2008 Ford Taurus Safety Review

Reviewers across the board give the 2008 Ford Taurus high marks for safety, though some would like to see the optional stability control feature made standard.

According to Edmunds, standard safety features include anti-lock disc brakes, traction control, and front side- and full-length side curtain airbags. Perfect five-star ratings in crash tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration make "the 2008 Ford Taurus one of the safest cars on the road." It certainly ranks high in its class compared to other cars reviewed by TheCarConnection.com.

MyRide notes that Taurus received a Top Safety Pick ranking from the IIHS and that it "apparently brushes off impacts with crash barriers, earning five stars in front driver, passenger, side and rear impacts." They credit the "multiple airbags -- two in front, side impact and curtain airbags that deploy in a rollover -- and one of the strongest structures in the industry, courtesy of Volvo." The Auto Channel also mentions the frame, "which incorporates many engineering designs from the Ford owned Volvo...S80 model." They say the "energy absorbing front-end crash structure...will collapse in stages--think of an accordion folding" and that it also includes "side impact engineering designs for added impact absorption."

MSN points out, however, that unlike "some family car competitors that include standard electronic stability control, the Taurus lists that safety feature, which can help avert a skid and loss of car control, as an option."

ConsumerGuide says that the 2008 Ford feels "steady in sweeping turns, especially with AWD" but reports "moderate body lean" in "tight low-speed corners" because of its height and weight. They praise the brakes for having "fine overall stopping control" and like the AWD option for driving on "wet and snowy roads." Like other reviewers, they believe that with the Taurus, Ford's antiskid system "should be standard rather than optional."

Cars.com reports that all but one of the five seats has head restraints. Buyers with infants and small children will like that "the Latch child-seat anchors for the outboard seats are spaced a few inches inward of the door," which means that when installed properly, the seats will be "farther away from potential side-impacts, and the inboard anchors are close enough to easily secure a seat in the center position -- the safest spot for kids."

According to Edmunds, "power-adjustable pedals and rear parking sensors" are additional safety options offered with the 2008 Ford Taurus.