Charting the Five-Ohs: Next-gen Cop Car Comparo

[mikeyb]

It used to be that every full-line American automaker offered a version of its mainstream full-size sedan to make it appropriate for police duty. By the time 1996 rolled around, the Chevrolet Caprice, which was the last would-be competitor to the standard-setting Ford Crown Victoria, was discontinued, leaving the lucrative police market to the Blue Oval Boys.

The automotive industry took notice, and plans began in corporate board rooms to remedy that situation, and even a few new entrants most notably Carbon Motors sprung up with promising designs that eschewed the mainstream production-based sedan design.

In 2005, Dodge rolled out a factory police package for its full-size Charger sedan, and for the first time in a decade the Crown Victoria faced some stiff V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive competition. Then in 2009, Chevrolet announced that its new Zeta platform Caprice would be returning for the 2011 model year packing a strong 6.0-liter V8 of its own.

How would Ford answer this newly mounted competition? Would the aging Panther-based Crown Vic finally get an update? Nope. Instead, Ford just recently announced that it would soon offer a highly ruggedized version of its most recent Taurus sedan, optionally equipped with the stout 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine powering all four wheels as seen in the revived Taurus SHO.

We decided to see for ourselves how the three new competitors stacked up against the old guard Crown Vic on paper, and as you can see, there's little to separate each offering on the spec sheets. It should prove interesting to see how police agencies react to these choices, especially since reliability and durability will be mostly unknown factors for the first time in ages. See for yourself.

<TABLE style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255); WIDTH: 630px; HEIGHT: 1051px" border=1 cellSpacing=0 borderColor=#ffffcc cellPadding=3 sizset="179" sizcache="7"><!-- Row 1 --><TBODY sizset="179" sizcache="7"><TR sizset="179" sizcache="7"><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>

</TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left sizset="179" sizcache="7"></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left sizset="180" sizcache="7"></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left sizset="181" sizcache="7"></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126>Ford Crown Vic</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126>Ford Taurus</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126>Dodge Charger</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126>Chevrolet Caprice</TD></TR><!-- Row 2 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Availability</TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Forever</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Late 2011</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>2005 - Present</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>2011</SMALL></TD></TR><!-- Row 3 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Type</TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Four-door, body on frame</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Four-door, enhanced unibody</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Four-door, unibody</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Four-door, unibody</SMALL></TD></TR><!-- Row 4 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Engine</TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>4.6L V8</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>3.5L V6
Twin-turbo 3.5L V6</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>5.7L Hemi V8</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>6.0L V8</SMALL></TD></TR><!-- Row 5 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Power</TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>250 horsepower</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>263 horsepower
365 horsepower</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>368 horsepower</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>355 horsepower</SMALL></TD></TR><!-- Row 6 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Torque</TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>297 lb-ft</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>249 lb-ft</SMALL>
<SMALL>350 lb-ft
</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>395 lb-ft</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>385 lb-ft</SMALL></TD></TR><!-- Row 7 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Fuel Economy</TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>14 City / 21 Highway</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>18 City / 28 Highway (2010 Ford Taurus FWD)</SMALL>
<SMALL>17 City / 25 Highway (2010 Ford Taurus SHO AWD)
</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>16 City / 25 Highway</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>15 City / 24 Highway (2009 Pontiac G8 GT)
</SMALL></TD></TR><!-- Row 8 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Driveline</TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Rear-Wheel</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Front or All-Wheel</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Rear-Wheel</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Rear-Wheel</SMALL></TD></TR><!-- Row 9 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Shifter</TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Column</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Column</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Column</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Console</SMALL></TD></TR><!-- Row 10 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Wheels</TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>17-inch steel</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>18-inch steel</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>18-inch steel</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>18-inch steel</SMALL></TD></TR><!-- Row 11 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Brakes</TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Four-Wheel Discs</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Four-Wheel Discs</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Four-Wheel Discs</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Four-Wheel Discs</SMALL></TD></TR><!-- Row 12 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Cop Brakes</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126><SMALL>Y</SMALL></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126><SMALL>Y</SMALL></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126><SMALL>Y</SMALL></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126><SMALL>Y</SMALL></TD></TR><!-- Row 13 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Cop Suspension</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126><SMALL>Y</SMALL></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126><SMALL>Y</SMALL></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126><SMALL>Y</SMALL></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126><SMALL>Y</SMALL></TD></TR><!-- Row 14 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Cop Cooling</TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126><SMALL>Y</SMALL></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126><SMALL>Y</SMALL></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126><SMALL>Y</SMALL></TD><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" vAlign=center width=126><SMALL>Y</SMALL></TD></TR><!-- Row 15 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Seats</TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Front - Cloth
Rear - Vinyl Bench</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Front - Cloth
Rear - Vinyl Bench</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Front - Cloth
Rear - Cloth Bench</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>Front - Cloth
Rear - Vinyl Bench</SMALL></TD></TR><!-- Row 16 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Interior Volume</TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>106.4 Cubic Feet</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>102.3 Cubic Feet</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>104 Cubic Feet</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>112 Cubic Feet</SMALL></TD></TR><!-- Row 17 --><TR><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left>Trunk Space</TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>20.6 Cubic Feet</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>20.1 Cubic Feet</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>16.2 Cubic Feet</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=center width=126 align=left><SMALL>18 Cubic Feet</SMALL></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=126 align=left>Special Features
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=126 align=left><SMALL>Overwhelming Ubiquity
</SMALL>
<SMALL>Tough as nails
</SMALL>
<SMALL>Capable of withstanding 75-mph rear impact</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=top width=126 align=left><SMALL>Seats with downsized lateral bosters, cut-outs for utility belts

Ford SYNC

Safety Canopy side-curtain air bag

Rollover protection system

Customizable steering-wheel switches

Rear doors swing 71-degrees

Capable of withstanding 75-mph rear impac</SMALL><SMALL>t

BLIS (Blind Spot Information System)

Cross Traffic Alert

Rear View Camera System

Reverse Sensing System</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=top width=126 align=left><SMALL>160-mph (certified) calibrated speedometer

AM/FM radio with CD player, changer controls, four speakers and clock with auxiliary audio input jack

Load-leveling, height-control shock absorbers

Independently switched red/white LED dome lamp</SMALL></TD><TD vAlign=top width=126 align=left><SMALL>Seats with downsized lateral boosters, cutouts for utility belts

In-dash touch-screen computer technology

Driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature</SMALL></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[skylar2ups]

I wish I knew the price per vehicle. But I wouldn't mind seeing a few Ford Taurus cruisers. (Plus the MPG on the Taurus is kinda great... in police cars at least.)