Available as a sedan capable of carrying up to six people or a wagon seating up to eight passengers, the 2005 Ford Taurus is offered in two trim levels this year: SE and SEL. Our test car was a Grandma gold 2005 Taurus SEL sedan with a boring beige interior, rendering us virtually invisible to everyone.

Standard SE equipment includes power windows with driver’s side one-touch down, power door locks, power mirrors, six-passenger seating, air conditioning, cruise control, and remote keyless entry. The optional SE Preferred Equipment package adds five-spoke aluminum wheels, a rear spoiler for the sedan, a power driver’s seat, and the 60/40 split-folding rear seat that comes standard on the wagon.

SEL models add a driver’s door keypad for remote access, approach lamps, seven-spoke aluminum wheels, a CD player, a compass, an exterior temperature display, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power driver’s seat with manual lumbar adjustment, illuminated visors, a programmable garage door opener, and wood grain interior accent trim. The optional SEL Premium package adds a six-disc CD changer, electronic climate control, leather seating surfaces, a rear spoiler, a power adjustable passenger’s seat, and automatic headlamps.

Either model can be equipped with the Safety and Security package, which adds antilock brakes, side-impact airbags, and traction control. Stability control is not available. In NHTSA crash tests, the 2005 Ford Taurus turned in an average performance, providing three-star side-impact protection with or without the side airbags. Frontal crash scores were four stars for the driver and five stars for the front passenger. But the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) calls the Taurus a “Best Pick” in the 40-mph offset front crash test. The IIHS has not performed side-impact testing on the Taurus.

Judged by the price on the window sticker, the 2005 Ford Taurus is a poor value. Our SEL test car was saddled with an estimated cost of nearly $27,000. But actual selling prices are far below that figure, thanks to customer rebates, dealer incentives, and other discounts. It’s easy to buy a new Taurus with lots of features for less than $20,000, and used models just two years old can be had for around $12,000.