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:

• 

  My Sable - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By CLAREMORE BOY - August 27 - 12:00 pm

  Its been a decent car for the most part. Weve put over 80,000 miles on it in 4 yrs. The problems have been the cooling system, the brake rotors, and the heater core went out a year ago. And why Ford put independent rear suspension on it, ill never know, just extra struts to be replaced! The wind noise is right on the edge of being tolerable. However, I wouldnt be afraid to go cross country in her right now! A person could do worse.

• 

  Nice Ride at a Fair Price - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By daddio - August 26 - 2:00 am

  This is my sixth Sable/Taurus and my first wagon. I am quite satisfied. You get a lot of nice features, a lot of comfort, and a lot of room, all for not much money. I have had no problems with this Sable, and am now giving it to my daughter as her first commuter vehicle.

• 

  Good car - But Unreliable - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By Copyman - August 18 - 10:00 am

  While my Sable LS Premium is a decent car from a comfort and feature standpoint the reliabiity is simply horrible. Ive had the car serviced for brakes problems and recalls 9 times in last the year. If you enjoy losing your car once a month to the dealership and have no confidence in driving over a long distance this is the car for you. Reviews, price, interest rates and reviews and were a big factor for me in purchasing this car. This was my second Ford vehicle and last.

• 

  Clearcoat problems - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By debrad - August 4 - 1:10 am

  This is my third Sable so I must say that I do like them. But the clearcoat on my 2000 sable (black) is beginning to show signs of cracking. The other problem that I have had is the leather on the rear door panels keep falling off. I have had them glued back on four times. I was told that the leather was cut too short. Other than these problems it has been a solid low maintenance vehicle.

• 

  Great car!!! - 2004 Mercury Sable
  By bigdawg17 - July 30 - 12:29 pm

  I bought my Sable new in November of 03 and now have over 100k miles on it and the first thing I had to do to it other than regular maintenance was an A/C compressor this month. The car is stylish,quick and the Mach stereo in it is possibly the best factory stereo Ive ever heard. Comfortable on long trips as well as good mileage. I average around 23 combined city/highway.

• 

  Good American Sedan - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By BamaBoy - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Have been pleased to date. Good power, decent gas mileage in town/great on highway. Roomy for 4 individuals. GOOD FAMILY SEDAN at GREAT PRICE if buying used.

• 

  Great Value - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By Mark - June 28 - 11:50 pm

  I went from a Chrysler 300M to this car and Im so glad I did. It is a great value. It is the roomiest car in its class. I am 64 and can sit comfortably in the back seat with the drivers seat all the way back. However I was slightly disappointed in the foot well space on the drivers side. Also, being tall, my head is pretty close to the roof of the car with the moonroof option. The engine is quiet and has great acceleration when you need it. You may be disappointed in the gas mileage though if you dont do a lot of highway driving. 75% of my miles are highway miles and I still only average about 23.5 MPG. The only real negative I have is the instrumentation. Pretty basic.

• 

  Ford: 4 letter word that starts w/ F - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By bouletheou - June 18 - 2:00 am

  At 64K miles the transmission went out. It was a bad bearing on the pumpshaft which took out the torque converter. That cost $850. At 87K miles a friend wanted to buy it. I told him to have a mechanic check it out and drive it for a few days. Turns out the head gasket was blown. I had no idea. It never got hot and since you cant actually see in the radiator, and the little bottle stayed full, nobody caught it. We are now pround Camry owners.

• 

  Great Ride! - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By Utahguy - June 3 - 12:30 pm

  40K mi; had since new. Have had LOTS of vehicles over the last 40 yrs, and this is truly an outstanding sedan value-wise. BIG interior, HUGE trunk, in nice-sized, "Euro-style" car. NO complaints, other than mileage does suffer some from AWD. Around 17 city/22 hwy @ 80mph.

• 

  Doug Millers 2001 Sable Review - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By Doug Miller - June 1 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Sable for over 2 years and I am very pleased with my overall experiance. I have not grown tired of the looks both inside and out. Although, I wonder how I will feel when Ford decides to do a total make over. I have not had any service issues and I have it routinely maintained every 5K miles.