Crossover gets more power and new name
The Taurus X isn’t a new vehicle. It’s just a new incarnation of the Freestyle. Ford did the exact same thing with the slow-selling Five Hundred, changing it earlier this year to the better-known moniker, Taurus.

In all fairness, both vehicles received much more than just a name change. The Taurus X is significantly better than the Freestyle it replaces. It includes a more powerful engine, better transmission, more safety features and just enough styling improvements to make a noticeable difference.

Available in three trim levels — SEL, Eddie Bauer and Limited — Taurus X is best thought of as a four-door station wagon version of the Taurus, itself a remarkably roomy sedan. All Taurus X models come standard with three rows of seats and a choice of seating for six or seven, depending on whether you choose captain’s chairs or a 60/40 split second row arrangement. Each row of seats is two inches higher than the row ahead. (Ford calls it theater seating.) Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel-drive available on all trim levels for an additional $1850.

Like the Taurus sedan, X gets the three-bar chrome grille we’ve come to expect on most of Ford’s recent models, a new hood, front fenders and taillights. There’s also a new larger 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 60 more horsepower than the 3.0-liter, 203 horsepower V-6 it replaced. All come equipped with a new six-speed automatic transmission developed jointly with General Motors.

Driving the Taurus X, I immediately noticed the extra 60 horses under the hood. It’s still no rocket, but the added power does quiet one of the main complaints associated with the Freestyle and Five Hundred models.

Inside, the cabin is especially roomy; families will appreciate the extra seats that easily flip and fold for additional cargo room. One complaint: the seats don’t fold flat into the floor and, oddly, the third row folding function is an option that will cost you an extra $115. A power rear liftgate is an extra $475 and operates from a button on the center console, by the liftgate in the back, or from a button on the key fob.

I found the interior to be rather plain, with two oversized air vents atop the unconvincing plastic-forestry-decorated center stack. An oversized grab-handle, the kind you would expect to find on a Land Rover, completely dominates the right side of the dash. Overall material quality is well below average for this vehicle segment. Controls, however, are nicely arranged and easy to use.

Ford has been marketing the 2008 Taurus as the “safest full-sized car in America” for good reason. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded it the highest five-star frontal and side crash-protection rating. It also gets the top safety mark of “Good” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Front and side-impact airbags for the front seats, and side-curtain airbags for all three rows are standard. Other standard safety gear includes anti-lock brakes, traction control and electronic stability control.

While generally pleasant and appealing in many ways, with plenty of room for the family, good visibility and excellent safety features, I found the Taurus X to have little emotional impact. The vehicle seems dated when compared to vehicles like the Saturn Outlook, Toyota Highlander and Hyundai Veracruz, all of which are about the same price, with better warranties.