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:

• 

  38 months and counting - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By kessdoggie - August 26 - 2:00 am

  Solid performer overall, may have lower trade in value than Honda/Toyota, but I paid a lot **less** for it to begin with. Get about 24 on highway (65-70 mph avg) and about 17 around town.

• 

  Great Vehicle ! - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By JS - August 24 - 12:26 am

  10 days & 500 miles. Sticker is $32K, got $2k off from the dealer and $2k factory rebate. I am pleased & impressed. This is a lot of automobile for $28K. I cant believe Ford is not advertising this vehicle. Fit & finish is on par with any Honda or Toyota. While not a Vette or Lincoln Town Car, this is a powerful, smooth, comfortable, roomy & quite vehicle. Huge back seat and huge trunk, not to mention with the trunk passtru & passenger front seat down, you can carry 9 foot items ! SYNC with my Verizon LG cellphone & Apple iPod is fantastic! While gas mileage is not exactly outstanding, one must remember that this is a large (safe) vehicle with AWD.

• 

  Never again... - 1997 Mercury Sable
  By jsez - August 22 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for several years now, and have had nothing but problems with it. I have replaced the O2 sensors, the cam shaft position sensor, and now it needs a new transmission. All of the interior A/C control knobs have broken off. The flip out cup holder is a pain, you have to hold anything in the cup holders to complete a turn unless you want your drink in your lap. NEVER AGAIN will I buy this car or its twin, the Taurus.

• 

  Plain Jane - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By pfeiffer - August 21 - 10:00 am

  One year and no problems. Exterior looks good, but interior ordinary. Lots of "no cost extras" make this car a good value for the $$. Comparably equipped competitors cost thousands more. Have not had any of the problems some of the owners have described and am happy. Depreciation is bad, so shop carefully.

• 

  OOH- shiny! - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By chris1016 - August 14 - 2:43 pm

  I bought the LS Premium with about 22k on it 6 mo. ago. AC compressor went bad after a couple months (luckily I had the extended warranty, but it still cost me a little over $100 deductible). Otherwise, car seems pretty solid. Somewhat luxurious (compared to the blander Taurus anyhow). But my LS came without a 6disc changer! Also, as others have said- the trunk, while of a decent size, is hindered by a too- small, oddly-shaped opening. And yeah, drum brakes? Shame on Ford for that one... Otherwise, Im liking this car quite a bit.

• 

  Sensible car buyer - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By Careful Shopper - August 7 - 10:23 am

  Very pleased with my base model Sable..However the auto I purchased did come with the interior convenience package, Sat. radio, mud flaps, and electric front seats. Very, very quiet, handle well, and rides great.. The transmission is very smooth and the engine is impressive. The fit and finish is extremely good. I feel it was the best car for the money in my price range. I also considered the Avalon, Fusion, Milan, and Tarus. Ive had a lot of experience with the Tarus (Sables twin) with my job and have never had any problems with it. One had over 135000 miles on it. The last time I checked milage was 30.5 with well over half of those miles in city driving.

• 

  My Short-term Driving Experience - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By Gary Ciborowski - July 23 - 10:00 am

  From a die-hard big car buyer, I found the 2003 wagon easy to get used to and fun to drive. I found the small side mirrors hard to adjust to eliminate blind spots and the doors are low so I had to check for high curbs when getting out. Build quality could be better: I have to slam the hood hard to make it catch and the interior has fragile looking switches. The gauges are easy to read, even at night, though the headlamps are not very bright. The front bench center seat is about 11 inches wide. Who can fit there? For the money, not a bad value.

• 

  Solid - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By Ben - July 21 - 7:40 am

  Got this car as a hand me down from my mom, which she bought used. The engine is solid, however the transmission can be suspect at times. Currently have 147,000 miles on it, with only wear parts being replaced, as well as the speed sensor at 145,000. Mileage is not amazing, about 20-24mpg city highway. Great highway cruiser.

• 

  Been a Great Car - 1998 Mercury Sable
  By zachtenfrugen - July 15 - 9:00 am

  This car was a fleet car when I purchased it in 2001. Although it had 170,000 miles on it at the time, it had been meticulously maintained. I actually am one of those "strange" people who loved the look of it. I still love the look. Its been a great car, and Ive put 40,000 more miles on it. Finally had to put in a $2,200 transmission in it last year, but I now have 205,000 miles on it and plan to keep it til it literally falls apart!! Good gas mileage, very roomy inside, very dependable car. I actually consider buying another one. This car just seemed to "fit" me.

• 

  good car, good price - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By bobby064 - July 4 - 10:00 am

  good all around family car. reliable, safe, good equipment.comfortable.