2008 Ford Taurus Review
Price Estimate: $1,685 - $2,558





+52
Oops, we can’t seem to locate you.
Please enter U.S. ZIP code to see vehicles for sale
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Extra-large backseat and trunk, outstanding crash test scores, comfortable ride, good visibility, available all-wheel drive.
Cons
- High front seats create an odd driving position that might be uncomfortable for taller drivers, transmission occasionally slow to downshift.
What’s new
Ford resurrects the Taurus nameplate for 2008 by affixing it to a much-improved Five Hundred. A more powerful engine, a nicer and quieter cabin, a retuned suspension and a corporate three-bar grille are the major highlights.
Edmunds says
The reborn 2008 Ford Taurus hits the dance floor with some fresh moves courtesy of a 263-horsepower V6. The engine upgrade, along with the Five Hundred's pre-existing comfortable cabin, cavernous trunk and top-notch safety scores, make the new Taurus a worthy candidate for a full-size sedan.
For sale nearby
57 listings
- $3,999good price$1,739 below market
- 146,705 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 18 City / 28 Hwy MPG
- Rydell Honda of Grand Forks (129 mi away)
- Power Driver Seat
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Trip Computer
- Rear Bench Seats
- Aux Audio Inputs
Close
Located in Grand Forks, ND
As Is - No warranty available, 7 day exchange policy
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (18 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1FAHP24W38G123549
Stock: H19014B
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 07-08-2025 - $5,990fair price$253 below market
- 130,692 miles
- 2 accidents, 4 owners, personal use only
- 18 City / 28 Hwy MPG
- L & J Motors (168 mi away)
- Power Driver Seat
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Trip Computer
- Rear Bench Seats
- Aux Audio Inputs
Close
Located in Mandan, ND
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (18 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1FAHP24W78G161785
Stock: 161785
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 12-10-2023
Vehicle overview
Name recognition and awareness are no doubt important for automotive manufacturers. For example, look no further than the 2008 Ford Taurus. Ford has pulled the Taurus nameplate out of its one-year dirt nap in hopes of getting back into the thick of the large family sedan game. But is the public's awareness of the Taurus name a good thing or bad? Though a hero car back in the 1980s and early '90s, more recent iterations of the Taurus were dated and anonymous, a favorite of image-dulling rental car agencies and a not-so-favorite of middle management types who received them as company cars.
The Taurus revival is combined with the death of the Ford Five Hundred, a large sedan introduced a few years ago that never sold like the company had hoped. Although it offered a large cabin and an impressive ride and handling balance, the Five Hundred was let down by weak engine performance and a lack of refinement.
Thankfully, the 2008 Ford Taurus gains a number of improvements as part of its return. Under that familiar Five Hundred sheet metal are much improved running gear and additional features. In fact, Ford says there are more than 500 changes. A 263-hp V6 replaces the lame 203-hp V6, and a more responsive six-speed automatic replaces the sluggish continuously variable transmission (CVT) across all trim levels.
Other improvements for this large family sedan include the adoption of stability control, a "Ford Sync" system (that allows hands-free use of mobile phones and digital music players), improved cabin materials and more sound insulation for a quieter ride.
With its major performance infusion, addition of key safety and luxury features, and available all-wheel drive, the Ford Taurus is the best it's been in a long time. Given the Taurus' size (along with the fact that the Ford Fusion now battles stalwarts like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry), you'll probably want to cross-shop it against full-size sedans like the Chrysler 300, Hyundai Azera or Toyota Avalon. Though still slightly deficient in terms of style (compared to the 300) or all-around polish, the Taurus is certainly worth consideration.
Performance & mpg
A 3.5-liter V6 with 263 hp and 249 pound-feet of torque paired to a six-speed automatic transmission powers all Taurus trims. Buyers can choose between front- or all-wheel drive. Fuel economy is rated at 18 city and 28 highway for the front-wheel-drive Taurus and 17 city/24 highway for the AWD model.
Safety
Antilock disc brakes and traction control are standard, as are front side- and full-length side curtain airbags. Stability control, power-adjustable pedals and rear parking sensors are optional. Crash testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration returned perfect five-star ratings across the board, making the 2008 Ford Taurus one of the safest cars on the road.
Driving
The addition of 60 horses makes the 2008 Ford Taurus a much more attractive proposition than the slow-as-snails Five Hundred. No one will ever call the Taurus quick, but it now has the gusto needed to get up highway on-ramps and pass pokey fellow motorists without breaking a significant sweat. However, its six-speed automatic is slow to downshift -- a result of being tuned for maximum fuel economy. Ford softened the suspension to create a suppler ride, which should please most potential customers, but we found that the Five Hundred handled a tad better. There were also great pains taken to make the Taurus quieter, and those who equate silence with quality should be pleased.
Interior
The Taurus features a handsome and functional cabin with solid materials quality, plenty of storage areas and eight cupholders. Legroom is plentiful in both the front and rear and a tall seating position should both please those used to SUVs and make for easier ingress/egress. However, that tall seating position puts taller drivers very close to the ceiling. The 21-cubic-foot trunk is massive (bigger than the Crown Victoria) and the Taurus' 60/40-split rear bench and front passenger seat fold flat, allowing items up to 9 feet in length to be transported inside the car.
2008 Ford Taurus models
The 2008 Ford Taurus is a large sedan that is available in either front- or all-wheel drive. Two trim levels, base SEL and uplevel Limited, are offered. The well-equipped SEL has 17-inch wheels, full power accessories (including a power driver seat), a leather-wrapped steering wheel, wood grain interior trim, air-conditioning, a CD player and MP3 jack, cruise control and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Move up to the Limited and you'll get 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery, a power passenger seat, front seat heaters, a memory system for the driver seat/mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, an upgraded audio system with a six-disc CD changer, heated mirrors with puddle lamps, and an analog clock.
Options include a moonroof, a navigation system, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, satellite radio and the Ford Sync system, which allows voice activation of cell phones and entertainment systems.

Edmunds Tested: Electric Car Range and Consumption

Tested: We Supercharged Our Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Ford Bronco Sport Sasquatch: How Much Fits in the Trunk?

Chevy Corvette Stingray vs. Ford Mustang Dark Horse: America's Sports Cars Hit the Edmunds U-Drags Track
Compare 2008 Ford Taurus trim levels
Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota
$177/mo for Taurus SEL
Taurus SEL
vs
$200/mo
Avg. Large Car
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
4 out of 5 stars4/5Above Average
#10 out of 13 among Fullsize Cars
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
$518/yr
vs. $474/yr
for Average Fullsize Car
for Average Fullsize Car
Frequency
0.83x/yr
vs. 0.97x/yr
for Average Fullsize Car
for Average Fullsize Car
Severity
14.9%
vs. 13.4%
for Average Fullsize Car
for Average Fullsize Car
powered by RepairPal
Ford Taurus Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Excellent Large Sedan
4.25 out of 5 starssnarlyyow, 12/01/2013
2008 Ford Taurus SEL 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
I had originally intended to purchase a Honda Fit from the used car dealer. One thing led to another and I dug this Taurus sitting on the lot. It was a handsome design and, honest to God, I didn't even know they still made Taurus'. I did some homework and bought the car a few days later with just over 80k on the engine.
It's been over a year since then I've put nearly 40k on the engine … in the last 15 months. The Taurus has been through its paces, that's fer sure. And at this point I think I can give it a half decent review.
Pros: It's been totally reliable. I've recorded 26 mpg with the AC running. And it looks real nice washed up.
Cons: It's abundantly dull to drive.
I call it the Lincoln Light
5 out of 5 starsCharles J. Cates, 08/31/2015
2008 Ford Taurus Limited 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
This is a large heavy sedan, more like a Crown Victoria than the previous generation Taurus. It has surprisingly good acceleration "out of the hole" and merging onto the interstate is no problem for the naturally aspirated 3.5 Liter V-6. When you park the car or pull it into the garage is when you realize this is a full size car. OK, it IS shorter than my '63 BelAir. It is quiet with … little NVH. The stereo system in the limited sounds better than the system in my "man cave". The transmission shifts smoothly and seamlessly. I did notice a lack of power pulling some steep grades on U.S. 22 where we live in west central PA. The car was frequently downshifting for more power. The climate control system is easy to set and works well. The leather upholstery is attractive and wears well. The vinyl dash and trim is soft and does not have a hard plastic feel. The size of the display in the dash for miles, mpg, miles to empty, oil life etc. are a little too small for my liking or perhaps I'm showing my age. I'll be interested to see how this car performs in the winter time with front wheel drive and new Falken brand all season Touring radials. Though we have only owned this car for a few months we have been impressed with it. The only real gripe I have with the car is that there seems to be a corrosion problem on the alloy wheels that I can't seem to get off with anything that I have tried. Since I posted this review originally, we have driven it for over a year. Last winter the car performed well for most of the winter in the Falken All Season Radials but a couple deep snows convinced me to go with a dedicated Snow tire this winter. ( Falken Eurowinter) . I replaced the alloy wheels with a black aftermarket wheel which draws lots of compliments , retaining the corroded OE wheels for the dedicated snow tires. The Taurus has performed well, with no mechanical issues thus far. It has given 24 MPG on the highway doing 65 to 70 mph on the highways. Around town it gets 15 to 19 MPG.
Florida tripper
5 out of 5 starsCliff, 10/23/2015
2008 Ford Taurus SEL 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
We bought this car with 136000 miles and had it 2 weeks and took a 4300 mile trip to Florida. We got great mileage, up wards of 34 mpg, and at 6'2" I found the car to be very comfortable. Just don't try to sleep in it overnight... The car performed flawlessly, smooth shifting, took mountains like they weren't even there. If you are looking for that big car feel GET ONE. Had a … tough winter here in Wisconsin and the Taurus did great. It went thru snow and ice very well, the traction control kept me feeling very safe. We have almost 146000 now and still running great.
The most underrated car
4.25 out of 5 starsrmerch2000, 02/01/2015
2008 Ford Taurus Limited 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
I purchased this car used at 80k miles and now have put on another 80k miles. The only thing I've had to do (besides scheduled maintenance) is ....now that I think about it, I haven't done anything besides the usual stuff! Its been a wonderful car and I love it.
Whenever my friends get inside my car, they are shocked that they are in a TAURUS. Even though the thing is 6 years old, it … still has a modern design.
2008 Taurus Highlights
SEL
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $23,635 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 22 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $177/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 21.2 cu.ft. |
front wheel drive | |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Taurus include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
Related Used 2008 Ford Taurus info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Audi S6 2020 Review
- Ford Shelby GT500 2020 Review
- Infiniti Q50 2020 Review
- BMW X4 M 2020 Review
- Honda Accord 2020 Review
Shop similar models
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Ford Five Hundred 2010
- Used Ford Five Hundred 2011
- Used Ford Five Hundred 2013
- Used Ford Five Hundred 2017
- Used Ford Taurus 2012
- Used Ford Taurus 2014
- Used Ford Taurus 2015
- Used Ford Taurus 2016
- Used Ford Taurus 2018
- Used Ford Taurus 2019
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- 2026 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray News
- Jeep Gladiator 2024
- 2026 Jeep Gladiator News
- Honda Civic 2024
- Cadillac XT5 2024
- 2024 Hyundai Palisade
- Audi SQ5 2025
- New Cadillac CT5
- New Ram ProMaster Cargo Van
- Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2025
Research other models of Ford
- New Ford Escape
- New Ford Expedition
- 2024 Bronco
- New Ford F-150
- 2024 Ford Escape
- 2024 F-150
- 2025 F-150
- 2024 Ford F-350
- Ford F-450 Super Duty 2025
- 2024 Ford Maverick
Research similar vehicles
Other models
- Used Audi S5 in Farmington, NM 2025
- New Mercedes-Benz Maybach for Sale in New Brunswick, NJ
- Used Lexus RX-330 in Merced, CA 2006
- Used Porsche 918-Spyder in Hackensack, NJ 2015
- Used Kia Forte in East Meadow, NY 2024
- Used Lincoln Mark-Lt in Egypt, AR 2008
- New Mercedes-Benz Cle for Sale in Cheyenne, WY
- Used Toyota Corolla in Kannapolis, NC 2025
- Used Nissan Rogue-Select in Lakewood, CA 2015
- Used Oldsmobile Cutlass-Supreme in San Diego, CA 1997