Click on image to view the full photo gallery
Ford Taurus III 3.0 V6 (145 Hp) Automatic
Overall Rating
Ford Taurus:
The Ford Taurus is an automobile that was manufactured and marketed by the Ford Motor Company in the United States from 1985 to 2019. From 1985 to 2009, Ford marketed the Taurus alongside its rebadged variant, the Mercury Sable. Four generations of the high-performance version were also manufactured from 1988-1999 and 2009-2019.
The original Taurus was a milestone for Ford and the American automotive industry, as the first automobile at Ford designed and manufactured using the statistical process control ideas brought to Ford by W. Edwards Deming, a prominent statistician consulted by Ford to bring a "culture of quality" to the enterprise. The Taurus had an influential design that introduced new features and innovations....(Read more on Wikipedia)
III Overview:
Ford Taurus (III). With 230 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. With a weight of 1518 kg, it falls in the mid‑range. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. Acceleration is relatively slow (0–100 km/h in 10.6 s). The top speed reaches 175 km/h. A four-door car with a separate trunk, ideal for families and daily commuting. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.
The Ford Taurus III was primarily a North American market vehicle and was not tested by Euro NCAP. Its safety performance would be evaluated against contemporary US standards.
3.0 V6 (145 Hp) Automatic Verdict:
Performance Verdict
The Vulcan V6 was a workhorse, known for its reliability rather than performance. With 145 hp, acceleration was adequate for daily driving (10.6 sec 0-100km/h) but felt sluggish under heavy load.
Fuel Economy
Fuel economy was acceptable for its time, offering a practical and economical choice for budget-conscious buyers, though not particularly efficient by modern standards.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Distinctive and spacious interior design
- • Comfortable and smooth ride quality
- • Powerful and unique SHO V8 option
- • Good value on the used market
- • Reliable base Vulcan V6 engine
Cons:
- • Polarizing exterior styling (oval theme)
- • Some interior material quality issues
- • High fuel consumption for V8 models
- • V8 SHO maintenance can be complex and costly
- • Base V6 can feel underpowered
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(II: 1993 - 1995).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Ford |
| Model: | Taurus |
| Generation: | III |
| Modification (Engine): | 3.0 V6 (145 Hp) Automatic |
| Start of production: | 1995 |
| End of production: | 1999 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Sedan |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 4 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 145 Hp @ 5250 rpm. Same horsepower |
| Power per litre: | 48.6 Hp/l [139mm more] |
| Torque: | 230 Nm @ 3250 rpm. |
| Engine Model/Code: | Vulcan More details about the engine Vulcan |
| Engine displacement: | 2986 |
| Number of cylinders: | 6 |
| Engine configuration: | V-engine |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 2 |
| Fuel injection system: | Multi-port manifold injection |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Valvetrain: | SOHC |
| Engine oil capacity: | 4.25 l |
| Coolant: | 11 l |
| Engine layout: | Front, Transverse |
| Cylinder Bore: | 89 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 80 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 9.2:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - urban: | 13.9 l/100 km |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban: | 8.4 l/100 km |
| Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h: | 10.6 sec |
| Acceleration 0 - 62 mph: | 10.6 sec |
| Maximum speed: | 175 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 10.5 kg/Hp, 95.5 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 6.6 kg/Nm, 151.5 Nm/tonne |
| Acceleration 0 - 60 mph: | 10.1 sec |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 1518 |
| Trunk (boot) space - minimum: | 447 l |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 61 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 5016 mm mm [139mm more] |
| Width: | 1854 mm mm [46mm more] |
| Height: | 1400 mm mm [26mm more] |
| Wheelbase: | 2756 mm mm [64mm more] |
| Front track: | 1565 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1560 mm |
| Minimum turning circle (turning diameter): | 11.8 m [above average] |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Front wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 4 |
| Transmission type | Automatic |
| Front brakes | Ventilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.] |
| Rear brakes | Drum [bad for performance and cooling.] |
| Assisting systems | ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
| Steering type | Steering rack and pinion |
| Power steering | Hydraulic Steering |
| Tires size | 205/65 R15 |
| Wheel rims size | 15 |
| Front suspension | Wishbone |
| Rear suspension | Wishbone |
Behind the wheel of the Ford Taurus. How does it handle on the road?