What was the last model of the Ford Taurus?
The last Ford Taurus model year produced for the U.S. market was 2019.
Ford’s Taurus long sat at the heart of the company’s mid-size sedan lineup, but as consumer tastes shifted toward SUVs and trucks, the model was phased out. This article traces the timeline of the Taurus’ final years, the reasons behind its retirement, and what the move signals about Ford’s broader product strategy.
Timeline and final year
The following points lay out the key events surrounding the Taurus’ final year and the decision to end its U.S. production and sales.
- In 2018, Ford announced that 2019 would be the final model year for the Taurus in the United States as part of a broader plan to wind down sedans in favor of SUVs and trucks.
- 2019 marked the last year for new Taurus sales in North America; production and shipments ceased after the 2019 model year, with no 2020 Taurus offered in the U.S.
- With the Taurus concluded, Ford redirected product development toward crossover SUVs, such as the Edge, Explorer, and Escape, following industry-wide trends toward higher-riding family vehicles.
These milestones illustrate that 2019 was the definitive end for the Taurus in the U.S., reflecting a broader market shift rather than a single model-year redesign.
Variants and market nuances
Even as the North American Taurus ended, the model name did appear in other markets at times, while Ford introduced other large sedans in its lineup less frequently. The key point is that the U.S. Taurus ended with the 2019 model year, and Ford's focus moved toward utility and crossover vehicles.
Notes on variants
The Taurus line historically offered trims from basic SE to upscale Limited, and the performance-oriented SHO; by 2019, most customers saw the Taurus as a budget-friendly, comfortable family sedan with optional all-wheel drive in several trims.
What this means for Ford's lineup
The end of the Taurus reflected a broader shift away from traditional passenger cars in North America. Ford, like many automakers, prioritized SUVs, crossovers, and trucks to meet consumer demand, fleet needs, and regulatory considerations, resulting in the Taurus' departure from the lineup.
Summary
The Ford Taurus' final model year in the United States was 2019. Since then, Ford has focused on SUVs and crossovers, leaving behind a longstanding nameplate that once defined family sedans in American driveways and on fleet lots. The Taurus' retirement marks a turning point in Ford's product strategy and a broader industry trend away from traditional sedans toward higher-riding utility vehicles.
