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:

• 

  go mercury go! - 2004 Mercury Sable
  By mercury - July 21 - 10:00 am

  Second owned Mercury Sable and 3rd mercury in the family. Very good reliability and styling. Win buy another, 22mpg city needs improvement.

• 

  Get One Quick - 2005 Mercury Sable
  By GCB - July 19 - 11:50 am

  This car is fabulous! You could call it a sleeper. Sable is not well known by most people looking for a car in this class, but it sure beats all the imports. It has everything, looks, size, comfort, performance, price and quality. Ford has had alot of time to get the bugs out and refine this vehicle to where it is as near to perfect as you can get. Of course, then it has to be discontinued because it has been around too long and the name or the style isnt "cool" to some. I think it was way ahead of its time when it was first designed and is still a very nice looking, safe, comfortable and functional car. Better find one fast. Not many 2005s left. Dont get a "me to" import. Be different.

• 

  I know I will get 300,000 miles - 2002 Mercury Sable
  By Andrew - June 30 - 10:43 am

  I needed a comuter car so it needed to be reliable. Pat Goss from Auto week mentioned that the drivetrain was bulletproof now I see why. My car is at its 5th owner and starts strong every time. I would have liked to have the LS with the 200hp but with switching the air filter to a K&N and using 93 octane fuel gets me close. I actually feel it gets better performance because with the LS the power is all top end. Peak torque starts at 2500 rpm so with only slight presure on the gas she moves. For handling all I needed to do was change to lower profile tires, now it will and has out cornered BMWs.

• 

  Very Durable Performer - 1997 Mercury Sable
  By Rolling in Mississip - June 11 - 10:00 am

  We had our previous Sable (1986 wagon) for 240,000 miles and loved it -- great ride, room and comfort, plus 30 mpg highway. So we bought the 1997. Initially, I didnt like it much because the seats were firmer, the springs were harsher and the ride had too much "road feel." It also had less interior space. (And lower fuel economy (28 mpg highway). All that said, my admiration for the car keeps growing and growing. It is very dependable. Nothing has had to be replaced except for tires and oil, so far. This baby ought to go 300,000 easy.

• 

  Update - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By Merlin - June 10 - 8:40 am

  Purchased the car ll/07 and immediately fell in love with it. However, after a few months and several thousand miles some chinks have appeared in its armor. Gas mileage is awful. 20 mpg in mixed driving and 24/25 freeway driving. Computer consistently shows 4 mpg more than car is actually getting. Also, car has developed an annoying noise in the front suspension that is worsening with time. Havent had a chance to get it back to dealer yet.

• 

  It has its ups and downs. - 1998 Mercury Sable
  By Arah - June 8 - 10:00 am

  At first it was a great car. Then after a year little bad things kept happening. Window frames keep breaking, paint job flecking, windshield wipers goofy, parking brake light misbehaves, door sensors often wrong (had to remove interior light bulbs to save battery), hinge on front storage compartment broke, springs in change storages broke. Etc. On the plus side though nothing serious has ever broken. The only major failure after 160,000 miles was the bearing in the alternator went bad.

• 

  So Far So Good - Part I - 2004 Mercury Sable
  By 04SableDriver - May 20 - 10:36 pm

  Wassup All! Just bought my new 04 Sable GS last week and so far, so good! I traded up from a Dodge Neon, so you can imagine my standards arent too high, but here goes... Foremost, I appreciate this cars very spacious interior. Im over 6 tall, and leg/elbow/shoulder room are not problems here. American cars are know for their smooth and quiet rides, and this Sable is no exception, but moreover I appreciate that the car is smooth without being floaty or boaty - overall it makes for a nice balance between "traditional" and "contemporary." Long-term durability worries me, but well see; material/build quality appears high; feature content is certainly excellent!(Part IIs a comin!)

• 

  Very Solid Car - 2002 Mercury Sable
  By Not even Ford people - May 14 - 4:03 am

  My wife and I have a truck and a car so we normally take the car everywhere we go because it is a better ride and has better gas millage. I have no problem keeping this 02 until 2010.

• 

  A Great American Sedan - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By cthelightnh - April 26 - 11:23 pm

  We have had the Sable for 6 months and have found it to be a very good sedan. Plenty of room with very comfortable seats. It comes with the features you would expect in an American Sedan. It has enough power to cruise smoothly and quietly down the highway. 6 speed tranny gives it extra zip when you need it. Great sightlines so it is easy to drive around town too. The Sable is easy to park. It is reasonably quiet and has a very good ride. It came off the lot with no initial quality defects which is 1st for me. It developed noise in front end later but was addressed in a Service Bulletin under warranty. Averaging around 22 mixed MPG. I would recommend to anyone wanting a large family sedan.

• 

  Solid and Dependable - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By tomahan - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Car has worked flawlessly,nothing but regular maintenance to date. Replaced original set of tires at 58k miles. Automatic transmission shifting good be smoother from low to high gear when power accelerating. Car is ugly, but very comfortable to drive.