The performance sedan market has ebbed and flowed over the decades, closely matching consumer demands. Currently, this market has shifted upstream, with the majority of performance sedans being offered by luxury automakers like Mercedes-Benz and BMW. But there has been a time when many mainstream automakers offered their own iterations of performance sedans as well. Sadly, this portion of the segment has been slowly dying, and the last real contender is the Dodge Charger.
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However, there was a time that Ford also had its high-performance sedan in the market. It's called the Taurus SHO. Production was stopped for the Taurus in 2019 and the model hasn't yet been replaced by any direct successor. But at a time in the Taurus' most recent generation, Ford gave it power to spare with the SHO trim. For vehicles like this, there is a lot to love. From the powertrain to creature comforts offered by the SHO.
We take a look at the 2013 Ford Taurus SHO and the features that earned it such a great reputation.
The 2013 Ford Taurus SHO: Ecoboost Performance
The Ford Taurus SHO was one of the first Ford models to offer the company's twin turbocharged V6 ecoboost engine. This debuted with the redesigned Taurus for the 2010 model year and carried on to the 2013 model year. This engine is the star of the show for the 2013 Taurus, and it is easily one of its best features. Notably, the power plant provides the SHO with an impressive output of 365 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. This puts the Taurus SHO right at the top of its class, in terms of power.
To help with all this power, the Taurus SHO offered all-wheel drive, sending all that power to all four wheels. The combination of a twin turbocharged V6 and all-wheel drive was a rare combination for the time, as other competitors in the class like the Nissan Maxima and Chevrolet Impala did not offer it. The SHO version of the Taurus was a pioneer in the mainstream sedan market for the performance technology that it demonstrated.
The 2013 Ford Taurus SHO: Luxury For A Fraction Of The Price
The 2013 Ford Taurus fought well above its weight when it came to performance levels. At the time, the Taurus SHO was at par with much pricier sedans like the BMW 5 Series. But the big difference was with the price difference. The 2013 Taurus SHO had an MSRP of less than $40,000, while the BMW 5 Series started at $48,000 with fewer horsepower.
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Now you can still get a 2013 Taurus SHO for a reasonable price. A quick search for a 2013 SHO turns up plenty of examples that are in good shape and with less than 100,000 miles with a price of less than $20,000. Brand new and almost a decade later, the prices of the Taurus SHO were reasonable enough that most people could get their hands on one.
The 2013 Ford Taurus SHO gave a glimpse into what Ford was actually capable of - what they can do with a performance sedan. Unfortunately, the company isn't too keen about this car segment at the moment, or at least in the U.S. where it has become almost become an exclusive truck and crossover manufacturer. Despite this, the Taurus SHO left a reputation that won’t fade quickly.