The 2000 model year brought the fourth-generation Ford Taurus, which softened the oval theme of the previous redesign into more conventional sedan and wagon styling. The engine lineup carried two V6s: the pushrod Vulcan 3.0 V6, tuned to 155 horsepower and offered throughout the generation, and the dual-overhead-cam Duratec 3.0 V6, offered from 2000 through 2005. Both used a four-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. The Vulcan was standard on the LX, SE, and SES trims, while the SEL received the Duratec. There was no SHO in this generation; the performance line did not return until the sixth-generation Taurus of 2010. Fleet and rental sales made up a growing share of fourth-generation volume, and the 2007 model year was sold to fleets only as Ford prepared to apply the Taurus name to the renamed Five Hundred for 2008. Fourth-generation production ran from October 1999 to October 2006. The Mercury Sable continued as the badge-engineered sibling through the 2005 model year.
Other Ford Taurus generations
The 2000-2007 Ford Taurus at a glance
- Generation: fourth-generation Ford Taurus, a more conventional restyle after the oval era
- Years: model years 2000 through 2007, with 2007 sold to fleets only
- Engines: pushrod Vulcan 3.0 V6 (155 hp, 2000-2007); Duratec 3.0 DOHC V6 (2000-2005)
- Transmissions: four-speed automatic; front-wheel drive
- Body styles: four-door sedan and four-door wagon
- Trims: Vulcan standard on LX, SE, and SES; Duratec standard on the SEL
- Performance variant: none; the SHO did not return until the 2010 sixth generation
- Fleet use: heavy rental and government fleet sales, with 2007 a fleet-only model year
Ford Taurus 2000-2007 year by year
| Year | Ford Taurus changes | Engines offered |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Fourth-generation Ford Taurus arrives with more conventional sedan and wagon styling; Vulcan 3.0 V6 and Duratec 3.0 V6 offered | Vulcan 3.0 V6; Duratec 3.0 V6 |
| 2001 | The 2001 Ford Taurus continues the sedan and wagon lineup with both V6 engines | Vulcan 3.0 V6; Duratec 3.0 V6 |
| 2002 | The 2002 Ford Taurus carries the Vulcan and Duratec V6 lineup forward | Vulcan 3.0 V6; Duratec 3.0 V6 |
| 2003 | The 2003 Ford Taurus continues with both V6 engines and a four-speed automatic | Vulcan 3.0 V6; Duratec 3.0 V6 |
| 2004 | The 2004 Ford Taurus continues the sedan and wagon lineup | Vulcan 3.0 V6; Duratec 3.0 V6 |
| 2005 | Final year the Duratec 3.0 DOHC V6 is offered in the Ford Taurus; the Mercury Sable ends after this model year | Vulcan 3.0 V6; Duratec 3.0 V6 |
| 2006 | The 2006 Ford Taurus narrows to the Vulcan 3.0 V6 as fleet sales dominate volume | Vulcan 3.0 V6 |
| 2007 | Fleet-only model year for the fourth-generation Ford Taurus before the renamed Five Hundred becomes the Taurus for 2008 | Vulcan 3.0 V6 |
A more conventional Taurus
The 2000 Ford Taurus revised the divisive oval styling of the third generation into a more conventional look for the sedan and wagon. The fourth-generation car stayed front-wheel drive and kept the two-V6 engine strategy. While the redesign was aimed at broadening appeal, the Taurus did not regain the sales leadership it had lost to the Toyota Camry in 1997, and over the run the model increasingly relied on fleet and rental buyers. The Mercury Sable continued as the badge-engineered counterpart through the 2005 model year.
Engines and transmissions of the 2000-2007 Ford Taurus
The 2000-2007 Ford Taurus offered two V6 engines. The pushrod Vulcan 3.0 V6, tuned to 155 horsepower in this generation, was available across the entire run from 2000 through 2007. The dual-overhead-cam Duratec 3.0 V6 was offered from 2000 through 2005. Both engines used a four-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. The Vulcan was standard on the LX, SE, and SES, while the SEL was fitted with the Duratec. After 2005 the Duratec was dropped, leaving the Vulcan as the sole engine for the final fleet-oriented years.
Trim levels and body styles
The 2000-2007 Ford Taurus was offered in trims that included the LX, SE, SES, and SEL. Both the four-door sedan and the four-door wagon were available, though the wagon was phased out before the end of the generation. There was no SHO in the fourth generation. The Mercury Sable provided a parallel lineup under a separate badge through the 2005 model year.
Fleet sales and the 2007 fleet-only year
By the fourth generation the Ford Taurus had become a major fleet and rental vehicle, and fleet buyers accounted for a growing share of its volume. Fourth-generation production ran from October 1999 to October 2006, and the 2007 model year was sold to fleets only. After this generation, Ford did not immediately design a new Taurus; instead it applied the Taurus name to a revised version of the Ford Five Hundred for the 2008 model year, which became the fifth-generation Taurus.
No SHO in this generation
The fourth-generation Ford Taurus did not offer a SHO. The V8 SHO ended with the 1999 third-generation car, and the SHO badge did not return until the sixth-generation Taurus of 2010, which used a twin-turbocharged 3.5 EcoBoost V6. The 2000-2007 Taurus was therefore a V6-only, non-performance generation focused on family and fleet use.
Frequently asked questions
What generation is the 2000-2007 Ford Taurus?
The 2000-2007 Ford Taurus is the fourth generation. It revised the oval styling of the third generation into a more conventional sedan and wagon, stayed front-wheel drive, and used the Vulcan 3.0 and Duratec 3.0 V6 engines.
What engines did the 2000-2007 Ford Taurus use?
The 2000-2007 Ford Taurus used the pushrod Vulcan 3.0 V6, tuned to 155 horsepower and offered across the whole generation, and the dual-overhead-cam Duratec 3.0 V6, offered from 2000 through 2005. Both used a four-speed automatic and front-wheel drive.
Was there a Taurus SHO in this generation?
No. The fourth-generation Ford Taurus had no SHO. The V8 SHO ended after 1999, and the SHO badge did not return until the 2010 sixth-generation Taurus with a twin-turbocharged 3.5 EcoBoost V6.
Why was the 2007 Ford Taurus fleet-only?
By the end of the fourth generation the Ford Taurus relied heavily on fleet and rental buyers, and the 2007 model year was sold to fleets only. Ford then applied the Taurus name to a revised Ford Five Hundred for 2008, which became the fifth-generation Taurus.
When did the Mercury Sable end alongside this Taurus?
The Mercury Sable, the badge-engineered sibling of the Ford Taurus, ended after the 2005 model year during the fourth-generation run. A Sable later returned for 2008 alongside the renamed fifth-generation Taurus.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Ford Taurus (fourth generation)
- Wikipedia, Ford Vulcan engine
- Ford-Taurus.org Taurus/Sable Encyclopedia, fourth-generation history
- Manufacturer specification figures and contemporary sales reporting
Asked all the time
What generation is the 2000-2007 Ford Taurus?
The 2000-2007 Ford Taurus is the fourth generation. It revised the oval styling of the third generation into a more conventional sedan and wagon, stayed front-wheel drive, and used the Vulcan 3.0 and Duratec 3.0 V6 engines.
What engines did the 2000-2007 Ford Taurus use?
The 2000-2007 Ford Taurus used the pushrod Vulcan 3.0 V6, tuned to 155 horsepower and offered across the whole generation, and the dual-overhead-cam Duratec 3.0 V6, offered from 2000 through 2005. Both used a four-speed automatic and front-wheel drive.
Was there a Taurus SHO in this generation?
No. The fourth-generation Ford Taurus had no SHO. The V8 SHO ended after 1999, and the SHO badge did not return until the 2010 sixth-generation Taurus with a twin-turbocharged 3.5 EcoBoost V6.
Why was the 2007 Ford Taurus fleet-only?
By the end of the fourth generation the Ford Taurus relied heavily on fleet and rental buyers, and the 2007 model year was sold to fleets only. Ford then applied the Taurus name to a revised Ford Five Hundred for 2008, which became the fifth-generation Taurus.
When did the Mercury Sable end alongside this Taurus?
The Mercury Sable, the badge-engineered sibling of the Ford Taurus, ended after the 2005 model year during the fourth-generation run. A Sable later returned for 2008 alongside the renamed fifth-generation Taurus.
Technical Reference
Member-uploaded diagrams & documents for this generation. AI-classified; community-verified where badged.
Brochures & Literature (2)
- USA-SPEC PA11-FORD1 iPod Interface for Ford - Features & Vehicle ApplicationsThis document is a scanned page of product packaging/literature for the USA-SPEC PA11-FORD1 iPod interface, an adapter that connects an iPod to factory Ford car audio systems. The page explains feature notes: a Hybrid…
- USA SPEC PA11-FORD1 iPod Interface for Ford - Features & Vehicle ApplicationsThis document is the back panel of the packaging/literature for the USA SPEC PA11-FORD1 iPod interface adapter, which connects an iPod to factory Ford car audio systems. It describes the unit's features: a Hybrid Mode…
Schematics (1)
- 2001 Ford Taurus Serpentine Belt Routing Diagram - Pulley Layout (A0007698)This document is a serpentine (accessory) drive belt routing schematic, identified by reference code A0007698. The diagram shows the drive belt's path around eight numbered components, with callout arrows pointing to…
The wall · registered 2000–2007 Tauruss
Sorted by depth of documentation. Click any vehicle to open its permanent record.
