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2003
Ford Taurus

Starts at:
$19,630
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr Sdn LX Standard FFV
    Starts at
    $19,630
    19 City / 27 Hwy
    MPG
    6
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn LX Standard
    Starts at
    $19,630
    20 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    6
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn SE Standard
    Starts at
    $20,155
    20 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn SE Standard FFV
    Starts at
    $20,155
    19 City / 27 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn SES Standard FFV
    Starts at
    $21,480
    19 City / 27 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn SES Standard
    Starts at
    $21,480
    20 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn SE Standard FFV
    Starts at
    $21,805
    19 City / 26 Hwy
    MPG
    6
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn SE Standard
    Starts at
    $21,805
    19 City / 26 Hwy
    MPG
    6
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn SES Deluxe
    Starts at
    $22,580
    20 City / 27 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn SE Premium
    Starts at
    $23,240
    19 City / 26 Hwy
    MPG
    6
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn SEL Deluxe
    Starts at
    $23,380
    20 City / 27 Hwy
    MPG
    6
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn SEL Deluxe
    Starts at
    $23,630
    19 City / 27 Hwy
    MPG
    6
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn SEL Premium
    Starts at
    $23,950
    20 City / 27 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

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2003 Ford Taurus 2003 Ford Taurus 2003 Ford Taurus 2003 Ford Taurus 2003 Ford Taurus 2003 Ford Taurus 2003 Ford Taurus 2003 Ford Taurus 2003 Ford Taurus 2003 Ford Taurus 2003 Ford Taurus 2003 Ford Taurus 2003 Ford Taurus

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Expert 2003 Ford Taurus review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

When it comes to popular American cars, they don’t get any more popular than the Ford Taurus.

Through August, Ford produced 227,704 Taurus cars. That’s more than the entire lines of BMW, Chrysler, Daewoo, Dodge, Mercedes-Benz, Lincoln, Jaguar, Mercury, Volvo, Cadillac, Saturn, Acura, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Porsche, Mitsubishi, Audi and Suzuki in the same period, according to Automotive News, an industry trade publication.

What makes this car so popular?

Start with the specs. This is a mid-size, four-door sedan, which is the heart of the mid-size car market. The styling, while not as radical as in the past, is distinctive enough not to get lost in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

But, here’s the bigger secret. Look at the base price of the test vehicle: $21,960. That will buy you the SES Sport trim level, which is designed to attract younger buyers who might otherwise look at a VW Passat, but can’t afford the VW’s stiffer price. The SES Sport is just below the top-rung SEL, but above the LX and SE versions.

The SES Sport is a good value, with a lot of standard features, including four-wheel anti-lock brakes, air-conditioning, rear defroster, power rack-and-pinion steering with variable assist, remote trunk release, keyless entry, power windows, mirrors and door locks, cruise control, aluminum wheels, front bucket seats with console, power driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar support, AM/FM/CD player, split-folding rear seats, power lumbar support, floor mats, rear spoiler and the ever-important illuminated visor mirrors.

All cars come with a V-6 and a four-speed automatic transmission. The SES came with the double-overhead-cam 3-liter Duratec V-6, which is good for 200 horsepower and 200 foot-pounds of torque. It’s superior to the 3-liter overhead-valve Vulcan V-6, which furnishes less power and is found in lesser versions of the Taurus.

The test car, labeled ”Sport Edition” added special aluminum wheels, power moonroof, an upgraded audio system with a cassette player and a six CD changer, power adjustable pedals, side air-bags, traction control, perimeter lighting and auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass. The bottom line was still a respectable $24,300. That’s a lot of features for the money, especially considering the hefty incentives Ford offers on the Taurus, including $2,500 on 2002s and $1,000 on 2003s.

That seems to be the big secret: this is an affordable, nice-sized car that is perfect for handling the drudgery of everyday life.

Power is good from the Duratec V-6, but like most overhead-cam engines, there’s not a lot of power off the line. At speed, there’s strong passing power once the automatic transmission downshifts. Fuel economy is about average for the size and power the car offers, about 18 mpg in city driving.

Handling is a bit disappointing, considering that Ford has plastered the word ”Sport” on this car. While the car fee ls sharp at highway speeds, thanks to the variable assist power steering, there’s a lot of body lean in corners. This might be typical of your average family sedan, but not typical of a sports sedan.

Braking, courtesy of front disc/rear drum brakes, is average. Stopping was accompanied by some nosedive. Panic braking brought out some twitchiness in the tail, but it was controllable.

Some of the handling issues could be resolved by using better tires. The Continental tires on the test vehicle lost grip easily in foul weather and abrupt takeoffs. They squealed around corners, even at low speeds.

The interior was nicely designed, with a modern, functional dash that’s easy to understand and operate. Simple rotary controls operate the efficient climate controls. Touches such as a tilt steering wheel, variable speed intermittent wipers and open cupholders in the front console were thoughtful. The coin holder is a bit of a reach, buried behind the transmissio shifter. The CD-changer ate up most of the space in the center console’s storage bin.

The cloth-covered seats were comfortable, although a lack of thigh support is noticeable on long drives. Rear seating was accommodating, with head and foot room, but the curved rear door design makes it too easy for passengers to hit their head.

Overall assembly quality seemed quite good. The interior ambience was nicer than that of the larger Crown Victoria, but it still had a somewhat stark feel.

The trunk is huge, perfect for family hauling duties. A cargo net is provided.

The Ford Taurus is a capable, competent family car that succeeds in pleasing the average American family.

Still, it seems less refined than its chief rivals, the Honda Accord, which was redesigned for 2003, and the Toyota Camry, redesigned for 2002. The Taurus, redesigned in 1996, won’t be redesigned until 2005.

If Ford could take $500 or $1,000 from the rebate and apply it to better brakes, suspension and a finer grade of interior plastic, this car would be even more popular.

2003 Ford Taurus review: Our expert's take
By

When it comes to popular American cars, they don’t get any more popular than the Ford Taurus.

Through August, Ford produced 227,704 Taurus cars. That’s more than the entire lines of BMW, Chrysler, Daewoo, Dodge, Mercedes-Benz, Lincoln, Jaguar, Mercury, Volvo, Cadillac, Saturn, Acura, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Porsche, Mitsubishi, Audi and Suzuki in the same period, according to Automotive News, an industry trade publication.

What makes this car so popular?

Start with the specs. This is a mid-size, four-door sedan, which is the heart of the mid-size car market. The styling, while not as radical as in the past, is distinctive enough not to get lost in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

But, here’s the bigger secret. Look at the base price of the test vehicle: $21,960. That will buy you the SES Sport trim level, which is designed to attract younger buyers who might otherwise look at a VW Passat, but can’t afford the VW’s stiffer price. The SES Sport is just below the top-rung SEL, but above the LX and SE versions.

The SES Sport is a good value, with a lot of standard features, including four-wheel anti-lock brakes, air-conditioning, rear defroster, power rack-and-pinion steering with variable assist, remote trunk release, keyless entry, power windows, mirrors and door locks, cruise control, aluminum wheels, front bucket seats with console, power driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar support, AM/FM/CD player, split-folding rear seats, power lumbar support, floor mats, rear spoiler and the ever-important illuminated visor mirrors.

All cars come with a V-6 and a four-speed automatic transmission. The SES came with the double-overhead-cam 3-liter Duratec V-6, which is good for 200 horsepower and 200 foot-pounds of torque. It’s superior to the 3-liter overhead-valve Vulcan V-6, which furnishes less power and is found in lesser versions of the Taurus.

The test car, labeled ”Sport Edition” added special aluminum wheels, power moonroof, an upgraded audio system with a cassette player and a six CD changer, power adjustable pedals, side air-bags, traction control, perimeter lighting and auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass. The bottom line was still a respectable $24,300. That’s a lot of features for the money, especially considering the hefty incentives Ford offers on the Taurus, including $2,500 on 2002s and $1,000 on 2003s.

That seems to be the big secret: this is an affordable, nice-sized car that is perfect for handling the drudgery of everyday life.

Power is good from the Duratec V-6, but like most overhead-cam engines, there’s not a lot of power off the line. At speed, there’s strong passing power once the automatic transmission downshifts. Fuel economy is about average for the size and power the car offers, about 18 mpg in city driving.

Handling is a bit disappointing, considering that Ford has plastered the word ”Sport” on this car. While the car fee ls sharp at highway speeds, thanks to the variable assist power steering, there’s a lot of body lean in corners. This might be typical of your average family sedan, but not typical of a sports sedan.

Braking, courtesy of front disc/rear drum brakes, is average. Stopping was accompanied by some nosedive. Panic braking brought out some twitchiness in the tail, but it was controllable.

Some of the handling issues could be resolved by using better tires. The Continental tires on the test vehicle lost grip easily in foul weather and abrupt takeoffs. They squealed around corners, even at low speeds.

The interior was nicely designed, with a modern, functional dash that’s easy to understand and operate. Simple rotary controls operate the efficient climate controls. Touches such as a tilt steering wheel, variable speed intermittent wipers and open cupholders in the front console were thoughtful. The coin holder is a bit of a reach, buried behind the transmissio shifter. The CD-changer ate up most of the space in the center console’s storage bin.

The cloth-covered seats were comfortable, although a lack of thigh support is noticeable on long drives. Rear seating was accommodating, with head and foot room, but the curved rear door design makes it too easy for passengers to hit their head.

Overall assembly quality seemed quite good. The interior ambience was nicer than that of the larger Crown Victoria, but it still had a somewhat stark feel.

The trunk is huge, perfect for family hauling duties. A cargo net is provided.

The Ford Taurus is a capable, competent family car that succeeds in pleasing the average American family.

Still, it seems less refined than its chief rivals, the Honda Accord, which was redesigned for 2003, and the Toyota Camry, redesigned for 2002. The Taurus, redesigned in 1996, won’t be redesigned until 2005.

If Ford could take $500 or $1,000 from the rebate and apply it to better brakes, suspension and a finer grade of interior plastic, this car would be even more popular.

Available cars near you

Safety review

Based on the 2003 Ford Taurus base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Frontal driver
5/5
Frontal passenger
5/5
Nhtsa rollover rating
4/5
Side driver
3/5
Side rear passenger
3/5

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
3 years / 36,000 miles
Corrosion
5 years
Powertrain
3 years / 36,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
3 years / 36,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
Fords and many non-Ford vehicles up to 10 years old with less than 150,000 miles
Basic
90-Day / 4,000-Mile (whichever comes first) Comprehensive Limited Warranty
Dealer certification
139-point inspection

Compare similar vehicles

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  • 2003
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    20 City / 28 Hwy
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    Seat capacity
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Consumer reviews

4.3 / 5
Based on 65 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.4
Interior 4.1
Performance 4.1
Value 4.3
Exterior 4.2
Reliability 4.2

Most recent

She's a A Beauty

Bullet proof engine, parts are cheap as dirt, labor is cheap, very reliable and starts up every time you need to go. I always carry OBD2 scanner. If any check engine codes pop up I scan myself and know what sensor or part to buy. So far just new EGR valve I installed and Thermostat as well based on codes I recently fixed. Reliability always depends on maintenance. With fresh engine and ATF oil change , spark plugs, air filter, new brake pads and machined rotors, she drives smooth as silk. I highly recommend this car. 147K and drives like new.
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 5.0
7 people out of 7 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Comfortable and reliable station wagon

I love these Taurus’, they are nostalgic for me as a 90’s baby, I came home in a brand new one back in the day and not I drive an 03’ Taurus station wagon (really cool version of these with seating for 8) that I picked up in 2019 with 75k mikes, now I have about 117k. For a 20 year old car this gold jelly bean has been nothing but bulletproof, over the 42k+ miles I’ve put in since purchasing I’ve only had one required repair and it was just a check engine light, trip to my mechanic and $150 later I was out for a sensor! I’m a maintenance nut so I’ve done everything (preventatively) from suspension/ball joints to motor mounts and chased a tiny leak in the head gaskets. This comfortable, last of it’s kind wagon should last me another 100k+ miles easily..
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 5.0
5 people out of 5 found this review helpful. Did you?
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2003 Ford Taurus?

The 2003 Ford Taurus is available in 7 trim levels:

  • LX Standard (2 styles)
  • SE Premium (1 style)
  • SE Standard (4 styles)
  • SEL Deluxe (2 styles)
  • SEL Premium (1 style)
  • SES Deluxe (1 style)
  • SES Standard (2 styles)

What is the MPG of the 2003 Ford Taurus?

The 2003 Ford Taurus offers up to 20 MPG in city driving and 28 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

What are some similar vehicles and competitors of the 2003 Ford Taurus?

The 2003 Ford Taurus compares to and/or competes against the following vehicles:

Is the 2003 Ford Taurus reliable?

The 2003 Ford Taurus has an average reliability rating of 4.2 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2003 Ford Taurus owners.

Is the 2003 Ford Taurus a good Sedan?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2003 Ford Taurus. 89.2% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.3 / 5
Based on 65 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.4
  • Interior: 4.1
  • Performance: 4.1
  • Value: 4.3
  • Exterior: 4.2
  • Reliability: 4.2

Ford Taurus history

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