Overview & Reviews

The Ford Taurus X was a crossover wagon SUV that was produced for just two years. Technically, it first arrived in 2005 as the Freestyle, changing monikers a few years later when Ford revived the Taurus nameplate. The "X" differentiated this large wagon from the Taurus sedan, and Ford probably also meant it to signify an active outdoorsy lifestyle.

Whatever the case, the Taurus X flew under the radar while its flashy Flex platform-mate got all the press. It was actually a wholly competent crossover with three rows of seating, good cargo capacity, plenty of options, excellent safety ratings and a zesty if slightly raucous power plant. If your family doesn't need a hulking SUV with boat-towing V8 capabilities, and you can't imagine driving a minivan, then the Ford Taurus X is an excellent, though little-known, candidate.

Past Taurus X Models
The Ford Taurus X crossover SUV was produced for just the 2008 and '09 model years. It seated six by default, but adding an optional second-row split increased that to seven. The standard (and only) engine was a 3.5-liter V6 that produced 263 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission directed power to either a front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configuration.

The well-equipped base model came with alloy wheels, a power driver seat, an in-dash CD changer, cruise control and a trip computer. Higher trim levels offered accoutrements like two-tone leather upholstery, Ford's Sync entertainment and communications system, dual-zone automatic climate control, premium sound and reverse park assist. Options, depending on trim, included larger wheels, a moonroof, adjustable pedals, Sync, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, a power liftgate and a navigation system.

In reviews, we've found that the Ford Taurus X accelerated briskly, but the V6 made unrefined noises at higher rpm, and the transmission was reluctant to downshift when extra power was needed. On the bright side, the Taurus X's ride quality was smooth and more carlike than traditional SUVs. In terms of functionality, the Taurus X managed to accommodate all seven of its potential passengers in relative comfort. Adults in the third row had adequate head- and legroom, a rarity in non-minivans. Furthermore, the Taurus X's low step-in height and optional button-activated flip-and-fold second-row seats made getting in and out of the third row easy. Interior materials overall were unimpressive, although storage space was abundant and there were cupholders galore. Even with all the seats up, the cargo area still provided a generous 16 cubic feet of space. With the second- and third-row seats folded, there were 85 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity.

For the 2008 model year, Ford replaced this vehicle's "Freestyle" name with Taurus X, even though the vehicles remain functionally similar. More information about the Taurus X's earlier years can be found in our review of the Freestyle.

User Reviews:

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  Mostly good - 2008 Ford Taurus X
  By chrisptown - October 5 - 12:46 pm

  pur. new leftover 08 in 09. have 8k on it. seats are comfortable, build quality is good. Power is much improved over freestyle. Sat. radio system is excellent. cargo room matches larger vehicles. Fuel economy is fair to poor. my highway mpg =20- 21. have had issue with brakes=toomuch brake pedal travel.

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  So Far So Good - 2008 Ford Taurus X
  By DJR - September 7 - 3:20 am

  Ive had the X for about two weeks now and Ive really enjoyed it. The main issue with its predecessor, the FreeStyle was that it was underpowered. This has been corrected with the new X. Unfortunately the mpg has suffered; Im getting significantly less than the 19 mpg comparison figure or the 16 city mpg listed. The crossover has been surprisingly responsive, the braking smooth,and the ride comfortable. There is a few fit and finish issue with the running board but it is not major. I upgraded with leather and the DVD entertainment system and am very happy with both. The utility is great as the third row seats fold flat with a very quick and easy 3 step process. Good job Ford.

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  Ford Taurus X review - 2009 Ford Taurus X
  By ahoelk - January 27 - 2:06 pm

  This is a good vehicle with great functionality, we had 6 adults in it for a weekend trip, plus luggage. The third row folds flat if needed. Ford had packaged this vehicle well with most toys in the limited. I have all features including nav, sync, rear heated heats. My only complaint would be that "softer" materials should have been used - overall the fit and finish is much improved over previous Ford vehicles (this is my fourth). It is sad to hear that Ford has discontinued the production - wagons are just not popular in this market place - in Europe most cars are wagons. The engine/transmission performs well, but a manual shift mode would have been great.

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  Just purchased - 2008 Ford Taurus X
  By Just purchased - January 11 - 6:56 am

  Have had the vehicle for two weeks. I regularly transport 5 passengers, so a 6-seater was a must. Impressed with the leg room in all seats, and my kids love all of the compartments to put their stuff. It has 12 cup holders! The third row is easily accessible with a kid-friendly pop-up middle seat. This was an improvement over other makes we looked at. From a drivers standpoint, I am having trouble getting used to a middle console. I miss the floor space in my minivan. I also do not care for the steering wheel. It doesnt adjust very much. I do love the adjustable gas pedal and brake pedal. This keeps me from having to sit so close to the steering wheel, making the airbag safer.

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  09 taurus x sel review - 2009 Ford Taurus X
  By robert - October 2 - 10:00 pm

  The overall experience with this car is that its adequate. I would rate it better, but for a few glaring shortcomings, mostly associated to poor dealer service, which may not apply to those who have better dealers. The SYNC system is complicated and buggy. Does not interface with certain ipods well. The phone feature has glitches too. Can receive calls but not place calls. SYNC phone reps and dealer cannot figure it out. I dont recommend SYNC. Next problem: half way through model year, Ford changed the oil filter size without notifying aftermarket publications. All books in auto parts stores will direct consumer to get wrong filter if their car was made after 1/16/09.

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  This is a Ford? - 2008 Ford Taurus X
  By Rob - July 30 - 4:56 pm

  I have stayed away from American cars for the last 20 years. This car changed my mind after six test drives at 6 different dealers. I could not belive this was a Ford. Its not the best looking car on the road but it sure does its job. I have 3 big kids. One of which is 6 ft 5. He fits! Plus we still have room for our stuff. Plus, we can take a friend and still fit. The ride is really nice and it has just enough power to move us a a decent speed. I was more than pleasantly surprised with the standard options. The price was fantastic and it feels like its a well built car. No rattles, the doors close nicely, then engine sounds good. I cant belive this is a Ford.

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  2008 TaurusX - 2008 Ford Taurus X
  By JRNFL - March 22 - 1:46 pm

  Before I got serious about my car shopping, Id never heard of the TaurusX and I swore I would never own a Ford. The TX changed my mind and I got a great deal in 2009 on a left over 2008. Too bad for Ford that they didnt bother to advertise and tout this vehicle as it is a great vehicle. I really love the power and although I really tried, I couldnt find any major faults with the car. Its been over a year and about 17,000 miles and only routine maintenance. It was a good buy and one I would repeat if it were needed. I recommend it to others.

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  Love the get up and go - 2008 Ford Taurus X
  By 65mustang - March 9 - 6:13 am

  This little unit really goes and I love that. I guess the trade-off is poor MPG. It is a disappointment there is no space under the seats in the back for storage. Bench seats not so comfortable for long rides. One of my other favorite things is that is doesnt beep when you lock it - I HATE that! I bought this because the Flex is about the ugliest thing Ive seen but I like being up higher and dont like SUVs. The Tauras X provides pretty good visibility all around. I will also miss the read heat controls of the Windstar I LOVED. I dont like the gear shifter where it is but if it provides a much higher level of safety, I will adjust.

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  fun, safe family car - 2008 Ford Taurus X
  By Dan - February 8 - 7:10 am

  This is a great car. Just dealt with, meaning put 110 miles in a Michigan blizzard yesterday. We traveled all over west Michigan in a certified blizzard. The all-wheel drive was flawless! I have never felt safer. Braking ABS worked great. Warm, comfortable. My only complain was the washer fluid nozzles froze quickly. My last VW had heated nozzels, but I also have no idea what kind of fluid was in them. Putting the better winter washer fluid would probably solve that. We really did well. Even when our highway shut down. I had my pregnant wife with me the whole time. She was worried but that is mostly my fault for going in the first place. I am really happy I bought this car for her.

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  Initial Impressions - Great Car - 2008 Ford Taurus X
  By ACarr - November 25 - 9:16 pm

  We upgraded an 04 Tribute for the Taurus X. The X is quieter, has more cargo and people space, has all the safety features standard, and gets about the same mileage - we got 25 mpg on our 40 mi drive home with the car. Fit and finish look fine. Nice ride.