The name Taurus X sounds like a newly discovered dinosaur, but this 2008 crossover vehicle from Ford is anything but a relic. Taurus X is essentially a revamped and renamed Freestyle, but the alterations are all for the better. One of the more noticeable changes is the vehicle’s quietness at engine start-up. The 2008 model year means the car is powered by a 3.5-liter V6, versus the 3.0-liter V6 of the Freestyle. From a power perspective, that means more on-the-accelerator ambition, so instead of 203 horsepower and 207 pounds-feet of torque (as was the case with the Freestyle) it’s now 263 horsepower at 6250 rpm and 249 pounds-feet of torque at 4500 rpm. The 2007 Freestyle mated the engine to a continuously variable transmission, but the Taurus X opts for a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. There are three rows of seating in Taurus X. The second row bucket seats provide a decent passageway to the third row, and those seats fold-down separately with the tug of a strap. When the second and third row seats are folded down, there is more than 85 cubic feet of cargo space. Since this is a vehicle designed for passengers, there are several comfort features available (such as an 8-inch DVD screen for rear seat riders) to spruce up the interior. Taurus X is available in front wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions. (The intelligent AWD system – with an active, on-demand electro-mechanical center decoupler – is new for the 2008 model year.) The AWD Taurus X Limited has estimated mpg fuel economy of 15 city and 22 highway and carries a MSRP of $32,185.