Mercury Sable Review

2009 Mercury Sable Premier Sedan Shown

The Mercury Sable has always been a kindred spirit to folks like Clint Howard, Ashlee Simpson 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 will be resurrected in 2008, replacing the Mercury Montego moniker. Sadly for the Sable, it was also announced that the discontinued Taurus will be revived as well, dashing any hopes of it finally getting the chance to shine in the spotlight all by its lesser-known self.

Current Mercury Sable

For those few who remember what the Mercury Montego looked like, a quick look at the new Mercury Sable will surely bring a sense of déjà-vu, as it's basically the same car but with a midlife styling refresh. A slightly tweaked front fascia and restyled tail differentiate the two cars, but it's under the hood where the biggest changes have been made. A 3.5-liter, 263-horsepower V6 mated to a six-speed automatic is now standard, providing a much-needed supply of oomph to this heavy full-size sedan.

The reborn Sable is a much stronger performer than the Montego; Ford estimates that it will take just 6.5 seconds to go from zero to 60 mph. Other substantial improvements include a retuned suspension, more sound insulation, available stability control, new cabin trim including faux carbon fiber and a "Sync" system that allows voice commands for cell phones and MP3 players.

Expect the new Sable to offer the same core advantages of the Montego and its Five Hundred twin. These include a roomy backseat, a huge 21-cubic-foot trunk, available all-wheel drive, excellent crash test scores, good visibility and decent handling that doesn't detract from ride comfort. Just like past Sables, the new model should attract those looking for a different styling take and some exclusivity compared to the more ubiquitous Ford version.

Past Mercury Sable Models

The most recent 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 3.0-liter V6 that produced 157 hp and 189 pound-feet of torque. The preferred LS engine was also a 3.0-liter V6, but it made 200 hp and 200 lb-ft while achieving practically identical fuel economy.

Although this generation of Sable and its Taurus clone were respectable entries in the midsize sedan market 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 Toyota, Honda 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.

SELECT A SPECIFIC MERCURY SABLE MODEL YEAR*

* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.