Overview

What's New for 2013:

• Revised exterior styling
• New 4- and 6-cylinder engines
• New fuel-efficiency, handling, infotainment and safety technology

Exterior Features
The restyled 2013 Ford Taurus is available in SE, SEL, Limited and SHO trim levels, with the SHO set apart by its unique styling details for a sportier look. The trunk holds a class-leading 20.1 cubic feet of cargo, according to Ford.

Interior Features
For 2013, Ford upgraded the Taurus's interior with new cloth-wrapped roof pillars, soft-touch materials on the sides of the center console, additional sound-deadening insulation, new seat cushions, and a new steering wheel design.

Optional Features
Ford offers a multi-contour massaging front seat option for the 2013 Taurus, as well as Active Park Assist, MyFord Touch technology, premium Sony audio system, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Leather, a power sunroof, keyless entry and push-button start, and a power rear window sunshade are also available. The Taurus SHO can be equipped with a Performance package including bigger wheels, performance tires and brakes, and recalibrated steering.

Under the Hood
The standard Taurus engine for 2013 is a 3.5-liter V-6 with variable valve timing, rated for 288 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 254 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. A direct-injected, turbocharged, 2.0-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine is optional for SE, SEL and Limited trims, and produces 240 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 270 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm.

The Taurus SHO is equipped with a direct-injected, twin-turbocharged, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine with 365 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 350 lb.-ft. of torque between 1,500 and 5,000 rpm. It requires premium fuel for maximum power, but can operate on regular gas as well.

All Taurus models are equipped with a 6-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, Torque Vectoring Control and Curve Control. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard on Taurus SE, SEL and Limited, while the SHO features standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The AWD system is optional on other trims, except with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine.

Fuel Economy
Active grille shutters improve efficiency by reducing aerodynamic drag for SE, SEL and Limited models. As this overview is written, the EPA has only rated the V-6 versions of the 2013 Ford Taurus:

• Taurus 3.5L V-6 FWD: 19/29/23 mpg (city/highway/combined)
• Taurus 3.5L V-6 AWD: 18/26/21 mpg
• Taurus 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 AWD: 17/25/20 mpg

Safety
The 2013 Taurus is equipped with 6 air bags, 4-wheel-disc anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, MyKey programmable safety features, and Sync connectivity with 911 Assist. An adaptive cruise control with forward-collision warning and brake support is optional, along with a blind-spot monitoring system with cross-traffic alert.

The 2013 Taurus has been named a "Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).