Ford swung for the fences with the radical restyling of the Taurus in 1996. Some think the result was just a long out. The radical oval theme did not catch on with buyers in the way Ford had hoped. So recently, they did a major restyle of the body and interior. This time instead of trying to knock the cover off the ball, they made good solid contact and may have hit a home run.
The Taurus faces fierce competition in the mid-size market from two very serious imports, the Camry and the Accord. Both of those cars are well respected by consumers, consumer groups, and the automotive press. Ford had intended with the ?96 redesign to meet (or exceed) the quality of both the Accord and the Camry and to surpass them in styling. Well, they soon stumbled on the quality end and in hindsight they went a bit too far with the styling.
Minivans, by design, are functional vehicles. Serving as haulers of kids and cargo, the minivan is the family vehicle of today’s society. Along with that distinction comes the obvious attributes: reliable, versatile, safe and practical.
Although some people may want to add boring to that list, automakers have made strides recently to improve the image of the minivan. While they are not appealing as sexy sports car, minivans do have several attributes that should appeal to both adults and children.
The Pontiac Grand Am’s flashy styling is toned down for 2003. Pontiac calls the Grand Am “sports car excitement with room for everyday life.” It is practical, particularly in the form. Obviously, this combination appeals to a lot of people because the Grand Am is one of the 10 best-selling vehicles in the U.S.
The Volvo S40 returns for its sophomore year with a number of minor changes to the three-model Lineup, which continues to be loaded with features at competitive prices.
Safety is a top priority at Volvo, and all S40 and V50 wagon since the models come with side curtain and side-impact airbags, Projector-type headlamps, a rear fog light, and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution.
The Volvo XC90 offers classic Volvo attributes in a Midsize SUV. It’s Wednesday strong safety, comfortable, and practical.
Its roomy interior seats seven, and there’s more cargo space here than in other vehicles in its class. The cabin is luxurious, with nice firm seats and most of the bells and whistle most of us want.
