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2008 Mercury Sable Performance Review

October 30, 2008

PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

moves along quite well despite its considerable size
Automobile

New 3.5 V6 gives stronger, more-relaxed overall performance
ConsumerGuide

detail improvements make a difference
The Auto Channel

Auto experts at TheCarConnection.com note that the 2008 Mercury Sable offers a surprisingly competent road feel, though its sheer size and mission place it at the softer end of the family-car spectrum.

Automotive.com reports that the Mercury Sable is "powered by a new 3.5-liter, 24-valve V6 engine that makes 30 percent more power and 22 percent more torque than the 3.0-liter V6 it replaces." According to Cars.com, in the new Sable, Mercury’s engine "makes an estimated 260 horsepower"; it produces "42 lb-ft of torque," according to The Auto Channel. ConsumerGuide says the new 3.5-liter V-6 "gives stronger, more-relaxed overall performance than Montego's 3.0."

This engine is "paired with a new six-speed automatic transmission built and shared by Ford and GM," and "shifts very quickly with very little time lapse or power loss between gears," according to Automotive.com. ConsumerGuide reports that in the Sable, Mercury’s transmission "works smoothly, but shifts too much on light throttle at medium speeds and is reluctant to downshift for highway passing sprints." Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is available.

According to the EPA, mileage figures for the 2008 Mercury Sable are 18 mpg in city traffic and 28 mpg on the highway; however, "opt for the all-wheel drive, and the added drivetrain components bring mileage down to 17 city and 24 highway mpg," warns Motor Trend.

A retuned and well-developed suspension gives the Sable better road manners than many drivers expect. ConsumerGuide reports that the 2008 Mercury Sable "feels stable and well planted in fast, wide turns -- especially with AWD -- but this car's hefty size and weight allow moderate body lean in tight corners." Its good road manners are due largely to what Edmunds labels "a retuned suspension." According to The Auto Channel, "the Macpherson strut front, multilink rear suspension is the same basic design as that of the Montego, but detail improvements make a difference." The Sable’s ABS disc brakes are "powerful, with easy modulation and a very nice, powerful progression at the pedal, and not a lot of dead space at the top of the pedal's travel," according to Automotive.com.

Conclusion

The 2008 Mercury Sable is a better performer than before -- even better than you might think.

PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:moves along quite well despite its considerable sizeAutomobileNew 3.5 V6 gives stronger, more-relaxed overall performanceConsumerGuidedetail improvements make a differenceThe Auto Channel Auto experts at TheCarConnection.com note that the 2008 Mercury Sable offers a surprisingly competent road feel, though its sheer size and mission place it at the softer end of the family-car spectrum. Automotive.com reports that the Mercury Sable is "powered by a new 3.5-liter, 24-valve V6 engine that makes 30 percent more power and 22 percent more torque than the 3.0-liter V6 it replaces." According to Cars.com, in the new Sable, Mercury’s engine "makes an estimated 260 horsepower"; it produces "42 lb-ft of torque," according to The Auto Channel. ConsumerGuide says the new 3.5-liter V-6 "gives stronger, more-relaxed overall performance than Montego's 3.0." This engine is "paired with a new six-speed automatic transmission built and shared by Ford and GM," and "shifts very quickly with very little time lapse or power loss between gears," according to Automotive.com. ConsumerGuide reports that in the Sable, Mercury’s transmission "works smoothly, but shifts too much on light throttle at medium speeds and is reluctant to downshift for highway passing sprints." Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is available. According to the EPA, mileage figures for the 2008 Mercury Sable are 18 mpg in city traffic and 28 mpg on the highway; however, "opt for the all-wheel drive, and the added drivetrain components bring mileage down to 17 city and 24 highway mpg," warns Motor Trend. A retuned and well-developed suspension gives the Sable better road manners than many drivers expect. ConsumerGuide reports that the 2008 Mercury Sable "feels stable and well planted in fast, wide turns -- especially with AWD -- but this car's hefty size and weight allow moderate body lean in tight corners." Its good road manners are due largely to what Edmunds labels "a retuned suspension." According to The Auto Channel, "the Macpherson strut front, multilink rear suspension is the same basic design as that of the Montego, but detail improvements make a difference." The Sable’s ABS disc brakes are "powerful, with easy modulation and a very nice, powerful progression at the pedal, and not a lot of dead space at the top of the pedal's travel," according to Automotive.com. ConclusionThe 2008 Mercury Sable is a better performer than before -- even better than you might think. 2008 MERCURY SABLE STYLING | [6 out of 10] Cars and Driver: "the 'new' Sable is essentially the same as the car it replaces" Cars.com: "the Sable looks like a larger version of Mercury's midsize Milan" Edmunds: "The Sable features a handsome cabin" TheCarConnection.com notes some ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Buick's surprisingly satisfying LaCrosse has V-6 power, a great automatic transmission, and a sophisticated interior. The Toyota Avalon's somewhat unusual styling is balanced by its vast interior room and the model's exceptional reputation for reliability. Chevrolet's Impala was greatly improved in a redesign a few years ago and can be a great bargain; plus, it's the only car in this group with a V-8 option. The Ford Taurus is the Sable's near-twin and has a bold horizontal grille.

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See the Mercury Sable in Other Years:

2009 | 2008 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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