2008 Mercury Sable

(*est. $23,780 to $29,420)

Pros

Excellent crash test scores
Roomy interior
Smooth ride
Reduced road noise

Cons

Lackluster styling
Stability control not standard
Low headroom

Our Analysis

The most credible reviews we found for the 2008 Mercury Sable come from Consumer Reports magazine, Edmunds.com and ConsumerGuide.com. Edmunds.com offers a helpful single-car review detailing the design changes inherent in the Montego-to-Sable transformation, while Car and Driver magazine gives a very condensed assessment of the 2008 Sable's strengths and weaknesses. Features at MyRide.com and Cars.com highlight the Mercury Sable as a leading contender in its class, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety honors the Sable as one of its top safety picks for 2008.

In reviews, critics say the 2008 Mercury Sable has a smooth, comfortable ride. Increased sound-dampening diminishes road noise almost to a luxury-sedan level. Reviewers like the Sable's roomy interior and cavernous trunk. All that interior volume comes at a cost, though; the Sable is one of the heavier sedans on the market, and the weight differential is somewhat detectable in the steering and handling. While safety ratings are top-notch for the stability-control-equipped Sable, most reviewers are surprised that stability control isn't a standard feature. A few sources complain that styling isn't distinctive. The 2008 Sable is among the most economical choices in the full-size sedan class. It costs less than the top-rated large sedan, the Toyota Avalon (*est. $27,075 to $34,415).

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2008 Mercury Sable

Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Consumer Reports rates the 2008 Mercury Sable on predicted reliability, based on past-model-year data from owner surveys. The analysis here also focuses on ride quality, handling and safety.

Review: 2008 Mercury Sable Review, Editors of Consumer Reports

2. ConsumerGuide.com

In tests, the 2008 Mercury Sable's overall score is slightly above average among large cars, and it's strong in the categories of room/comfort and class-related value. The Sable receives the "Recommended" label.

Review: 2008 Mercury Sable Review, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, Sept. 16, 2008

3. Edmunds.com

Handling and ride comfort are highlights in this review of the Mercury Sable. But editors note that because of the high position of the front seat, taller drivers may feel cramped.

Review: 2008 Mercury Sable Review, Editors of Edmunds.com

4. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Six family sedans -- including the Ford Taurus and the Mercury Sable -- are awarded the "Top Safety Pick" designation this year, meaning that they achieved perfect scores in crash tests and that they offer stability control.

Review: Top Safety Picks 2008, Editors of IIHS.org

5. MyRide.com

Editors of MyRide.com vote for the cars they'd most often recommend. The Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable twins win in the "Best New Large Car" category, chiefly on the strength of their exceptional passenger and cargo volume.

Review: MyRide's 2008 Editors' Choice Awards, Editors of MyRide.com

6. Cars.com

While some reviewers aren't sure about the higher-than-usual driver seat position on the Mercury Sable, Cars.com editors list this in the "pros" column. The car is chosen as a 2008 "Best Bet."

Review: 2008 Mercury Sable, Editors of Cars.com

7. Car and Driver

Car and Driver editors say that performance and interior roominess are the big pluses of the 2008 Mercury Sable, but they add it "lacks personality."

Review: 2008 Mercury Sable Review, Editors of Car and Driver

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