The Mercury Sable was missing in 2006-07? Who would have known? Sales dropped so much, the Sable became anonymous and its dismissal from the Mercury lineup was uneventful. Even with a two-year absence to retool the outdated sedan, the revised version did not impress.

The 2008 Mercury Sable is still uninspiring. Yet, Ford decided to bring back the Sable and the Ford Taurus this year in an historic pairing. The two sedans were enthusiastically received when unveiled together in 1986 and both quickly became the company’s strongest-selling vehicles.

Could lightning strike twice? No. Although Mercury is Ford’s upscale division, it hardly rivals the Lexus-Toyota or Acura-Honda relationships. While a respectable choice among large family sedans, the front-wheel drive Sable lacks the power of many rivals, doesn’t standout in appearance and handling is uneventful.

Still, the Sable is an improvement over the underperforming Montego. It filled the gap while the Sable was being retooled with a reported 500 changes. The same happened with the Taurus. It returned much improved over its lineup replacement – the tepid-selling Ford Five Hundred.

Car shoppers will like the Sable's price. The Premier version, test driven for a week, costs $27,330. The base model goes for $23,935, while the top-of-the line Sable with all-wheel drive is $29,575.

Mercury’s redesign included major performance enhancements. The 2008 Sable is a 3.5-liter, V6 with 260 horsepower. The underpowered Montego featured a 3.0-liter, V6 with 203 horsepower. However, there’s no reason to get giddy. The Sable's upgraded Premier version lacked significant acceleration capability, its 6-speed automatic transmission is sluggish in the downshift — an annoying characteristic considering the vehicle’s powerful parameters on paper.

Handling is much
like the performance, adequate but nothing that inspires. The Sable provides a firm ride, but its weight and size are a burden when cornering at higher speeds. Beware, braking is average, The Sable shares a basic design with the Taurus and it looks like a bigger version of the Mercury Milan.

The Sable exterior features a restyled front side, a revised suspension. Interior enhancements are plentiful, including added storage (8 cupholders), more leg room up front and and a higher position second-row seat, plus more intelligible gauges. There’s also no downside to the new media system, which allows for a hands-free mobile phone and an improved digital music system.

The Sable seats five and has outstanding crash test scores, a characteristic that makes it an appealing family sedan. Seating is comfortable and large windows and low dashboard provide great driver vision . A sizable trunk can squeeze in plenty of gear and also has a convenient large opening. The 60-40 folding second row is vast, with a 9-foot cabin length and a pass-through slot.

FAST FACTS

Power — 3.5-liter, V6, 260 horsepower.

Mileage Estimates — 18 mpg (city), 28 mpg (freeway).

Standard Features — Anti-lock brakes, traction control, 8-way power driver seat, automatic headlights, center console, heated front seats, iPod adapter, automatic climate control, keyless entry, ear defogger, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio control, power windows, doors and mirrors.

Warranty — Powertrain, 5 years/60,000 miles; Bumper-to-bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles; Free Roadside Assistance, 5 years/60,000 miles.

Price — $23,935 (Base model).

Edited and posted by www.theweeklydriver.com.