Overview & Reviews

The Mercury Sable has always been a kindred spirit to folks like Clint Howard, Kevin Dillon or any Baldwin not named Alec -- celebrities with even more famous siblings. People who will always be greeted with, "Hey, aren't you so-and-so's brother?" or "Your nose is much bigger than your sister's." Along the same lines, it's just about impossible to talk about the Mercury Sable midsize sedan without mentioning the Ford Taurus, its nearly identical sibling that for about half its life was the number-one car sold in the United States.

The Sable came out in 1986 at the same time as its Blue Oval-wearing stablemate, sporting the same revolutionary "jelly bean" shape and thoroughly competent driving experience -- plus it offered nifty full-width front fascia lighting. Yet the Ford got all the headlines, all the accolades and most of the sales. It should have been enough to send the Sable on a one-way trip to Billy-Carter-ville.

Alas, the Sable survived in the shadow of its more popular fraternal twin in complete anonymity as it aged ungracefully amid a family sedan segment that was rapidly getting better. Although discontinued after the 2005 model year, the Sable name was resurrected in 2008, replacing the Montego moniker. Sadly for the Sable, the discontinued Taurus was revived as well, further sealing the Sable's fate, as 2009 would be the last year for the model. Two years later, the Mercury brand itself would go extinct.

Most Recent Mercury Sable
The fifth and last generation of the Mercury Sable was produced (in a fashion) from 2005 through 2009. This car actually debuted as the Montego, reviving an ancient Mercury moniker. But the company evidently felt there was too much heritage in the Sable name and thus renamed the Montego "Sable" for '08. If you're looking at a used Montego, note that it was powered by a comparatively wheezy 203-horsepower V6. A more potent, 263-hp V6, as well as a styling refresh, was part of the Sable's rebirth. In standard form, both were offered with front-wheel drive, but buyers could opt for all-wheel-drive versions as well.

In keeping with its more upscale reputation, the base trim levels were well equipped with 17-inch wheels, full power accessories, power front seats, a CD player with auxiliary input, and the creature comforts you'd expect from other sedans in this segment. Stepping up to the Premier trim level added 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery, heated mirrors and front seats, dual-zone climate control and an upgraded stereo with a CD changer and satellite radio. Options included a sunroof, a navigation system, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and, on '08 and later Sables, the Sync system (standard on the Premier), which allowed voice activation of cell phones and entertainment systems.

Despite being overshadowed by its more popular Ford cousins, the Sable still managed to make its mark with top safety scores, plenty of space for passengers and cargo, a smooth ride and above-average fuel economy for the segment. The Mercury Sable's drawbacks included a non-telescoping steering wheel, a mushy brake pedal and a less-than-engaging driving experience. However, these negatives don't weigh it down enough to take it out of the running when compared to competing full-size sedans. Savvy used car shoppers considering the Taurus will likely note lower pricing with a comparable Sable.

Past Mercury Sable Models
The fourth-generation Mercury Sable generation ran from 2000-'05. Although the basic body shell was carried over from the previous Sable, this edition did away with the ugly "wonderful world of ovals" design scheme, resulting in a more subdued look and improved ergonomics.

The Sable was available in sedan and wagon body styles. Depending on the year, trim levels included GS, GS Plus, LS and LS Premium. Standard equipment was generous on the lower levels, with the LS models providing upscale items like power-adjustable pedals, a power driver seat, automatic climate control and leather upholstery. A rear-facing third-row seat was standard on the LS wagon. The GS came standard with a rather antiquated 3.0-liter V6 (157 hp). Standard on the LS Premium and optional on the LS was a 3.0-liter V6 that boasted twin overhead cams and 24 valves that pushed output to 200 hp while achieving practically identical fuel economy.

Although this generation of Sable and its Taurus clone were respectable entries in the midsize sedan segment when they debuted, they were quickly outpaced and found themselves languishing as unwanted fleet and rental cars. Although they provide comfortable transportation at a low price, other used midsize sedans are more modern, competent choices.

The third-generation Mercury Sable sold from 1996-2000 featured one of the most controversial redesigns in automotive history. It shared the same oval-themed design as its Taurus sibling, but added further bizarre details that created a look that could be described as either "snakelike" or "fishy." Inside, the strange dashboard design drew more mixed reviews, featuring audio and climate controls bunched together in a single oval pod. Some saw it as a blast of fresh air; others as an ergonomic annoyance.

There were two engines available. The GS trim level came with a 3.0-liter "Vulcan" V6 that produced 145 hp, while the LS came with a 200-hp "Duratec" V6. When it arrived on the scene, we were impressed with this all-new Mercury Sable, even if its styling left us a little befuddled and/or nauseous. We thought it was better than most American sedans, while noting that Honda, Toyota and later Oldsmobile offered more compelling choices.

The second-generation Sable ran from 1992-'95 and could perhaps be considered the pinnacle for this car. An evolution of the original, its lower-profile nose and slightly crisper lines tastefully updated the car, while hardware improvements included new safety features such as antilock brakes and a passenger side airbag. Sable sedans and wagons came with either a 3.0-liter V6 or 3.8-liter V6. Horsepower was the same at 140, but the larger engine provided more torque. A four-speed automatic was the only available transmission.

The first-generation Mercury Sable ran from 1986-'91. Compared to the boxy architecture of its competition, the "jellybean" (and aerodynamically efficient) look of the Sable and its Ford Taurus sibling were a breath of fresh air. Plus, the Sable had a front fascia featuring an illuminated "grille" that connected the headlamps with uninterrupted light -- pretty cool in a futuristic sort of way. A 90-hp inline-4 (with either a manual or automatic transmission) and a 3.0-liter, 140-hp V6 (automatic only) were initially offered, but the former engine sold so poorly that it was dropped for 1987. A 3.8-liter V6 became available in 1988 that also produced 140 hp, but pumped out 55 more lb-ft of torque.

User Reviews:

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  Lots of problems - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By Miche - January 21 - 2:06 pm

  Axle gasket has been replaced twice and is going in for a 3rd time to get fixed due to leaking again! Car stalls while it is in motion when air conditioner is on. It also stalls while idling. I will be driving and the car just shuts down on its own. Mercury dealership says there is nothing wrong with it. I bet they change their minds when I go off the road due to no power of any kind when it stalls. Seat warmer has a burning smell when it is on for more that 5 minutes. Not happy!

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  Been a good car - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By 99 Sable - January 16 - 9:53 am

  Had 51,000 miles on it when I bought it, 116,500 on it now. Power steering pump replaced a couple years ago, front wheel bearings needed replacing at 105,000, and having trouble with the heater now (think maybe the heater core is plugged). It also needs an exhaust manifold gasket at present. Thats about it other than normal maintenance like brakes, battery, etc. Been a good car, like the styling, rides and handles decent, runs good, has always started even at well below 0, gets dent gas mileage. Cant complain too much really.

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  Money Wasted - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By Bha45146 - January 8 - 3:20 pm

  I bought this car used with only 80,000 miles on it. 3 days after purchase the trans went out, thank god for 30 day warranties, but then the blower for the heater went out, the wiring for the AC burnt up so now no heat or air, coils burnt out, the drivers side window keeps getting stuck, will go down but not back up,even put a new window motor in it 3 times, still have this problem. I paid $5,000 for the car and have put $4,000 in it and still have nothing but junk!

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  Its been a good car. - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By KO - January 2 - 10:00 pm

  I purchased this vehicle my soph. year of college (9/04) with 71k miles for $5,000 from an older couple. I put on new tires, bigger rotors and pads and drove this vehicle across the country a few times without a single problem. It now has 123,000 miles and its still going strong. Its a comfortable, and reliable ride for commuting. It has a lot of standard features, and the vulcan engines will easily run 300k- 400k with regular oil changes. If you can find one of these vehicles with a good service record, I would recommend buying.

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  Nice - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By Lydia - January 2 - 12:50 am

  This car is in my family and I drive it sometimes. My dad loves it. It had only minor problems in the almost 3 years weve had it including this freaky thing where the left passenger side window shattered out of nowhere. It has 50,000 something miles and is still doing great.

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  GREAT USED CAR SO FAR - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By Mikefromsantaclara - December 19 - 10:00 am

  Driven 50,000 miles over the past two years, no major problems. Just did my first brake job at 65,000 miles along with a major tune-up. Oil changes every 6,000 miles with filter changes every other 12,000. Driven every day for business. Over the road Salesman start and stop traffic, with alot of highway miles.

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  Grat Mercury - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By Eloy - December 17 - 10:00 am

  This car is absolutly great, better than expensives $$$ european sedans, its comfortable, runs good, and the design is perfect, and other thing "Build Quality", its a good car, luxury, and great performance, this car can make this looks good. I Hadnt mechanic problems, so i recommend this car a lot, its a real luxury jet.

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  Great - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By Mercury Girl - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I usually drive about 300 miles a day, and with the Sable, I never get bored. Great performance, I feel safe, its comfortable, and reliable. I drove 2000 miles to North Carolina and back, and she made it just beautifully. I love my car, and with oil changes every 5,000 miles instead of 3,000, I never worry about being that poor girl broke down on the side of the road!

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  Mercury Sable- A very good American car - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By Bill Francis - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I think the Sable is one of the most underrated vehicles on the road today. I have test driven the new Camry and while I liked it, I much prefer the Sable for overall performance, interior style, and even the exterior styling in spite of being somewhat dated. It is still a very attractive car. This is our 5th. Sable, after a four year hiatus with two Lincoln Continentals. Believe me, there is no $20,000 difference in these cars, which is the variance in the sticker price of the two vehicles. I really wonder why all the Auto Rags talk up the rice burners and down-play the American iron. Buy American.

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  Couldnt beat the price - 2002 Mercury Sable
  By MerleB - November 26 - 10:00 am

  We bought this car with only 10,000 miles for $11,775. Lots of car for the money, couldnt have touched anything remotely comparable for the price. Remainder of factory warranty. Certainly not my dream car (BMW 740)but it is a great value.