The Chinese-market Taurus is longer and more luxurious than the sedan we know on these shores. For starters, its wheelbase has been stretched from 113 inches to 116. That means more legroom for the rear seat; useful in a market where the vehicle's owner is often chauffeured. Those rear seats can power-recline as well, with adjustable lumbar support and massage function. A fold-down armrest holds with controls for the seats, air-con and audio system. And panoramic sunroof tops the whole affair.
The Taurus is one of the roomiest sedans around, thanks to a vast interior and expansive trunk. It's also one of the heaviest sedans around, thanks to a decade-old chassis based on a modified Volvo design. The current model weighs about 4,050 pounds (nearly 4,500 pounds if you count the high-performance SHO version) and outmasses competitors like the Chevrolet Impala and Kia Cadenza by between 200 and 300 pounds.
Acceleration-wise, Taurus's a testament to repeatability, overlaying almost exactly on our 2015 Performance-Package SHO with a 5.2-second blast to 60 mph and a 13.7-second quarter mile at 103.2 mph (0.2 mph faster than the last one). Braking, however, was a big improvement at 106 feet versus 112. There was no chance to get figure eight numbers, but you can expect lap times to drop and overall g level to rise with the improved braking.
