With its excellent chassis and Duratec power, Taurus comes very close to being a very good sports sedan for the price of a family mid-size.

Approaching the Taurus at curbside, you'll first notice the muscular, forceful appearance that sets it apart from its blander-looking competitors. The grille is broad, aggressive, and unmistakably Ford-oval, grinning between the large cat's-eye headlamps. Taurus' flanks undulate handsomely with crisp character lines, and its rear end bears a resemblance to the sexy stern of the Jaguar S-Type.

Seating arrangements have been revised for 2002. LX and SE sedans, previously five-seaters, now nominally seat six, thanks to a seating console between their separate front seats. This is the same arrangement used on last year's SES, and that model keeps it for 2002. SES Deluxe and SEL buyers now get the bucket seats and console that used to come with lesser models, but they can have their six-seat capacity back for a $105 credit. Leather bucket seats are a no-charge option in every Taurus sedan except the LX.

All wagons have the seating console, but SEL Deluxe versions also offer leather buckets as a no-cost option.

Primary controls and instrumentation are admirably simple, straightforward and easy to use. Ford's well-publicized adjustable pedals (standard on SEL, and a $120 option on most other Tauri) make a comfortable driving position possible for even very short-legged drivers. The small-diameter, leather-wrapped steering wheel (SES Deluxe on up) has a pleasingly thick grip. Buttons for the cruise control are mounted on the steering wheel and are easy to operate. The highly legible white-on-black gauges include an analog speedometer and tachometer. A single stalk on the left of the steering column operates the washer and wipers and the bright/dim control for the headlights. The power-window automatic-down circuit operates on the driver's-side window only, and there is no automatic-up. On the dashboard just below the tachometer is an on/off switch for the optional traction control, useful when driving with chains and/or in snow.

On the other hand, the central console containing audio and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) controls is an intimidating sea of similar-looking push-buttons and toggle switches. While elsewhere the Taurus is ergonomically first-rate, operating the controls on this panel requires careful reading of the various closely spaced labels. Among the audio controls, only the volume is a rotary knob. It would be more convenient if the station-tuner were a twist-knob as well.

The removable six-CD changer/cassette is cleverly concealed in the center console at the driver's right elbow. This is far more convenient than the remote 12-CD changers commonly hidden in the trunk of other cars.

The center console is furnished with twin foldaway cupholders, though the swing arm meant to hold your cup in place is not as firm as it might be. Overhead, our SE had a tilt/slide moonroof, with a difference. With only one touch of the button, it opened automatically. Very bright idea. But to close it requires holding the button down, perhaps for safety considerations. Each of the lighted vanity mirrors in the two front sun visors features a rheostat for regulating their brightness, another novel touch.

Our SEL Premium had the five-seat layout, and the excellent front seats provided very good lateral support for a family sedan, without being too tight for the Big Guy driver. The cushions and seatbacks are more firm than soft, but firm is usually best on long drives.

The roomy rear compartment seats three, although the seat forms two semi-buckets and has a pull-down central armrest containing two cupholders. An HVAC duct at the rear of the center console provides climate control for rear passengers. Dual baby-seat anchors are provided on each side of the rear seat. In the SE wagon and SES and SEL sedans, the rear seatback is split 60/40 and folds down, providing an enormous pass-through luggage capability for skis and other long items. The trunk is of generous size and contains the Taurus' mini-spare tire.

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