To Serve and Accelerate: Police Cruiser Performance Has Come a Long Way Since 2009
Every automotive enthusiast goes through a period in their teens where they wonder just how fast a police car would be against their entirely hypothetical sports car of choice.
Well, had they known the police were just giving this information away, they wouldn’t have needed to.
Every year, the Michigan State Police hold a track day where they compile a load of performance data for various vehicles used in law enforcement. They then toss that data up on their website. While it’s fun for civilians to read, the results influence purchasing decisions made by police agencies around the country.
This year’s MSP evaluations included the Dodge Charger, Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Explorer (aka Police Interceptor Utility) and the Taurus (aka Police Interceptor), each outfitted with various packages and powertrains. The quickest accelerating sedan was the Ford Taurus equipped with all-wheel drive and a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, which rocketed to 60 miles per hour in 6.17 seconds. Chevrolet’s Caprice recorded the highest top speed (155 miles per hour) when equipped with the 6.0-liter V8.
However, even a bargain-basement Taurus equipped with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder — this year’s slowest vehicle — matched or bested the emergency vehicle staples of just a few years ago.
In 2009, the MSP performed the same tests with a fleet of Ford Crown Victorias and Chevrolet Impalas. Both vehicles, even in their best Interceptor and 9C1 trims, found it nearly impossible to beat a 8.5 second 0-60 time. The only one to reach 100 mph in under 23 seconds was a Crown Vic with the optional 3.55 gearing, but the more aggressive rear end reduced its top speed to a measly 120 mph. Meanwhile, all 2016 cars proved notably faster to 60 and — in most cases — several seconds faster to 100, with top speeds frequently climbing above 130 mph.
Those 2009 tests did include the Dodge Charger, equipped with an optional 5.7-liter V8. The outlier Dodge hinted at things to come with a brisker 0-60 time and a top speed that made the rest of the ’09 cars look antiquated. However, the newish Charger would have to wait a few more years before coming the more prevalent black and white on the roadways. Early models suffered from brake system issues, causing wary agencies to stay away — especially when they could still buy reliable and easy to repair Crown Victorias.
A faster fleet isn’t quite as important to law enforcement as a durable one, however. Police vehicles are, more or less, keeping pace with the increased performance of cars in general. It may not be so much a case of modern day cruisers being wildly fast; more likely, the cop cars from yesteryear were a little slower than average.
At any rate, it’s too difficult to tell a 3.5-liter Ecoboost Taurus police car from the 2.0-liter when it’s filling your rearview mirror. I wouldn’t risk a chase until they all start driving Honda Insights.
[h/t to Jalopnik]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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The thought of a police car or SUV driven at triple-digit speeds by a typical cop is frightening, especially at night because of the vehicle's poor headlights. Then consider the crummy aftermarket tires that public agencies buy. The public would be better served if police agencies drove smaller cars with four-cylinder engines. Search the internet to see the brightly painted cars that Australian and British police drive.
I'm curious to what rinky-dink backwater hick town you live in ? . Cop cars use special extremely expen$ive tires rated to 140 MPH . As far as the Officers driving abilities , you shouldn't impose your lack of ability on them . -Nate