at the local gas pump.

Jo Ann Holt is a car columnist based in Dallas, Texas, and a member of Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA).