1994 Ford Taurus Review (continued)
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Walkaround

As mentioned earlier, our basic impression of the Taurus LX Wagon was that its swept aerodynamic contours, raked windshield and sloping hood made it all but identical to the Taurus sedan.

For '94, Ford has deleted some chrome trim in favor of body-matched vinyl coverings that have made the wagon even more attractive. As further evidence of Ford's mission to minimize chrome and emphasize understated lines, a thin red accent stripe at the beltline replaced the chrome trim along the side of our test vehicle.

No matter what the vantage point, we found the LX Wagon's styling seamless and unified. The front bumper's ribbed vinyl protector was reprised along the sides of the vehicle in the form of bodyside cladding. The wraparound rear bumper was also protected by the same ribbed vinyl. All of these components perfectly matched our Taurus Wagon's rich, flawless Champagne Clearcoat Metallic finish.

Even the dual-action liftgate (we could raise the entire gate or just the window), with its graceful outward bow, didn't interrupt the LX Wagon's smooth look. Up top, we found a solid cargo-carrying roof rack that looked more like an aerodynamic spoiler than a functional piece of equipment. And the contemporary 12-spoke cast aluminum wheels added a touch of flare to our LX Wagon that just isn't there with many competing family vehicles.

Interior Features

Styling unity and sweeping curves were visible throughout the inside of the LX Wagon. From window glass to armrests to the instrument-panel housing, everything was subtly contoured.

The gracefully curved instrument panel housed the speedometer, tachometer, fuel and temperature gauges, and an extensive display of warning/function lights - all easy to see through the steering wheel (padded leather cover is optional).

Power control buttons for the windows and door locks were thoughtfully positioned on the front portion of the driver's left armrest, well within fingertip range. The 60/40 rear bench seats were curved to look and feel like bucket seats.

Regardless of the sports-car feel of the interior, Ford designers didn't forget they were creating a station wagon. That's borne out by the adequate shoulder- and legroom we found enough to comfortably seat six adults-and the generous carpeted cargo area behind the rear seat.

A portion of the rear seat folded down to handle long items such as skis, and the liftgate featured a fold out picnic table-which will make this wagon a popular tailgate site on football Saturdays.

Other interior touches we liked were the smooth hydraulic assists for the rear liftgate window, the deep cupholders and the cargo net in the concealed storage area.