Ford Taurus

The sixth-generation Taurus debuted for the 2010 model year and saw mild updates throughout its 10-year lifespan. With the phasing out of the elderly Crown Victoria (which was discontinued for good after the 2011 model year), the Taurus became Ford’s largest sedan. With composed road manners and a large trunk, the Taurus was geared for federal agencies, fleets and families who put a premium on long hauls with lots of luggage. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine was available for a while, and a high-performance SHO version was offered for the entirety of the production run. The frustrating MyFord Touch multimedia system was replaced with the greatly upgraded Sync 3 system in 2016.

The Taurus name was given to a revision of the Five Hundred in 2008, making it Ford's biggest sedan. Available with front- or all-wheel drive, the sedan was powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 that teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission.

In response to the poor market reception of its predecessor, the 2000 Taurus featured sharper creases and corners instead of the bulbous styling that came before. Other changes for the fourth generation included dual-stage airbags with sensors to determine their level of deployment, if at all, in a front collision.

In keeping with the Ford brand badge, oval design cues inside and out denoted this Taurus generation. The cabin was furnished with bucket seats, a floor shifter and a center console. The SHO version got a performance boost courtesy of a 3.4-liter V-8 engine developed by Ford and Yamaha.

The second-generation Taurus sold just as well as the first, becoming the best-selling car in the United States. Ford ditched the prior generation’s four-cylinder engine in favor of a standard 3.0-liter V-6. This iteration of the Taurus was lengthened by several inches and added some 200 pounds. A restyled SHO version had the looks to reflect its high-performance ability. The Taurus also added a passenger-side airbag as an option; it became standard in 1994.