Ford Taurus And Volvo 850...Continued

While Ford does not offer all the items listed above, it does offer a superior air filtration system that can filter down to 3 microns. The filtration is important for allergy sufferers and people with chemical sensitivities stuck in traffic jams. Passenger air filtration is a growing trend. The Taurus also can come with an overhead console, engine block heater, third facing rear seat, auto on/delay off headlights and a remote control liftgate release.

So what are the real differences? The Volvo 850 has a sportier, louder and rougher ride, although it is more nimble on the road. The Taurus has a softer ride, it is quieter and more comfortable for long distances. And it is about $8,000 less than the Volvo 850.

At the low end the 850 starts at $28,400. A middle of the line 850 GLT will run the pocketbook up to around $32,000, for a turbo model add about $3,000. You can also spend close to $39,000 for the Platinum Limited Edition 850.

A loaded Ford Taurus LX will come in at around $24,500 and the GL is in the neighborhood of around $21,000, depending on any other extras.

Recently a new Volvo model has been added to the 850 line. Called the 850R, it unleashes more power than the others and is built for the sportiest driver craving excitement on the road. You may have seen the commercial "letting the animal out of the cage." It surely is a refreshing image for Volvo.

Each new model year comes in with more safety features than the one before. The newest feature, the Volvo's side impact air bag, is located on the side of front seats and is the start of what is a revolution of softer interiors and more cushion in a crash. Volvo and Taurus/Sable have been leaders in incorporating greater safety with leading edge technology.