I feel that the Taurus brand has become to symbolize a mainstream boring appliance for mainstream boring people or car rental fleets. Sure it might be somewhat comfortable, but mostly is designed to not offend anyone.

Hertz gave me a few brand new Taurus a few years ago (the old style, not the Ford Five Hundred rebadge) and I only managed 15 MPG. After they are broken in, they do much better, but still very little power from that 3 liter V6.

When the Taurus first came out, it was cutting edge. What happened?

Even the "new" Taurus / Ford Five Hundred, turned out to be a bloated, gutless, cheap feeling appliance. My refrigerator is more stylish, so maybe that would be a cheap economy appliance. I guess Ford knows their market.