At first sight, the 2008 Mercury Sable looks like it's been hitting the gym.
The powerful exterior lines and buff front grill give the impression that this is a beefier family sedan than those offered by the competiton.
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| The 2008 Mercury Sable is a five-passenger sedan with a 3.5 liter V6 engine with lots of torque stored under the hood. The standard base price for the vehicle is $27,330.
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The interior provides comfort and an airy roominess that gives mom, dad and the kids a chance to stretch during those long family trips.
But the major problem with the Sable is that it won't be muscling aside the compeition anytime soon.
This car doesn't stand out in any one area. It does many things well, but it doesn't seem to excell at anything in particular.
The result is shiny shell wrapped about car that can be easily forgotten when compared to other vehicles in its class.
This vehicle takes the place of the old Mercury Montego. The name change probably comes from the school of thought that a car that starts with the same letter as the company tends to be forgetable (Think fast, what's the most memorable thing about the Ford Focus?)
Whatever the reasons were, the new Mercury Sable probably will make people forget about the Montego.
For one thing, the new Sable offers 30 percent more poweer than the outgoing Montego. That's thanks – in part – to the Duratec 35 V-6 engine and the 6-speed automatic transmission.
Combine that with 249 foot pounds of torque at 6,250 rpms, and you have a vehicle that can solidly move over smooth highways and icy backroads alike.
That along with the optional all-wheel drive and electronic stablity control give the Sable an edge in all weather conditions.
But the decision to purchase a family sedan can't be summed up in engine numbers and weather forecasts. Eventually, it comes down to how good the inside feels.
One of the first things a group will notice is that the Sable can seat five people without resorting to a shoehorn. The roominess in the back makes for a much more pleassent ride for everyone involved.
A higher driver's side seat gives anyone behind the wheel a commanding view of the highway. The steering itself almost feels too easy, making the driver wonder just how much effort it takes to move the Sable down the road.
The control on the dashboard are easy to reach and understand, and the seats offer plenty of legroom for everyone in the vehicle.
The most notable detail about the Sable is that it's a safe vehicle for the family. The Sable has a five-star frontal and side crash rating no matter where you're sitting inside.
It was rated the safest full-size car in America by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Sable gets about 18 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway.
The standard model costs $27,330.
The test model of the Sable sent to the Telegram cost just more than $30,000. That included optioned navigation system, cargo management system, Sirius satellite radio, reverse sensing system and the AdvanceTrac antiskid system.
