Underrated and a great value

The Ford Taurus is shunned by consumer guides and magazines, portrayed as a distant second place finish to mostly Japanese competitors. The 2004 Taurus, a continuation of the re-designed 2000 model, handles nimbly, looks great, is safe (very low insurance costs), quiet, roomy, and very reliable. Estimates for gas consumption on my end give around 22.5 MPG in mixed driving conditions. Rental car agencies have long held the Taurus as a mainstay, seemingly knowing long ago what many owners, including myself, know from personal experience- do NOT eliminate the Taurus as a contender from your big decision of what family car to own. It's a real sleeper.