2009 Mercury Sable

The 2008 Mercury Sable a full-size sedan that is a mechanical twin to the Ford Taurus, though it is positioned slightly up market relative to its Ford sibling. The Sable is an evolution of the Montego, a sedan that was introduced in 2005; when the Montego was upgraded with new styling, a more powerful engine and myriad other improvements for 2008, Ford decided to change the name to Sable due to the moniker's higher recognition factor among customers. Like the Taurus, the Sable rides on the Volvo P2 platform and comes standard with front wheel drive, while all-wheel drive is optional. Interior space is one of the cars' greatest assets, featuring class reading front and rear legroom, a massive 21.2 cubic feet of trunk space, and an unusually high greenhouse that allows for an SUV-like seating position.

Perhaps the biggest criticism of the Montego concerned its lack of power; Mercury addressed this issue by installing Ford's new corporate 3.5 Liter V6 in the Sable. With 263 horsepower and 249 lb.-feet of torque allied to a standard 6-speed automatic transmission, the new engine pulls the Sable with authority while still returning respectable fuel economy relative to the car's size. The car still isn't fun to drive per se, but new electronic steering with variable assist transmits more road information to the driver, and a retuned suspension provides a cushy ride without dulling handling responses Other changes from the Montego include a redesigned front end with headlights similar to the midsize Mercury Milan, new LED taillights, and satin-aluminum interior accents.

The Sable comes in two trim levels, Base and Premium, both of which can be optioned with all-wheel drive for a $2,000 premium. The Base model includes cloth seating, 17-inch aluminum wheels, and fog lights; Premium adds leather seating, 18-inch aluminum wheels, a premium sound system with a six disc in-dash CD changer, and the new SYNC hands free system that lets the driver made music selection and phone calls via voice commands. Optional features include a DVD-navigation system and a wood trim package.

The Sable is packed with safety features that include dual front airbags, side impact airbags for the front occupants, and side curtain airbags. While the Sable will never be categorized passionate vehicle, it is practical, roomy, and reasonably powerful and economical to boot.