Ford has made a number of enhancements to the Taurus large sedan for the 2013 model year promising improvements in fuel economy and performance. We just took delivery of one of the first models to hit dealer lots—a Limited trim with front-wheel drive and the standard 3.5-liter V6 Ti-VCT engine that promises an additional 2 mpg in highway mileage and an extra 25 horsepower.

We ran into an interesting challenge in finding the car. Some dealerships tried to sell our secret shopper a 2012 model, saying it would be June before the new models would arrive. Only one dealership worked to locate a 2013 Taurus, thereby earning our business and reminding us of the importance of shopping both for best cars and dealerships. Despite the freshening, we immediately got a rebate, knocking $1,000 off the price. Even with the discount, the well-equipped sedan was not cheap but in line with most direct competitors.

Our Taurus stickered for $37,885, including additional costs for the ruby red metallic paint and moon roof. A $2,700 package added a blind-spot monitoring system, heated and cooled front seats, HD radio, adjustable pedals with memory, push-button start, power tilt-and-telescope wheel, and auto-dimming driver's side mirror.

The Taurus came with the upgraded MyFord Touch infotainment system, which we recently installed on our 2011 Lincoln MKX. The on-screen fonts and buttons are larger and the home screen has more clearly labeled functions than before. However, the touch screen remains awkward to use as are the steering wheel controls and we continue to yearn for some old-fashioned knobs or a more intuitive screen.

We'll see how the Taurus competes against other large front-drive sedans, including the redesigned Hyundai Azera and Toyota Avalon.