2012 Ford Taurus

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$6,397–$16,029 Inventory Prices
(4.5) 36 reviews
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2012 Ford Taurus
Compare 4 Trims View Local Inventory
Key Specs
Our Take
Overview
Photos
Reviews
Safety & Recalls
Warranty & CPO
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Compare 4 Trims View Local Inventory

Key Specs

of the 2012 Ford Taurus. Base trim shown.

  • Body Type:
    Sedan See similar vehicles
  • Combined MPG:
    21-23 Combined MPG
  • Engine:
    263-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 (regular gas)
  • Drivetrain:
    Front-wheel Drive
  • Transmission:
    6-speed automatic w/OD
  • View more specs

Our Take

From the Cars.com Vehicle Test Team

The Good

  • Sporty styling
  • Cabin quality
  • Big trunk
  • Available luxury features

The Bad

  • Boat-tail rear styling
  • Backseat is snug for a big car

Notable Features of the 2012 Ford Taurus

  • Choice of V-6 engines
  • Available heated and cooled front seats
  • Available collision warning system
  • Available adaptive cruise control
  • FWD or AWD

2012 Ford Taurus Overview

By Cars.com Editors
Vehicle Overview

The 2012 Taurus is available in SE, SEL and Limited trim levels and is offered with front- or all-wheel drive. The Taurus, which seats up to five people, competes with the Chrysler 300 and Toyota Avalon. It is also offered as the high-performance Taurus SHO, which is powered by a twin-turbo V-6 engine.

(Skip to details on the: Taurus SHO)

New for 2012
All models now have an integrated blind-spot mirror in the side mirrors. Otherwise, there are no significant changes for 2012.

Exterior
The Taurus has sleek sheet metal that bestows a sporty look on Ford's flagship car. The grille and front bumper combination is reminiscent of Ford's European cars.

The sporty look continues around back with the trunk lid and taillights. The trunk lid's forward-swept design recalls old wooden speedboats, but the look doesn't translate particularly well on land. Exterior features include:

  • Standard 17-inch wheels
  • Standard body-colored door handles, front and rear bumpers
  • Standard chrome grille and chrome-tipped exhaust
  • Optional 18- and 19-inch wheels

Interior
The Taurus has room for five on front bucket seats and a three-person rear bench. The Taurus' backseat is big, but it feels like the roof is encroaching more on rear passenger space compared with pre-2010 models. Interior features include:

  • Standard air conditioning
  • Standard power driver's seat
  • Standard tilt/telescoping steering wheel, cruise control and a CD stereo
  • Optional Sony six-CD stereo
  • Option...
Vehicle Overview

The 2012 Taurus is available in SE, SEL and Limited trim levels and is offered with front- or all-wheel drive. The Taurus, which seats up to five people, competes with the Chrysler 300 and Toyota Avalon. It is also offered as the high-performance Taurus SHO, which is powered by a twin-turbo V-6 engine.

(Skip to details on the: Taurus SHO)

New for 2012
All models now have an integrated blind-spot mirror in the side mirrors. Otherwise, there are no significant changes for 2012.

Exterior
The Taurus has sleek sheet metal that bestows a sporty look on Ford's flagship car. The grille and front bumper combination is reminiscent of Ford's European cars.

The sporty look continues around back with the trunk lid and taillights. The trunk lid's forward-swept design recalls old wooden speedboats, but the look doesn't translate particularly well on land. Exterior features include:

  • Standard 17-inch wheels
  • Standard body-colored door handles, front and rear bumpers
  • Standard chrome grille and chrome-tipped exhaust
  • Optional 18- and 19-inch wheels

Interior
The Taurus has room for five on front bucket seats and a three-person rear bench. The Taurus' backseat is big, but it feels like the roof is encroaching more on rear passenger space compared with pre-2010 models. Interior features include:

  • Standard air conditioning
  • Standard power driver's seat
  • Standard tilt/telescoping steering wheel, cruise control and a CD stereo
  • Optional Sony six-CD stereo
  • Optional leather seats
  • Optional power-adjustable pedals
  • Optional moonroof
  • Optional heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats and power rear sunshade


Under the Hood
The 2012 Taurus is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 that makes 263 horsepower. Mechanical features include:

  • Standard six-speed automatic transmission
  • Uses regular gas
  • Maximum towing capacity is 1,000 pounds, when properly equipped


Safety
Safety features include:

  • Antilock brakes
  • Side-impact airbags for the front seats
  • Side curtain airbags
  • Electronic stability system
  • Optional rear parking sensor
  • Optional blind spot warning system and collision warning system


Taurus SHO
Ford revived an old trim with the Taurus SHO — it stands for Super High Output — which effectively caps the Taurus lineup from a performance and luxury standpoint. The SHO swaps the Taurus' standard drivetrain for a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 with direct injection. It's one of the first engines in Ford's EcoBoost initiative, which forgoes larger engines for smaller turbocharged ones.

Taurus SHO's EcoBoost makes 365 hp and 350 pounds-feet of torque. It works with a six-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel paddle shifters. All-wheel drive is standard.

Other changes are fairly subtle. Among them are various SHO badges, 19- or 20-inch wheels, dual exhaust pipes and a rear spoiler. The suspension and steering response have been sharpened, too. Beefier brakes, more responsive steering, a shorter final drive ratio, 20-inch summer tires and a higher-threshold Sport mode for the electronic stability system are part of the SHO Performance Package. Back to top


View 6 Photos

Latest 2012 Taurus Stories

See all 2012 Ford Taurus articles >

Consumer Reviews

4.5
36 reviews
Exterior Styling
(4.4)
Performance
(4.6)
Interior Design
(4.2)
Comfort
(4.5)
Reliability
(4.6)
Value For The Money
(4.4)

What Drivers Are Saying

(5.0)

Best car I've ever owned!

by DanStone18 from SPRING LAKE HEIGHTS on August 22, 2018

I Never thought I would own a 4 door auto but this one is GREAT. Looks are outstanding and the performance is great. I would highly recommend this car to a friend. Read full review

(5.0)

Most Reliable Car I owned

by Satisfied Customer from Kalamazoo, Michigan on June 3, 2018

I haven?t had this car for long, but in comparison to my previous car I am completely satisfied. It runs so smooth and quiet, that I hardly hear it when I turn it on. The air conditioner and heated ... Read full review

Safety & Recalls

Recalls

The 2012 Ford Taurus currently has 5 recalls

IIHS Crash and Rollover Test Ratings

Based on 2012 Ford Taurus SE

IIHS rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor.

Head Restraints and Seats

Dynamic Rating
good
Overall Rear
good
Seat Head/Restraint Geometry
good

Moderate overlap front

Chest
good
Head/Neck
good
Left Leg/Foot
good
Overall Front
good
Restraints
good
Right Leg/Foot
good
Structure/safety cage
good

Other

Roof Strength
good

Side

Driver Head Protection
good
Driver Head and Neck
good
Driver Pelvis/Leg
good
Driver Torso
good
Overall Side
good
Rear Passenger Head Protection
good
Rear Passenger Head and Neck
good
Rear Passenger Pelvis/Leg
good
Rear Passenger Torso
good
Structure/safety cage
acceptable
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a nonprofit research and communications organization funded by auto insurers.

Manufacturer Warranty

  • Bumper-to-Bumper

    36 months / 36,000 miles

  • Powertrain

    60 months / 60,000 miles

  • Roadside Assistance

    60 months / 60,000 miles

CPO Program & Warranty

Certified Pre-Owned by Ford

Program Benefits

24-hour roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement up to $30 per day, full tank of gas, vehicle history report, new wiper blades and fresh oil and filter

  • Limited Warranty

    7 years / 100,000 miles

    7 years from original new vehicle warranty start date or 100,000 miles. Powertrain Limited Warranty from original in-service date. 12- month/12,000-mile comprehensive limited warranty. See dealer for details. $100 deductible per visit.

  • Eligibility

    Under 6 years / 80,000 miles

    Vehicles receive a 172 point inspection and reconditioning.

    See inspection details.

Have Questions about warranties or CPO programs?

See Warranty FAQs

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Cars.com Car Seat Check

Certified child passenger safety technicians conduct hands-on tests of a car’s Latch system and check the vehicle’s ability to accommodate different types of car seats. The Taurus received the following grades on a scale of A-F.*
* This score may not apply to all trims, especially for vehicles with multiple body styles that affect the space and design of the seating.

Warranty FAQs

What is a Bumper-to-Bumper warranty?

Often called a basic warranty or new-vehicle warranty, a bumper-to-bumper policy covers components like air conditioning, audio systems, vehicle sensors, fuel systems and major electrical components. Most policies exclude regular maintenance like fluid top offs and oil changes, but a few brands have separate free-maintenance provisions, and those that do offer them is slowly rising. Bumper-to-bumper warranties typically expire faster than powertrain warranties.

What is a Powertrain warranty?

Don't be misled a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty doesn't promise a decade of free repairs for your car. It typically covers just the engine and transmission, along with any other moving parts that lead to the wheels, like the driveshaft and constant velocity joints. Some automakers also bundle seat belts and airbags into their powertrain warranties. With a few exceptions, powertrain warranties don't cover regular maintenance like engine tuneups and tire rotations.

What is included in Roadside Assistance?

Some automakers include roadside assistance with their bumper-to-bumper or powertrain warranties, while others have separate policies. These programs cover anything from flat-tire changes and locksmith services to jump-starts and towing. Few reimburse incidental costs like motel rooms (if you have to wait for repairs).

What other services could be included in a warranty?

Some automakers include free scheduled maintenance for items such as oil changes, air filters and tire rotations. Some include consumables including brake pads and windshield wipers; others do not. They are typically for the first couple of years of ownership of a new car.

What does CPO mean?

A certified pre-owned or CPO car has been inspected to meet minimum quality standards and typically includes some type of warranty. While dealers and third parties certify cars, the gold standard is an automaker-certified vehicle that provides a factory-backed warranty, often extending the original coverage. Vehicles must be in excellent condition and have low miles and wear to be certified, which is why off-lease vehicles feed many CPO programs.

See also the latest CPO incentives by automaker