The Edmunds.com Safety Guide

Look Officer, No Hands
Due to new laws, drivers in California and Washington are joining millions who have gone "hands-free." Here's a guide on how to go Bluetooth, no matter where you live or what you drive.
How To Keep Your Old Car Safe To Drive
In this economy, many folks are trying to make their old car last a lot longer. We'll help you stretch that dollar safely.
New Side-Impact Requirements Change the Cars We Buy
A tough government "pole test" will translate to more side airbags standard on new cars. What will that cost you?
Visibility: Now You See Me...Now You Don't
From small cars to big SUVs, visibility problems loom large in the U.S. car market. Are automakers designing for style or substance?
Find the Safety Features, NHTSA and IIHS Crash Test Ratings on any new car instantly!
Feds' Tougher Crash Tests Raise the Bar on Car Safety
How government crash tests will get harder — and what it could mean for your vehicle rating.
See if your car has been recalled or needs service!

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Bluetooth Compatibility
Whether you're required by law to talk "hands-free" while you drive or simply enjoy Bluetooth's convenience, you'll need to know which phones work with which cars. Here's a guide.
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems: Can You Rely on Them?
Soon, every vehicle in the U.S. will have tire pressure monitors. But by the time the dash light illuminates, your tires may be dangerously low on air.
Protecting Pedestrians Through Vehicle Design
Pedestrian accidents comprise about 11 percent of motor vehicle deaths annually. Automakers are now putting some of the safety focus outside the vehicle.
Telematics: Can Great Tech Find an Encore?
OnStar, TeleAid and BMW Assist make consumers feel safe and secure, but can they do more?
Ford Debuts Pioneering Seatbelt Designs
Two all-new types of seatbelts may be coming to a car near you. What are they like, and how will consumers react?
Most Important Safety Features for a Family Vehicle
When buying a family car, don't skimp on the safety features. These will help you achieve maximum peace of mind.
Volvo's Safety Concept Car: The Shape of Things to Come?
Believe it or not, safety has become sexy... and it sells cars. Automakers are now scrambling for the crown of "safety leader."
Safer (and Sportier) Utility Vehicles
Can an SUV be as safe, and even as much fun to drive, as a sport sedan?
Traction Control
Traction control improves vehicle safety, especially if you drive in rain or snow. What is it, and how does it work?

How To Check Tire Pressure and Inflate Tires
Get up to spec on this critical — but often overlooked — safety feature.
How To Survive the Top 10 Driving Emergencies
In our three-part series, our expert teaches the method for recovering from the most common emergencies. Drivers at every level can learn important techniques here.
Roadside Assistance: Who Ya Gonna Call?
Myriad companies now offer roadside assistance plans, and some are even free. But they're not all the same. Choose one that won't leave you stranded.
Multitasking Mania
Eating, reading, phoning... we're doing it all behind the wheel. While automakers balance design priorities, insurers fret over driving safety.
Highway Death Toll Stuck in Neutral
Every 15 minutes someone in the U.S. learns that a loved one has died in a traffic crash. Despite safety advances, that grim crash fatality statistic has held steady for the past two decades. Here's what's being done about it.
Asleep at the Wheel
You may say that you'd never drive drunk, but what about driving drowsy? Just like driving under the influence, drowsy driving causes fatal mistakes. These tips will help you to avoid falling asleep at the wheel.
Will the Nation, Like California, Hang Up and Drive?
Several major states have now banned hand-held cell phones, but will that really save lives? Most experts don't think so.
Investigating Fatal Accidents
We go behind the scenes with a police accident investigator.
Top 10 Tips To Prevent Road Rage
Are you an aggressive driver? We'll help you take the rage off the road.
Driven to Distraction: Cell Phones in the Car
"DWY," or "Driving While Yakking," is a leading cause of distracted driving. But sometimes you've got to make that call. Here's how to do it safely.
Tips and Techniques for Driving in the Rain
If you know how to handle wet weather, you might not need to reach for that AAA card.
Tire Safety: Don't Ignore the Rubber on the Road
The most critical piece of safety equipment in your car is your tires. Our piece on tire safety will open your eyes to this oft-ignored subject.

New Safety Act To Save Kids' Lives
It's been a long time coming, but the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act will save lives by improving rear visibility and requiring other vehicle changes.
Driving Pregnant
Airbags and seatbelts can protect unborn children, but there are important rules for expectant mothers to follow.
Should School Buses Have Seatbelts?
Think this is a no-brainer? Not so fast. Safety, money and enforcement are all part of an ongoing debate.
Tragic YouTube Video Questions Seatbelt Safety
After their 3-year-old was killed in a crash, the Millers produced a heartbreaking video and posted it on YouTube. Almost 2 million views later, the debate over seatbelt failure continues.
Are Infants Safe in Their Car Seats?
Consumer Reports' publication — and quick withdrawal — of infant car seat crash tests created confusion and controversy. Here's the low-down for parents.
Preventing Backover Deaths
As advocacy groups battle the government and automakers to create the first rear visibility standard for U.S. vehicles, 100 children die annually from "backovers" and thousands more are injured. Here are some of their stories.
How To Choose a Car Seat
Choosing a car seat is an important and confusing decision. Here's how to seat your children safely, from the time they're born until they can fit into adult seatbelts.
How To Install a Car Seat
More than 80 percent of all car seats are incorrectly installed or used. Here's how to properly protect your most precious cargo.
Booster Seats: Fight the Good Fight
Your child may not want to sit in a booster, but it's the easiest way to protect him.
Ten (Mostly) Safety Features Every Minivan Should Have
Families buy minivans for safe, convenient transport. Include as many of these safety features as you can afford.

Too Fast, Too Fatal: An Insider's Look at Street Racing
The street racing trend is growing, often with tragic results.
How To Crashproof Your Teen Driver
Our new teen driver safety series offers comprehensive advice on protecting this highest-risk group, including best/worst cars and strategies for parents.
Driving Skills for Life: Crash Course
Teen defensive driving school sounds like a great idea — to adults. Here's a teen's take on the experience.
Life-Saving Annoyance — The Graduated Driver License
States with graduated driver licenses (GDLs) require teens to earn driving privileges in several stages. Teens complain, but GDLs do save lives.
Skidding for Safety's Sake
Driver's ed just doesn't cut it. Ford's "Driving Skills for Life" program provided 700 lucky teens with hands-on training for real-world emergencies.
Painful Now or Painful Later: Teaching Your Teen To Drive
A father and his teenage daughter offer tips for parents bravely attempting to teach their teens to drive.
Driver's Ed Online: The End of Classroom Drudgery?
Know someone who's ready for driver's ed? Tell them about this, and they'll sing your praises.

What Should We Do About Grandma's Driving?
Senior citizens have the second highest accident rate, after teenagers. But much can be done to make senior drivers — and the roads they travel — safer.
Top Recommended Mobility Vehicles
We pick the vehicles best suited for those with mobility challenges.
Mobility Vehicle Buying Guide: What You Should Know
Do you face mobility challenges? Here's what you should know before buying your next vehicle.

CONSUMER RATINGS & REVIEWS

What real people are saying about the
2008 Ford Taurus X Limited
4dr Wagon (3.5L 6cyl 6A)

2008 Ford Taurus X Limited Review: "Chose Taurus X because it is IIHS Top Safety Pick (2007 and '08), has better space for the 2nd/3rd-row seats, and it's much cheaper after rebates. Very good ride. Excellent crossover."

Favorite Features: "Like the seating, 2+3+2, fold flat. Good fuel economy at this size — In the first 1,000 miles I got 22 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. On pure highway, I can easily get over 28 mpg. Quiet drive. IIHS Top Safety Pick. 6-CD with MP3. Sync."

Suggested Improvements: "Clearance height could be a little higher. The front bottom sometimes hits curbs when parking. No crossbar on roof. Hoping the auxiliary climate control would be standard as in Flex. Want a rear glass hatch."
— Seumit

Consumer Rating	9.1
See all reviews of this vehicle Rate your own car

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