2011 Ford Taurus SHO
MSRP $37,955
The 2011 Ford Taurus SHO is like a regular Taurus, but with a lot of muscle added in. It is a full-sized family sedan with enough engine to take care of either parent’s “wild streak” when the kids aren’t in the car. It’s not a Shelby, but it certainly is a nice compromise between family car and muscle car.
The Taurus SHO has a 3.5 liter, twin-turbocharged V6 that puts out 365 horsepower. It has all-wheel drive, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual shift paddles. It is rated at 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
Although we are giving the SHO special treatment as its own model, it is actually the highest trim level of the Taurus, and is “loaded” with features. It has 8-way power front seats with driver memory function and a power lumbar adjustment, a leather-wrapped, wood trimmed, tilt-telescope steering wheel, 2-zone climate control, keyless entry, cruise control, and the Ford Sync system.
The audio system has 6 speakers, a 6-CD/MP3 changer, satellite radio, an audio jack, and an iPod input. There is also a navigation system.
The SHO has the standard safety features: anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control, side front airbags, and side-curtain airbags. It also has a lot of optional devices: blind spot warning system, cross-traffic warning system for backing up, and a collision warning system.
It got all 4-star ratings in the new, more-strenuous government testing for 2011, and top ratings from the IIHS.
Conclusions and Driver Feedback:
There is a lot to like about the Taurus SHO. First of all, the SHO’s more powerful engine gets almost the same mileage as the base engine on the lesser trim levels. Then, of course, there is the feeling of stepping on the accelerator and knowing that you are going to accelerate very, very fast. The SHO is surprisingly adept at more family-oriented driving, too.
The suspension, though a little sporty, isn’t tuned quite like a sport car, so the ride is pure, high-quality family sedan. It still handles with plenty of agility, but it reminds you that it is still a family car, too. The seats are all comfortable, and there is plenty of room in both the front and the back. And the trunk is huge, too.
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