Honda Accord vs. Ford Taurus

On American soil, the Ford Taurus is one of the pioneers in the mid-size sedan category, having made its debut way back in the early 1980’s. From then on, Ford has enjoyed sole dominance in that automotive category, having sold millions of Taurus models in the decades that followed. However, the entry of Honda’s flagship brand, the Accord, muddled up the reign of the Taurus in the mid-sized sedan segment, and ultimately, its hold in the market relegated the popular Ford vehicle into the car rental dealerships.

Lately, Ford has reincarnated the Taurus nameplate, giving it some spunk to wage war one more time against its nemesis. Albeit a bit larger than any current mid-sized sedans on the market, the Taurus is still a prime target for consumers within the budget range. Therefore, its payback time, and here is the tale of the tape, so to speak.

For the sake of fairness, this comparison will focus on the entry level trims of both car manufacturers, and we start with the Honda Accord LX. This base trim from the Accord lineup has a standard 2.4L inline-4 engine, which produces 177 horsepower at 6,500rpm, and is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission gearbox. The Accord’s thrifty engine has a fuel economy rating of 25 miles per gallon for both city and highway driving, and the suggested retail price for this model starts at $21,765.

Ford, on the other hand, offers the Taurus SE FWD for a bit more, at $25,170.

For this price, you get an entry level car, which is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, that belts out a whopping 263hp at 6250rpm, yet is still capable of achieving 18-mpg in the city, and 28-mpg on the highway.

A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is the standard gearbox for the Taurus model.

Both vehicles also offer standard 4-wheel ABS on ventilated disc brakes, and both are front wheel driven, although there is an all-wheel drive version of the Taurus in the upper level trim. In terms of curb weight, the Accord LX weighs in at a sexy 3230 lbs., and is supported by 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 215/60 All-Season tires. Meanwhile, the Taurus SE has gained a hefty size due to its re-classification, and now weighs in at 4015lbs., and sports wider 235/60 size tires wrapped on 17-inch alloy rims.

One must remember though, that all these numbers are for the entry-level models only, for both car manufacturers. Things get a bit more upscale, more competitive and pricier as you go up the different trim levels. The Ford Taurus is available in 6 trims, ranging from the base SE FWD to the more powerful SHO AWD, which is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 turbo engine, that rolls out 365 horses. The Accord, meanwhile, offers just three different trim levels, namely, the base LX, the upgraded EX, and the top of the line EX-L, which offers premium features, such as leather upholstery and an optional navigation system.

So the question that begs to be asked is: Has the Taurus managed to get payback over the Accord this time around? You bet it did! With a more powerful engine, high quality cabin materials, and a bigger size, you can say that this payback was very sweet.

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