Honda Accord Or Nissan Altima: Which One Does V-6 Better?
A decade ago, both the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima were offered in base four-cylinder versions... Read More
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SAFETY | 9 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
'Good,' frontal offset; 'good,' side impact; 'good,' rear impact; 'good,' roof strength
IIHS
Four stars overall; four stars frontal; five stars side; five stars side pole
NHTSA
Among optional safety systems, the most innovative is the BLIS blind-spot system with Cross Traffic Alert.
The Auto Channel
Side-to-side visibility is a problem thanks to the high windowsills, and the high hood made it difficult to judge where the front end was.
Cars.com
Ford offers a collision warning system and adaptive cruise control on the new sedan, as well as Blind Spot Information and Cross Traffic Alert systems; these use rear- and side-aiming radar to alert drivers to impending disaster. The Taurus SHO also offers an optional rearview camera.
Crash-test results for the Taurus have been among the best of any vehicle, with top 'good' results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in frontal offset, side impact, rear impact, and roof strength; the 2011 Taurus has also been named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. In the new, tougher testing and rating system employed by the federal government for the 2011 model year, the Taurus earned a four-star rating overall, including four stars in frontal impact and five stars in side impact. In the tough new side-pole test, which simulates the side collision with a tree or pole, it earned a top five-star score.
The sole strike against the Taurus thus far is the poor rearward visibility that comes from its styling and big headrests on the backseats.
Conclusion
The 2011 Ford Taurus is one of the safest large sedans, with all the best safety equipment plus excellent crash-test ratings.
