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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  Very enjoyable to drive - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By Sold on Mercury - June 11 - 10:00 am

  In terms of value for your money, no other car comes even close! The Mercury is a fun, safe, dependable and comfortable car to drive. This is my 4th Mercury and have never had any problems.

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  I must have found the one lemon! - 2002 Mercury Sable
  By Matt - June 4 - 5:03 pm

  Within 6 mos. the heat started coming on when we turned on the A/C. It still does this. No one can find the problem. Sometimes the heat comes on with the system off. My wife went to start the car in the parking lot at work and the air bags deployed. Glad she wasnt driving down the highway. Im about to buy a Subaru. Maybe the air bags will wait for an accident to work. I will contact Ford about the issue. This car must have been built slowly on Mondays so everyone else got a good one. That would be a good plan to keep the workers with hangovers busy building lemons. Im glad to here no one else has lived our nightmare. We still owe $3,500 on it. Anyone want a Sable for parts?

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  Flawless Thus Far - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By Jamestown Joe - May 25 - 12:13 pm

  2001 Sable LS premier purchased new and driven 56,000 to date without any mechanical issues whatsoever. Still has original brakes and rotors and all other original components. Drives, rides and handles exactly as when purchased. Great value considering all the options included with the Premium model. The 24 valve Durotec engine is smooth and powerful. Recently I have suffered from the new car itch so have been test driving new 2007 vehicles of similar size (domestic and foreign) and cant find sufficient differences to justify trading in the Sable. Perhaps I just " lucked out" but so this has been a great car.

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  awsome - 2003 Mercury Sable
  By 3arredondos - May 21 - 10:00 am

  great family vehicle tons of room for 2 carseats and adult, safety features are a plus extra large trunk that comes in handy

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  170k miles, and still strong! - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By feyden - May 20 - 11:02 am

  Okay, so admittedly, this car is kind of old... Its a 2000, give it a break! But honestly, the thought that Mercury will no longer be making cars makes me sick. The previous owners didnt really take care of it... dirty interior, lack of oil changes, leaky fluids, etc... but WOW did it clean up nice. A box of ArmorAll, some new floor mats, a steering wheel cover, some self-fixing coolant fluid, and an oil change later, and WOW! This car runs like a dream, steering is very responsive (yet acts as a luxury steering system, so you lose a bit of turn radius), acceleration is above average, fuel economy is great (ALWAYS put 93 octane in this car, it will get the best mileage with it).

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  Mixed feelings - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By B.C - May 17 - 10:00 am

  I love the style, power and comfort of my Sable. It is fun to drive. What I have not enjoyed was the multiple trips to the dealer to fix problems. Most were minor electrical problems but 1 took 5 trips to the dealer to resolve the problem. The transmission needed to be replace with only 45,000 miles. The verdict is still out if I would buy another one. They would need to convince me that there quality control had improved.

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  LOVE THIS CAR!!!!!!! - 2000 Mercury Sable
  By lovemysable13 - May 4 - 11:29 am

  I love my 2000 sable!!!! Its amazing. I have owned it for several years and the only type of maintenance I have had to do is standard! Battery, tune ups, oil changes, etc. In 60,000 I have not had to even do the brakes! I wish they still made the mercury sable! I LOVE MY SABLE!

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  Love it, love it - 2001 Mercury Sable
  By Ed Edmundson - May 1 - 8:36 am

  Absolutely love my Sable. The ride and handling is absolutely the perfect mix. Great performance in mountain driving here in New Mexico, and will just glide across the desert 85 miles per hour all day quietly and smoothly getting 33 mpg highway and an amazing 29 in town. I have a bad back, and these are the best seats ever. When my back hurts, I just go for a drive in the Sable, and Im fixed. Have had a couple of minor mechanical issues. Had to replace the serpentine belt tensioner and EGR valve, but big deal. Car makes me feel like I am driving a luxury car, and beautiful to boot.

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  Old reliable - 1998 Mercury Sable
  By Ron - March 31 - 8:20 am

  Bought new with 37 miles on it. Wife drives most of time. After 10 yrs. and 63000 miles it still performs much the same. Duratec v6 hard to beat. Plenty of power to spare and mileage is good for a large car. Car is much lower to ground than new 2008 model. I am 62 now and not as flexible as I was at 52 when I bought. This is now my biggest complaint as entering and exiting has become less convenient. New model probably better for this. In 1st 3 yrs had to replace every power window motor and antenna motor. At warranty end air went out but was repaired by dealer at no cost. Front leather buckets are only good for short trips. Killers for trips over 4 hrs. Trunk only good for groceries or flat items

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  my mercury sable 4dr ls - 1997 Mercury Sable
  By hohmaniii - March 29 - 10:00 am

  Researched vehicle online (edmunds to be exact), prior to purchase safety was paramount and this vehicle rated with the imports. Tried new cavalier (sardine can)new monte carlo (too stiff)and one other car i cant remember. took the sable out for a test drive tapped the accelerator and experienced my first case of whiplash. Turned around went back to dealership and bought it.Car has been trouble free (changed brake pads 68,000), (tires at 60,000)and windshield wipers. Had one headlamp bulb failure simple repair. I am in the market for another car and the mercury dealer will be my first stop. I may buy somethingelse but it will be a hard sell.