In the United States, Ford’s best-selling model is the F-150 pickup truck. On the other hand, its counterpart in the Middle East has been the Taurus sedan, especially as seen in the last 5 years. Looking at the sedan’s success more statistically, Ford claims that the year-on-year (YoY) sales growth of the Taurus over the past half decade in the UAE comes in at an astonishing 526 percent! Meanwhile, over the same period, Kuwait registered a remarkable YoY growth of 125 percent, with Saudi Arabia coming in at 70 percent YoY.
For Ford, the Taurus has performed well in the Middle East markets. Beginning its life as a mid-sizer, the Taurus has now grown to a full-size sedan in the past few years. Where the previous-generation model was mainly meant for the Chinese market (and even made there), the all-new eighth-generation car was primarily designed for the Middle East. In the meantime, this very sedan is marketed as the new Ford Mondeo in some markets.
What’s the pricing of the all-new Ford Taurus like in the UAE?
The all-new Ford Taurus is priced at AED 144,795 in the United Arab Emirates, making it a smidge more expensive than the previous iteration. Depending on the region, the old model was available in Ambiente, Trend, and Titanium variants. Chances are that the all-new Taurus will likely continue with a similar variety in its trims in the UAE.
Does the all-new model look any different from its predecessor?
Pitted against the old model, the all-new Taurus definitely plays host to a whole slew of interesting design developments. There are a lot more curves, creases and bulges in the bodywork of the new Taurus – something that some may find a touch excessive. The same goes for the vast number of specific design details that are scattered all across the sedan, each casting its own distinct impression upon the viewer. For instance, the fully flush door handles look cool and add a touch of sophistication to the Taurus.
The same goes for the large 19-inch alloy wheels that make this car look sportier and more stylish from some angles. On the other hand, the front grille has grown in size and occupies much of the front façade of the new Taurus – it sports an LED strip at the top. The renewed face also gets a split arrangement for the main lights, with the top portion featuring LED DRLs & turn indicators, while the recessed lower portion houses the headlights. The bumper’s design is sporty enough, whilst the bulging hood gives this sedan a muscular look when viewed from the front or the sides.
The coupe-like roofline of the new Taurus goes well with its slightly oversized wing mirrors adding to the car’s visual aura. At the back, the most notable styling change comes from the application of the Mustang-inspired LED taillight design that has been paired with several LED elements, plus a sportier bumper which comes with a silver trim bit that also acts as a highlight for the faux exhaust tips.
A well-built and modern-looking interior is part of the course
The all-new Taurus comes with a surprisingly good interior that scores really well when it comes to build quality and the overall fit & finish. The lighter colors used in the interior makes the cabin feel airy and roomy, whilst the eco-friendly vegan leather used here comes along with suede inserts that adds to the appeal as well. Ford has also added a lot more sound-deadening in the new Taurus, which means that there’s better control over NVH.
At the same time, the new model boasts a capacious 520-liter boot thus making its case for a practical family sedan. The cabin is spacious enough to comfortably seat five adults, with more-than-acceptable legroom for rear passengers. In all, the all-new Taurus promises to be a far better car for its occupants than its precursor.
All the basics covered in terms of features
The all-new Ford Taurus comes with a good set of features. The kit includes adaptive cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat plus a 6-way power-operated front passenger’s seat, 7-color LED ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, wireless charging, an 8-inch digital MID, a 13.2-inch touchscreen with SYNC4 & voice commands, and a 6-speaker audio system.
As for its safety tech, the new Taurus comes with 6 airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, rear parking sensors, front & rear cameras, a blind spot information system with collision mitigation & lane departure warning, and an SOS post-crash alert system.
What’s under the hood?
The all-new Ford Taurus is powered by a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine that is paired to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Drivers can pick from three modes – Normal, Sport, and Eco. The motor produces 232 horsepower and 388Nm of peak torque and drives the front wheels, all the while promising 15.3 kpl or 6.5 L/100 km.
