The Mercury Sable was introduced in 2008 as a
replacement to the Montego and is a full size sedan. For 2009 the
Sable adds an SOS-Post Crash Alert as well as stability control as
standard on all trim levels. The Mercury Sable competes with other full-size sedans such
as the Chevrolet Impala, Toyota Avalon, Chrysler 300 and Buick
Lucerne. The Sable is
available in base and Premier trim levels. The 2009 Mercury Sable
makes for an excellent family car, as it has class-leading passenger
and cargo room inside, when you count the trunk, the folding rear
seats, and the legroom-heavy interior. The AWD models have a very
capable computer-controlled all-wheel-drive system for all-weather
driving.
Driving the Sable
The Sable is available in all-wheel drive. The 2009 Sable's ride is soft and compliant, with 10 percent
more suspension travel built in, with some body roll in the fast
corners, and a noticeable upward pitch of the front end on hard
acceleration. Most of the time the 2008 Sable is a very
pleasant car to be in. With traction control and optional AdvanceTrac stability control, the computers take over whenever
there's a negative encounter with slippery conditions to keep the
car going in its original and intended direction. Brakeing starts right
at the top and gets progressively better, with electronic brake
force distribution to keep the car stable, and full ABS whenever you
need it. At freeway speeds the Sable is very, very quiet inside.
Mercury Sable Design
The Sable looks like a larger version of
Mercury's midsize Milan. It measures 202.1 inches long, 74.5 inches
wide and 61.5 inches tall. Alongside its competitors, the Sable is
the widest and tallest. In the transition from Montego to Sable, the
Sable got a completely new and quite different look. Although both
cars have multi-pieced brushed-aluminum waterfall grilles, the
hoods, grilles, headlamps, bumpers and intakes are completely
different on the two cars, and there are differences across the rear
panel.
Inside the '09 Sable
The inside of the 2009 Sable is roomy for a sedan and offers
plenty of leg and head room in both the rear and front passenger
spaces. Ford's Sync hands-free communication and
entertainment system is also available. The optional VOGA package,
available on the Premier version, adds Cashmere-colored custom
leather seats and door inserts, chrome accent finishes and VOGA
emblems and stitching throughout the vehicle.
Safety Features
Standard safety features for the '09 Sable
include electronic stability control, traction control, four-wheel
disc anti-lock brakes, LED brakelights, and six airbags. Also
included is Ford's Safety Canopy, which can keep the curtain airbags
inflated for several seconds during a rollover. A reverse sensing
system is standard on Premier models. The now-standard SOS-Post
Crash Alert system unlocks the doors and activates the horn and
emergency flashers when airbags are deployed. The new Sable has been
awarded a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety (IIHS), and full five-star ratings from the federal
government.
2009 Lineup
The 2009 Mercury Sable comes in standard and
Sable Premier trim levels. All-wheel drive comes on the Sable AWD
and Sable Premier AWD models. The Premier trim adds a reverse
sensing system and an anti-theft alarm as well as many luxury
features such as dual-zone climate control, 18" alloy wheels, SYNC
communication system, SIRIUS satellite radio, a 6-disc CD changer
and leather seating.
Options include a Convenience package ($475) with a universal remote
control, a reverse sensing system, a cargo net, and memory
adjustable pedals; a wood package ($195); a DVD entertainment system
($995); AdvanceTrac electronic stability control ($495); moonroof
($895); voice-activated DVD navigation ($1995); 18-inch chrome
wheels ($695); engine block heater ($35); Sirius Satellite Radio
($195).The new communications software, the optional ($395) Sync
system developed by Ford with Microsoft, is available on all Sable
models.