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2008 Ford Taurus - Comfort

Front Comfort
Hand it to Ford for delivering one heckuva comfortable sedan. Our Limited AWD tester featured leather-clad power front buckets that were wide and soft, though at the same time supportive as we spent hours stuck in traffic. Without any true side bolsters, these seats, along with all other aspects of the Taurus, are by no means sporty, but that shouldn’t come as a big shock to most shoppers. No, the Taurus is built to be cozy cruiser, one with wide and padded sills, padded armrests, leather trim on the shift knob and tilt steering wheel, and generous amounts of passenger room.

Rear Comfort
Adjusted for shorter drivers, there are copious amounts of leg and foot room in the 2008 Ford Taurus; adjust for a taller pilot and it shifts to just a little less copious. Head room is on par with the other measurements, and the padded sills and armrests simply add to the comfort level. That being said, not all is perfect for rear passengers. The bottom of the bench seat feels flat, while the firm backrest provides the sensation of a constantly-engaged lower lumbar support – great for those who like it, but not so much for those who don’t.

Interior Noise
Interior noise is one area where we see a need for improvement. While you won’t go deaf from all the clatter inside the new Taurus, you and your passengers will definitely notice some wind noise at highway speeds and the unrefined engine note at higher revs. The droning sound of the V-6 reminds one that this is a mainstream Ford and not a Lincoln or other premium/luxury model. At about $33,000 loaded, shoppers shouldn’t necessarily expect the Taurus to be tomb quiet, but calling for a bit more refinement and sound deadening material would be well within reason.

Visibility
As a rather large sedan with a commensurate amount of glass, the 2008 Ford Taurus grants its occupants a clear view of the outside world. The greenhouse is expansive, pillars narrow, and rear head restraints retract so as to not infringe on rearward visibility. Ample side mirrors aid in the overall effort as well, working with rear quarter windows to alleviate stress associated with merging at highway speeds. Another bonus found in the Taurus is an SUV-like feel from the driver’s seat. Riding high on its AWD platform, our tester boasted that elevated ride height sought by so many of today’s car shoppers.