Ford Taurus 2.7T V6 Test Drive: How Close Does It Get to Luxury Brands?

In the domestic market, most mainstream brands see their sedan lineups come to an abrupt halt beyond the B-segment. Very few dare to produce C-segment sedans locally in China—the Ford Taurus, Toyota Crown, and Volkswagen Phideon are among the handful. Due to competition from luxury-brand B-segment sedans and midsize to large SUVs, their sales are often disappointingly low. Nonetheless, it’s undeniable that these models represent the pinnacle of driving refinement and luxury within their respective brands.

Today, we take a closer look at Ford’s domestic flagship sedan—the Taurus 2.7T V6—to see just how high Ford’s ceiling can go.

Static Review

The model we tested was the increasingly rare 2.7T V6 version—arguably the crown jewel of Ford’s domestic offerings. This top-tier variant was discontinued during a facelift, making it, in a way, a limited edition. Though one has to wonder how many people in China hold any nostalgia for a Taurus.

From personal observation, its visibility on the roads is almost as scarce as a Ferrari or Lamborghini. This might not only be due to the Ford badge—it also has a lot to do with its design.

I rarely critique a car’s exterior, but in the case of this Taurus, I find its styling somewhat lacking. The main issue lies in its overly simplistic details. Aside from a larger body and bigger fully chromed wheels, it doesn’t distinguish itself enough from the Mondeo. While refueling, the station attendant even asked if it was a Mondeo—I could only respond with a wry smile. In terms of premium appearance, it doesn’t quite measure up to the chrome-laden Phideon. And when compared to the exterior design of Lincoln models under the same corporate umbrella, it’s clear: you get what you pay for.

The interior follows a similarly understated, almost minimalist theme. While materials on the dashboard are reasonably generous—soft-touch plastics and wood trim—the overall design feels lazy and lacks the commanding presence expected of a luxury car. The button panel below the central screen is particularly disappointing: a large exposed plastic section with small circular buttons that cheapens the entire interface. Superficial as it may seem, these details are critical in crafting a luxury ambiance—something Ford has yet to master.

Ergonomically, however, there are few complaints. The seats are plush and supportive in all the right places, and the four-way adjustable steering wheel makes finding a comfortable driving position easy. Storage spaces around the center console are also adequate. One notable drawback is visibility: the A-pillars are relatively thick, and the side mirrors are too small. Despite being surrounded by sensors, traditional mirrors still offer irreplaceable situational awareness—an area that could use refinement.

The voice control system is perhaps my biggest grievance. Many local brands now offer highly responsive voice recognition capable of understanding natural commands like, “I’m hungry” or “Navigate to the nearest mall.” The Taurus’ system, however, struggles with even basic inputs. Trying to direct it to a specific industrial park required multiple attempts, eventually forcing me to pull over and type the destination manually.

As for passenger comfort, rear seating space may not be class-leading, but it’s more than sufficient. The comfort level is satisfying, and most luxury amenities are present. Lower the extended center armrest, and you’ll find a cluster of controls for independent adjustment, massage, heating, and ventilation for both rear seats. Rear sunshades can be operated from either the front overhead console or the rear armrest. The only minor letdown is the absence of a USB charging port—only a power outlet and cigarette lighter are provided.

Dynamic Performance

Thanks to its V6 configuration, ignition is virtually vibration-free, and idling is remarkably smooth—a clear step above typical B-segment sedans in the ¥200,000 range. Power delivery is robust; a heavy foot at launch can easily induce wheelspin, and full-throttle acceleration delivers satisfying thrust. It may not be explosive, but it’s certainly exhilarating. Linearity, however, is mediocre. Throttle response isn’t the most intuitive, largely due to a transmission that’s slow to react and not particularly smooth.

At low to medium speeds, a moderate press of the accelerator results in a delay of nearly a second before an abrupt downshift surges power unnervingly forward—like being shoved from behind. This isn’t a compliment; try getting kicked in real life and you’ll understand! Even switching to Sport mode does little to improve shift speed. For a luxury car, this lack of refinement is a letdown. Thankfully, performance during coasting, low-speed crawling, and gentle acceleration is more composed. It seems transmission calibration still has room for improvement.

Fuel consumption is startling: during its break-in period, the car returned 14.6L/100km over a mixed route of half highway, half city driving. Evidently, the premium experience comes at a cost.

Handling is classic Ford. The steering—a traditional strength—feels weighty and precise, with smoothness that deserves praise. At low speeds, it lightens up for easy maneuvering, while high-speed driving adds heft for solid straight-line stability. The suspension is tuned for comfort, absorbing bumps softly—sometimes too softly, resulting in noticeable body roll in corners and a generally “big car” feel. That said, the underlying dynamics are sound: tire grip is strong, and the dampers handle road imperfections with a reassuring solidity.

Sound insulation is decent, with tire noise well-suppressed. Wind noise is slightly prominent at medium speeds. Beyond 3000 RPM, the engine note becomes more pronounced—a gruff, almost coarse growl that suits a sports car but feels out of place in an executive sedan.

One standout feature is the adaptive cruise control. On open highways or free-flowing urban expressways, it performs impressively, maintaining appropriate following distance and modulating speed smoothly. It handles slowdowns gracefully and can be easily resumed after manual intervention. For long trips, it’s a major fatigue-reducer. In heavy traffic, though, be prepared for frequent cut-ins—even at the shortest follow distance, it leaves a gap others won’t hesitate to exploit.

Final Impressions

Overall, the Taurus remains unmistakably a Ford—amplifying both the brand’s strengths and weaknesses to the extreme. It delivers Ford’s best in power, ride comfort, features, and noise isolation. But its shortcomings—styling, interior ambiance, powertrain refinement, and fuel economy—remain largely unaddressed, even at this premium price point.

From a features-to-price perspective, it offers solid value. But when measured against established luxury rivals, there’s a clear gap in overall polish.

In my view, the Taurus excels in driving and riding refinement—enough to have performed better in the market. Unfortunately, its exterior and interior design hold it back significantly, becoming an insurmountable barrier to upmarket acceptance. Not even its generous equipment list or superb V6 engine could compensate. Unlike the Toyota Crown, which leveraged longstanding reputation (especially in southern China), the Taurus lacked that heritage, inevitably leading to its lukewarm reception.

Ford’s decision to discontinue the V6 flagship speaks volumes about its conceding defeat in the premium segment. And with Lincoln’s accelerated local production, the future looks increasingly uncertain for the Taurus.