2017 Ford Taurus

2017 Ford Taurus Overview

Is the 2017 Ford Taurus a Good Used Car?

The 2017 Ford Taurus is one of the last large cars you should consider. Its only major selling points are its cavernous trunk and cushioned ride, making it a decent option for families and frequent travelers. However, this large Ford’s handling is just as relaxed as its ride – and that’s not a good thing, as it suffers from lots of body roll around corners.

The Taurus has seen few updates since a refresh for 2013. As a result, its cabin looks and feels more dated than those of its rivals. Many competitors offer higher-end interior materials, while the Taurus’ cabin is filled with hard plastics. The Taurus’ small windows, large dashboard, and thick pillars can leave passengers feeling claustrophobic. These design elements also limit forward visibility. Overall, you can do better than the 2017 Ford Taurus.

Why You Can Trust Us

Our used car rankings and reviews are based on our analysis of professional automotive reviews, as well as data like crash test scores, reliability ratings, and ownership expenses. We researched 56 Ford Taurus reviews to help you decide if it’s the right used car for you.

The U.S. News Best Cars team has been ranking cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our staff has a combined 75 years of automotive industry experience. To ensure our impartiality, our staff never takes expensive gifts or trips from car companies, and an outside team handles the advertising on our site.

Pricing

How Much is a 2017 Ford Taurus?

Our site has about 860 listings for the 2017 Ford Taurus, with prices ranging from $18,800 to $27,500. The average list price is $22,400, which is a couple thousand dollars lower than most rivals’ average list prices.

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How Much Does the 2017 Ford Taurus Cost to Own?

The 2017 Ford Taurus’s five-year estimated costs for gas, insurance, maintenance, and repairs are about $24,300. That’s on par with the five-year estimated costs of many large cars , including the 2017 Hyundai Azera and 2017 Kia Cadenza .

Is It Better to Buy a Used or New Ford Taurus?

The 2018 Ford Taurus starts at nearly $27,690, which is $5,300 more than the average price of a used 2017 model. For 2018, the Taurus dropped the turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but there were no other significant updates. Shopping the 2017 will probably save you several thousand dollars, and you’ll get a model that is virtually indistinguishable from the new 2018 Taurus.

Read about the new Ford Taurus »

The 2018 Taurus has the lowest starting price in the new large car class . If you’re also considering new models with similar pricing to that of the 2017 Ford Taurus, you’ll need to shop from another class. Midsize sedans typically offer a little less passenger and trunk space, but it’s easy to find a well-equipped new midsize car for thousands of dollars less than the average price of a 2017 Ford Taurus.

The 2018 Toyota Camry starts at $23,645. It ranks near the top of the class, and we named it our 2018 Best Midsize Car for the Money and 2018 Best Midsize Car for Families . The Camry comes with an abundance of standard technology, including a user-friendly infotainment system with smartphone integration. It also has a stellar predicted reliability rating, agile handling, and a fuel-efficient base engine with more than enough power. The 2018 Honda Accord($23,600) offers great fuel economy, roomy and comfortable seats, lively handling, and many features.

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Which Model Year of the Ford Taurus Is Best?

The 2017 Taurus is part of a generation that launched during the 2010 model year. A 2013 refresh altered the exterior and interior styling. Despite the fact that 2013 and 2014 models will probably save you thousands, most shoppers should start with the 2015 Taurus , which was the first to come standard with Bluetooth and a USB port. The 2016 model is the way to go if you want even more tech in your Taurus. For 2016, Ford replaced its complicated MyFord Touch infotainment system with the user-friendly SYNC 3 infotainment system. There were no major changes for 2017.

Compare the 2015, 2016, and 2017 Taurus »

How Reliable Is the 2017 Ford Taurus?

J.D. Power gave the 2017 Ford Taurus an above-average predicted reliability rating of 3.5 out of five.

Read more about Taurus reliability »

2017 Ford Taurus Recalls

As of this writing, the 2017 Ford Taurus has two reported recalls. One addresses a problem with the key becoming stuck in the ignition. The other concerns a potential failure of the power steering. Ensure that these issues have been addressed before you purchase a 2017 Ford Taurus.

See more information on Ford Taurus safety recalls »

Which Used Ford Taurus Model Is Right for Me?

The 2017 Taurus is available in four trims: SE, SEL, Limited, and SHO. Standard features include a rearview camera, Ford's voice-activated SYNC infotainment interface, a USB port, Bluetooth, six speakers, and Ford MyKey, which allows you to set speed caps and volume caps when others use your car. We don’t recommend the base trim, since it has fewer standard features than many rivals.

The SEL’s features list is more in line with the standard features found in most rivals. It adds dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, satellite radio, remote start, and rear parking sensors.

However, we recommend the Limited trim. It comes with a number of convenience and tech features that make it more desirable, including the excellent SYNC 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen and smartphone integration. You’ll also get other luxury touches like leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, and push-button start.

The SHO is the Taurus’ performance trim. It features a twin-turbocharged V6 engine, paddle shifters, a Sport driving mode, all-wheel drive, and a rear spoiler.

See 2017 Ford Taurus trims and specs »

2017 Ford Taurus Safety

Score: 9.5/10

The 2017 Ford Taurus has a below-average safety score for the class. It earned an overall rating of five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It also received five stars in the frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in the rollover test. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2017 Taurus the highest score of Good in four crash tests, along with the second-highest score of Acceptable in the small overlap front test.

2017 Ford Taurus Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: 2017 Ford Taurus or 2017 Chevrolet Impala?

While the base Taurus favors ride comfort over handling agility, the 2017 Chevrolet Impala strikes more of a balance between the two, offering both athleticism and a cushioned tide. The Taurus has stronger engines, but the Impala’s base four-cylinder offers better gas mileage than the Taurus’ base V6. Seating comfort isn't a strong suit for either of these sedans. The Taurus feels cramped inside, and the Impala’s front seats are unsupportive. However, the Chevy has roomy back seats and class-leading trunk space, making it a better option for toting around passengers and cargo. The Impala is a better pick than the Taurus, but it couldn’t hurt to take a look at other large cars before making your choice.

Which Is Better: 2017 Ford Taurus or 2017 Ford Fusion?

The 2017 Ford Fusion is a midsize car that has plenty of space and an upscale interior with quality materials, in contrast to the plastic-adorned Taurus. Both cars have a similar list of standard and available tech features. The Fusion’s base engine isn’t strong enough to move the car effortlessly, but it gets better gas mileage than the Taurus’ base engine. The Fusion also has sportier handling, without excessive body lean in corners (like with the Taurus). Overall, the Fusion is the better car if you can live with its smaller size.

Compare the Taurus, Impala, and Fusion »

2017 Ford Taurus Performance

How Does the 2017 Ford Taurus Drive?

The Taurus comes with a 288-horsepower V6 engine that delivers satisfying power for everyday driving. An available turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine produces 240-horsepower and quicker acceleration than the base engine. The performance-oriented Ford Taurus SHO (Super High Output) has the strongest engine in the lineup, a potent 365-horsepower twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6. All engines come with a six-speed automatic transmission, and the SHO trim adds paddle shifters. Front-wheel drive is standard. All-wheel drive is available in SEL and Limited trims, and it comes standard in the SHO trim.

The Taurus' suspension makes for a relaxed and comfortable ride. However, this sedan’s bulk leads to a good amount of body lean when making turns. The Taurus SHO’s sport-tuned suspension offers a nimbler ride.

Does the 2017 Ford Taurus Get Good Gas Mileage?

With the base engine, the 2017 Ford Taurus returns 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, which is below average for the class. The advantage of the available four-cylinder engine is fuel efficiency. It gets up to 20/29 mpg city/highway.

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2017 Ford Taurus Interior

How Many People Does the 2017 Ford Taurus Seat?

The 2017 Ford Taurus seats five. Its seats feel cramped for a large car, particularly in the back. The sedan’s small windows and thick roof pillars cut into rear-seat headroom and impede forward visibility. Overall, the Taurus has a good-looking cabin, but interior materials mostly consist of hard plastics.

Six-way power-adjustable front seats are standard. Available features include 10-way power-adjustable front seats; leather upholstery; a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; a heated steering wheel; heated, cooled, and massaging front seats; heated rear seats; and a power sunshade for the rear window.

How Many Car Seats Fit in the 2017 Ford Taurus?

There are two complete sets of LATCH child-seat connectors on the outboard rear seats. The middle seat has a top tether anchor, and the lower anchors can be borrowed from the other seats. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave this system the second-highest rating of Acceptable for ease of use.

2017 Ford Taurus Features

Standard features of the 2017 Taurus include a six-speaker stereo, Ford MyKey, and Ford’s SYNC system. This system features a USB port, Bluetooth, a small display surrounded by dashboard buttons, and limited smartphone integration with apps like Pandora.

An upgraded SYNC 3 infotainment system is available. It adds an 8-inch touch screen with straightforward menus and crisp graphics, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Other available features include navigation, dual-zone automatic climate control, push-button start, ambient lighting, satellite radio, HD Radio, a 12-speaker Sony audio system, and a moonroof.

See 2017 Ford Taurus specs »

Read more about Taurus interior »

2017 Ford Taurus Dimensions

Ford Taurus Cargo Space

Measuring 20.1 cubic feet, the Ford Taurus’ trunk is one of the largest in the large car class . Split-folding 60/40 rear seats are standard.

2017 Taurus Length and Weight

The Taurus is nearly 17 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 3,969 pounds to 4,343 pounds, depending on the powertrain and trim.

Where Was the 2017 Ford Taurus Built?

Ford assembled the 2017 Taurus in Chicago.