Size counts for the Taurus. There's a tall and commanding seating position for everyone- and minivan drivers will look over in surprise when they see you pass by sitting at the same height.

Show the trunk to your friends, and the Mafia-related jokes will begin to fly.
 
It's the biggest trunk of any sedan sold in Canada, and its massive size will easily take five peoples worth of gear away for a trip.

Taurus sports a familiar face with its triple-blade front grille.

Safety first- in any weather
The optionally installed AWD system tears through wintry nastiness with a grin on its face, and it's backed up by a standard Electronic Stability Control system. Dual-level driver and passenger front air bags, side airbags and safety canopy curtain rollover air bags for all rows are also standard. There are no optional safety features here, as Ford thoughtfully makes sure occupants benefit from maximum safety on every trim level.

Plenty of jam
All that sensible safety and comfort doesn't mean taking a hit in the performance department either, as Fords new Duratec V6 engine serves up 3.5 litres of punch. The transmission is of course automatic - but with six gears, performance is enhanced. In theory, so is mileage- though in my custody, Taurus averaged a slightly hefty 12.5L / 100km.

It is a hulking tank of a car- so when you plant your foot, a brief wait is required to get momentum on your side and hustle along its girth. Once rolling, a call down to the engine room produces more than adequate acceleration which occurs in restrained silence. Even loaded up with gear and baggage, 263 horsepower feels more than enough.

The Duratec 35 delivers 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque.

Too comfortable, though?
In most situations, the ride is markedly quiet and well-insulated, with the suspension gently floating over dips and bumps. Taurus is a comfortable and very relaxing place to spend some time, and I'd peg its ride quality against many a more expensive sedan any day of the week.

Surprisingly, the front is sharp during heavy braking too- meaning emergency brake-and-evade maneuvers can be executed with confidence while the ESP system keeps the back end following in line.