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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  Its a sad, sad day. - 2002 Mercury Sable
  By rstravis - August 31 - 10:33 pm

  10 years ago, I sold Lincolns and Mercurys. So when I needed to buy a car 5 years ago I knew the Sable was a good choice, as long as I got the LS (Duratec Engine). I loved the engine, the leather, the power seat, etc., and knew that engin e was reliable. I was right. 5 years with no major problems (just a blower motor which I fixed for 50 bucks). Just paid it off 3 weeks ago, and planned to drive it to 200k (it has 108 now), but I crashed today and the car is totalled. 4 car accident, and it was smashed pretty good. I was the first to get out of my car and felt fine besides a sore neck. So thats one more reason to love my Sable. Ill miss it.

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  My Sable - 2002 Mercury Sable
  By Bill Hughes - August 31 - 2:00 am

  A great car for all around use. Very dependable.

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  Sable beats Toyota & Honda - 2004 Mercury Sable
  By Michael McLachlan - August 21 - 10:00 am

  The Mercury Sable is a fine automobile and a well-kept secret by Ford Motor Company. Theyve built a terrific car that is SUPERIOR to Toyota and Honda rivals. The value of this car far exceeds the high purchase proce and high maintenance costs of the Japanese imports.

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  Great family car buy - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By Dan Robinson - August 21 - 10:00 am

  If you are looking for a roomy, reliable family car - this is the one. I test drove the Accord, great car but seems it had shrunk over the previous years models in drivers room - the adjustable pedals on the LS premium and power adjustable driver seat make for a great ride. I test drove other midsize cars such as Camry and GrandAm and Dodge Intrepid, but found that the Mercury offered more bang for the buck. Sunroof, adj. pedals, leather interior, side impact beams all came with the LS premium packaged for much less than the other vehicles driven.

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  Expected better - 2002 Mercury Sable
  By Mustang Gal - July 27 - 11:33 pm

  I expected better from the 2002 Sable. Ive owned Ford products my whole life and never had the problems Ive had with this car. I purchased used with less than 55,000 miles and just turned over 80,000 miles. In the last 18 months, I had to replace the fuel pump - car let me down while I was on vacation and I had to rent a car to get to my destination! A month ago I replaced the right ball socket and head gasket. Ever since the head gasket was replaced, the heat doesnt work right - not good in the Northeast during the winter. Also, since the head gasket was replaced, the engine was making a chirping sound. From outside the vehicle, sounded like a belt slipping - its the camshaft sensor!

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  My 2003 Sable - 2004 Mercury Sable
  By Shirley Blake - July 22 - 10:00 am

  When I first purchased my Sable, I noticed the poor gas mileage. (12mpg) I called the service department, and he said I needed much more mileage. When I had 2000 miles on it, I brought it in, and they ran a test on it. Brought back the results and said the car was fine. I was getting 14 mpg then. Went on to explain that the advertised mileage was only an "estimate." I got no satisfaction from them. I sometimes get 16. When I took a long trip, I got 24. That was the only time I got decent mileage.

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  Disowning Ford - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By Dvldog - July 13 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I purchased this car to haul our two kids, one dog, and luggage for family vacations (just call me Clark Griswald). Although we have had some problems (suspension and tire wear) overall the car is okay. Mostly, I am sick of Ford taking me to the cleaners anytime something goes wrong with the car. Even the Ford dealership cant perform normal maintenance, they generally have to replace large portions of the car rather then faulty part (no wheel bearings on this car [$10] only wheel hubs [$75]). If you ask me it sounds like blatant planned obsolesce. I think this is the last Ford for us.

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  Great Car, Great Value. - 2002 Mercury Sable
  By MBrash - June 19 - 10:00 am

  With the great incentives offered, this car turned out to be a real bargain. The performance and handling is great. Plenty of room and comfort, great for road trips.

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  So far so good in the Sable - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By Hans - June 19 - 9:26 am

  Ive had my Sable since November and so far it has been great. Im 23 so I cant say I love the car, but its done everything Ive asked it to so far. I bought it as a fill in until I can buy something I really like, and its been great. I occasionally drive about 4 hours to see my family and the Sable has performed wonderfully. I get roughly 27 mpg on the highway and between 17-20 around town. Mine is the base model with almost no options, but it performs great for what it is. Very solid, reliable sedan with room to spare.

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  always something going wrong - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By Mike - June 16 - 9:16 pm

  It had 118,000 miles on it when I bought it in 2004. In one year I have replaced the battery, steering pump, back brake calipers, rotors, tires, spark plug wires, O2 sensor, coolant over flow bottle, rack and pinion $900, and the engine light is on now and the car surges because another sensor has gone bad and its like having a car payment every month. My Windstar was worse. My family has owned Ford cars for more than 50 years and they all had electrical problems. Once the engine light comes on it never shuts off. Ive had it!!!