As the big three car manufacturers are cutting back on production of minivans, the various rental agencies are having difficulty in buying enough to meet travelers needs in Hawaii.  With that in mind, rental agencies such as Avis and Budget are looking for alternatives to fill the need for people traveling with more than 5 passengers.

One of the options coming in 2009 with be the Taurus X SEL.  The X stands for “crossover”.  The vehicle is a cross between a minivan and an SUV.  With three rows of seats, excellent storage capacity, and bold styling, this car offers versatility and fun for the whole family.

The Taurus X features a 3.5L V6 powerplant which generates 263 hp and 249 lbs./ft. of torque.  With gas prices so high, it’s worth noting that this car gets decent gas mileage at an EPA rated 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.  Th V6 puts the power to the front wheels with a 6 speed automatic transmission.  The front wheel drive also features traction control to help you negotiate those twisty turns on the road to Hana.

On the inside, the Taurus X comfortably seats 6 passengers.  The stadium style seating places the third row of seats higher than the second to enhance visibility for easier sight-seeing.  There is a roomy cargo area (85.5 cu. ft. of cargo space) which is rated to hold up to 3 large suitcases and 2 small ones.  For those of you wanting to use it with your surfboards, the 3rd row of seats folds down and the passenger seat in the second row also folds down making for a long flat area in which to  lay your equipment down while keeping it safe and secure.  

The Taurus X gets excellent safety ratings.  To enhance it’s on-road safety performance, the vehicle offers front and side airbags, safety-belt pretensioners, traction control, four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), and excellent visibility.  

With a strong, efficient engine, decent gas mileage, roomy cargo area, excellent safety features, bold styling, seating for 6 passengers and the fold down rear seats, the Ford Taurus X will offer a strong package for travelers to Hawaii in 2009.  It may also offer an excellent alternative for the large family finding a shortage of minivans.  We will be offering the Taurus X through Avis, Budget, and Hertz car rentals in 2009.