Overview

What's New for 2012:
- Only slight cosmetic changes for 2012

Exterior Features
The 2012 Ford Taurus is a full-size sedan that is sold in four trim levels: SE, SEL, Limited, and SHO. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard; the SEL steps up to 18-inch wheels.

Interior Features
Standard equipment on the 2012 Ford Taurus includes cloth upholstery, air conditioning, full power accessories, cruise control, keyless entry, trip computer, and a 6-speaker sound system. The SEL adds dual-zone climate control, higher-grade upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, outdoor temperature display, and satellite radio. The Limited trim includes perforated leather upholstery, 8-way power front seats, and an upgraded audio system. The range-topping SHO, a high-performance variant, features a more powerful engine, Xenon headlights, sport suspension, keyless entry and ignition, and upgraded styling cues.

Optional Features
Many options are available on the Taurus, and most of them become standard on upper trim levels. At the top of the options list is the Performance package on the SHO trim, which includes 20-inch wheels, high-performance steering and brake pads, summer tires, and stability-control defeat. Adaptive cruise control, which includes a pre-impact warning system, is available for upper trims.

Under the Hood
The 2012 Ford Taurus offers two engine choices. Standard is a 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine that delivers 263 horsepower. It works with a 6-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD), with all-wheel drive (AWD) optional on SEL and Limited models. The Taurus SHO features a twin-turbo, 3.5-liter V-6 engine that delivers 365 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque, a 6-speed automatic transmission, and AWD.

Fuel Economy
EPA fuel-economy figures for the 2012 Ford Taurus are:
- Taurus with FWD: 18/28/22 mpg (city/highway/combined)
- Taurus with AWD: 17/25/20 mpg
- Taurus SHO: 17/25/20 mpg

Safety
Standard safety features on the Ford Taurus include anti-lock disc brakes, traction control, front-seat side air bags, side curtain air bags, and active front head restraints. A rearview camera and parking sensors are standard on the Limited and SHO, and optional on the SEL. A blind-spot and cross-traffic warning system are optional on upper trims.

In government tests, the 2012 Taurus received 4 (our of 5) stars for front-impact protection, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); 5 stars for side-impact protection; and 4 stars for rollover protection. In tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Taurus received a "Good" rating--the Institute's highest--across the board.