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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  Best Family Value! - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By Jon - August 26 - 10:00 am

  I got a LS Premium in Red with a gold Pinstripe that makes it look very attractive. I have the optional Duratec engine That is very powerful and is good for passing people on the highway. It also gets pretty good gas mileage. Rides very smooth and decently quiet inside. The leather is great and the seats are very supportive. Lots of trunk room too. Great for if you have three kids.

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  Best Family Value! - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By jon - August 26 - 10:00 am

  I got a LS Premium in Red with a gold Pinstripe that makes it look very attractive. I have the optional Duratec engine That is very powerful and is good for passing people on the highway. It also gets pretty good gas mileage. Rides very smooth and decently quiet inside. The leather is great and the seats are very supportive. Lots of trunk room too. Great for if you have three kids.

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  Great Car! - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By Deeter - August 10 - 2:50 am

  I drive over 100 miles a day (round trip to work. It is comfortable and bullet proof. Stock sound system is rock solid. Heating/AC works great. Ride is comfortable and steering is tight (yet smooth). Its not fancy but it gets the job done VERY WELL! Never EVER had any problems and I am well over 100,000 miles. If you find a low mileage one, BUY IT!

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  In need of a trunk lid - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By chastek3 - August 7 - 10:00 am

  Sabel LS is a pleasant, easy to live with family car. The V6 is strong, the transmission smooth and the styling is handsome.

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  2008 Sable is a great car - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By JD - August 6 - 2:43 pm

  I have 17,000 on my 08 Sable, I purchased it new in Feb. 2009 and it has been trouble free. Only warranty service was to align one of the back doors better; if it was not for that my build quality rating would be 10. I wanted a big and smooth car and this one has delivered. It is a big, tall car with easy access to front and rear seating. Performance rating of 9 takes it for what it is, a big smooth car, not a sports car. If you are looking for a used family car this is a great choice.

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  Great investment with 117,700 miles - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By bamagal - August 2 - 10:43 am

  I bought this car from a dealer with 27,000 miles mid-2001 (was formerly a program car). It is a V6 24-valve DOHC and have used regular gas since purchase. Good fuel economy, as it always averaged 23-25 mpg. The engine is a powerful V6, with faster take-off than the other V8 vehicle that I drive; it never hesitates. This car is comfortable for travel, and, has always been reliable - fun to drive too. The power seat and adjustable pedal controls make it easy to find just the right comfort spot behind the steering wheel. Have never had any regrets about this purchase.

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  its too bad - 1997 Mercury Sable
  By john libile - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car with the hope that American manufacturers had actually started to put some quality control into the design/manufacturing process after a decade of being beat out by the Japanese; I was wrong. I bought this car for my daughter and I will never make the same mistake of buying American again. This car has had the transmission rebuilt twice, and it is once again failing.The engine runs poorly and is burning nearly a quart of oil a week; my mechanic tells me its due for a rebuild. The ergonomics are so so and the styling is lackluster. Now I remember why I should stick to Honda and Toyota.

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  Nice car if not for all the faulty "Bells and Wistles". - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By harleyguy2 - July 20 - 10:38 pm

  For the most part the car can well and drove nice. The interior and exterior quality was good. However, the Memory Seats, Power Seats, Heated Seats and Heat and A/C controls were problems from the very start. Each were repaired multiple times under the warranty. After the warranty expired problems with power seats and A/C occurred again. Ford would not peform the repairs under the 12 month 12,000 mile warranty as they said the parts that failed were not the same as the parts repaired the previous year, even though the symptoms of the problem were identical. Finally traded it in on a Foreign car. Cant afford a Ford.

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  QUALITY AT BARGAIN - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By irv - July 20 - 10:00 am

  ONE OF THE FINEST AUTOS IVE OWNED IN FORTY YEARS OF DRIVING IN THE NYC AREA WILL BUY ANOTHER AT 250000MILES EASY SERVICE GREAT SAFETY WITH MY NEW TOYO PREM TIRES . A GREAT FAMILY CAR!

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  A good, solid car - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By Mickie G - July 19 - 12:46 pm

  There is one major drawback, gas gas gas consumption. Otherwise this is a solid investment if you purchase this car with low mileage and car fax proves that it was not driven into the ground. If the car was well maintained and has clean background, this is indeed a great car to have.