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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  Flywheel? - 2002 Mercury Sable
  By NH,JH - November 24 - 2:40 am

  Solid feel, wagon is stylish,in lighter colors. Almost five years of ownership. BUT, a minor and a major problem. Minor: grabbing windshield wipers, even after dealer replaced at 25K miles. Rainex helps for a while. MAJOR: Flywheel just replaced, at 70K miles. Also, the starter. A bit over a year ago, there was an occasional screech at startup attempt. It kept getting more frequent. Of course, it didnt do it for the dealer AND the symptoms described to same did not lead them to suspect, as they should have, a flywheel defect. The reason for all the detail above: have others had same problem?

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  SOLID - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By Uncle Rem - November 20 - 2:00 am

  It came down to the Sable or Camry (my last two were Tauruses). The Sable has a solid feel, more powerful engine, and cheaper price. I am fresh off the lot with my Sable, but my Taurus was relatively bug-free for the 120,000 miles I drove it. Granted, Camry has a better rep, but I am not sure why.

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  Well... - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By Don1090 - November 9 - 10:00 am

  I agree that 155 HP is not enough to move this tank thru town. Turning circle is pretty awful, but in principle fun to drive and provides plenty of room for the driver. Steering has its own ideas.

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  just drive it - 1997 Mercury Sable
  By peretz - October 25 - 2:00 am

  just drive and change the oil. no problems in 163,000 miles

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  Magnificent Mid-size - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By falsesmall - October 16 - 3:36 pm

  Bought this car with 100,000 miles on it and couldnt be happier. Runs like new. The Duratec 6 is responsive and quiet. Flawless shifting in all gears. Loaded with luxury and safety features that make this car a steal..leather, alloy wheels, sunroof, traction control, adjustible pedals, heated mirrors, 6 cd mach audio, ABS, side air bags, etc.,etc. If you want to buy American, here is where you do it. Much more for less. Ford did this one right.

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  Great Griswold Wagon - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By r_berkhei - October 13 - 7:47 am

  My brother asked to help him find a reliable family car. This car would have been at the bottom of my list, but he insisted on checking it out. It had 135k, and looked kinda rough (nothing a good detailing couldnt solve). However the test drive, and a little research sold me. Ive driven it quite frequently on long distance trips. The car is an absolute pleasure. It cruses like a Cadillac and I love the sound system and 6-disk changer. There are some obvious electrical problems, and little glitches with power options and I find the climate control confusing when driving. None the less it is a safe, sophisticated family car that I feel absolutely comfortable with my niece riding in.

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  Best Family Sedan Ever. - 2008 Mercury Sable
  By Aaron - October 2 - 10:56 pm

  The new 2008 Mercury Sable is great it has all the features you could ever want at a price you can afford. The new Sables 3.5L V6 has plenty of horsepower to move the car without any problems and the engine is good on gas so far on highway driving I have manage an excellent 29.2mpg. I love the overall design of the Sable. It looks like a big Milan. The interior is comfortable with plenty of leg and headroom. The materials are great quality. I love the wood trims and the clock in the dash. I think it looks really classy. Also the Sable was rated the safest full-size sedan in America so I feel secure knowing my family is always safe. I really could not ask for a better car. It has been great so far.

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  Very reliable Sable - 1998 Mercury Sable
  By Love that Sable - September 29 - 1:13 pm

  In 1995 I was attracted by the styling of the Sable and Taurus. I like the futuristic aerodynamics shape, it is still looking updated in 2005. Never boring interior. But I was surprise by the excellent reliability. There were not a single problem for 7 years. The Sable is very stable on the road with the firm suspensions, very little float, good for high speed and lane changes. Road holding is very good except on snow. Kind of like driving a train. Very little lean in turns. A lot of car and accessories for the low price. No charge leather, auto air condition, moon roof and air filtration system, heated rear mirrors, California emissions for ULEV,etc. Very roomy inside with a large truck.

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  Best Sable of three Ive had - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By Joe Garibaldi - September 29 - 7:10 am

  Comfortable, lots of guts, smooth. Others that drive it like it. Never had any major work (until this month). Rough idling when warmed up, diagnosed as burnt valve. Covered under factory warranty. Two weeks so far, waiting for repair. Informed it will be another week. Dealer says burnt valve is a very unusual thing. They never say this before (large dealership). Other than that, I like the car, but am now leary. This would be a very expensive repair if not covered under warranty.

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  Great, Solid Car - 2005 Mercury Sable
  By Vic - September 26 - 5:13 pm

  My 2005 Mercury Sable is great! I got a fantastic car, and at a great price. Super value. It has an excellent ride, good performance, and handles great. Has 52,000 miles on it, only routine maintenance thus far (i.e. oil changes & wipers). Still has original tires and brakes! (Never has been in shop for repairs). It has great features for the money, is very comfortable for the family, and has large trunk space. Im not sure Ill ever let it go. Highly recommend it if looking for a good, solid, used car.