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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  Awesome - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By Johny - November 21 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 2002 Sable LS Premium in Dec 2002. Opted for the Mach Audio system, with the 6 disk cd changer in the armrest, and spash guards. The car itself rocks. It has a lot of power, does 0-50 in no time. Love the looks of it, and the cabin is quiet also. Gas mileage really sucks. I do about 260 miles per tank the most in the city, and 320 miles per tank on the highway. For people who are thinking about buying it: Its an OK car, except for: Bad gas mileage, water leaking in from under the drivers floormat (car always smells of mold because of that), engineering. And last, its nice and comfortable.

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  Mercury Sable LX sedan - 2004 Mercury Sable
  By Ritter - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Have been driving for 50 years, Have owned 40 new cars, its the best car I ever owned.

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  Mercury Sable Better Than Ever! - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By Nick - November 1 - 11:50 pm

  My 2008 Mercury Sable is fantastic. I could not be happier with it. It handles great. The ride quality is superb, quiet and smooth. I have plenty of head and legroom as well as a great view of the road. The interior quality is superb. The fit and finish of the exterior is very nice. Its very tight. I love the exterior design. The front design is very sleek and I like the clear ailamp covers. The performance of the 3.5L V6 is great. It moves this heavy sedan with no problems and the 6-speed shifts smoothly. And I love the beautiful exterior color. Dark Ink Blue looks awesome and the black leather with white stitching is first class. I am very happy with my new Sable. I suggest you go check one out. Its really good to see that Mercury has finally got a lineup that will get young buyers in to the showrooms myself in included. 10 Years ago I never would have thought i would own a Mercury at 27 Years old.

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  Sable - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By gunsnrods - October 29 - 2:00 am

  I just purchased a used 2003 Sable that is only six months old. This car was loaded with equipment, 15,000 miles, Ford Certified for 75,000 miles, price out the door $11,600 plus tax. Its a great car for the $$, I paid almost this much for a car twenty years ago without the safety equipment and bells and whistles this car has...

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  2008 Sable is Excellent Value - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By Jeff - October 24 - 5:50 pm

  With the $2,000 Lincoln Mercury Factory Rebate to 6/30/08, the new 2008 Sable has become an exceptional value. It has better sound insulation and upgrades than Taurus. This car has more interior room for 6 3" driver and 4 other large adults than any Japanese, German or American car in its price range. Slightly lower MPG is acceptable trade-off for passenger capacity. 6 Speed Trans and 3.5L V6 are excellent, as is overall fit and finish. I am very satisfied with this car and I highly recommend the new Sable over its competitors. Ford is making a remarkable turnaround!

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  2004 Black Sable Platinum Edition - 2004 Mercury Sable
  By Joseph Belluomini - October 19 - 10:00 am

  This is alot of bang for the buck. I chose the Sable LS with the Platinum Edition package. The car is loaded and you would never be able to get this in a honda or toyota for the price I paid. The car is roomier and overall a excellent choice. The best part is there are less Sables on the road than ther others. The car has the classic ride that Ford products are known for. It makes me wonder why people feel they need to spend over 25-30,000 for a car like this that everybody else is driving. My best advise is be different and test drive a Sable. You may just surprise yourself and your wallet!

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  Second Best New Car Ive Bought - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By Jayf - October 15 - 8:43 am

  The car rides great, is quiet as anything and the comfort is wonderful. There is plenty of room for relatives, who my wife and I drive around fairly often. While the fuel economy may not be great to some, it is much better than my previous two vehicles, an Explorer and a Grand Voyager, and a great deal better than the most comfortable new car I ever bought, a 1972 Buick Electra 225.

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  not a good choice - 1999 Mercury Sable
  By florida - October 5 - 10:00 am

  Its no wonder rental car companies buy these. At 19,000 miles, i love it. I drove it to New York form Orlando.Past 25,000 miles, starts to show minor wear and tear(engine rattling).30,000: Brakes arer bad, i keep on bringing it in for brakes until the 40,000 mile mark.Did brakes 20 times(no kidding).Guy at the dealer told me to sell it before serious trouble happens (told me all of the cars are junk).43,500 miles: engine revs to 5000 RPMS when shifting from first to second gear.44,000:I look at camarys,brakes are mushier on camarys than on my sable (drove several camarys). I finialy trade it in for a Hyundai Sonata Do admit sable was very comfortable though.

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  too many problems - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By 2nd sable purchased - October 5 - 10:00 am

  list of problems before i reached 20000, miles. The fuel pump broke 3 times. Once while I was on vacation stranding me in the middle of no where. The second time in rush hour traffic. The rotors had to be replaced after 10000 miles, the drivers side power window and side view mirror also broke. Once the dealership fixed all of these problems i have not had one since. Fords service did take care of all of the problems but it still was a major inconvenience. I will be looking more at imports for my next vehicle.

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  Mercurys are Mistakes - 2004 Mercury Sable
  By Colleen - October 1 - 10:00 pm

  I bought a 2004 Mercury Sable, I like the look of the car I like the size of the car I like the interior, but I have had some hugh problems. First it started with my Starter needing to be replaced ar 30,000 miles, then my battery kept dying, I have to date changed the battery three times and the dealership cannot figure out what is draining my battery, but the dealership is taking the easy way out and saying things to me like, "You must have left your lights on," not once have I left my lights on or a door open? Now the car has 37,000 miles and the transmission needs to be replaced. I will never buy an American car again.