3
0
Midsize car; Built in USA
  • 4-door sedan
  • 4-door wagon
  • transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $2,200 – $6,100*


2000 Mercury Sable 4-door sedan


2000 Mercury Sable 4-door sedan


2000 Mercury Sable interior


2001 Mercury Sable 4-door wagon


2001 Mercury Sable 4-door sedan

Pros:
  • Cargo room
  • Handling/roadholding
  • Rear-seat comfort
Cons:
  • Low-speed acceleration

Sable and Taurus returned to their roots with the 2000 redesign. Now contemporary in styling, a Sable provides fine road manners, excellent utility, an array of safety features, with a modestly more luxurious feel than a Taurus. Despite acceleration limitations and marginal ride comfort, Sables are worth considering.

Overview

Like the similar Ford Taurus, Mercury’s front-drive midsize sedan and wagon earned a major design update for 2000, including a fresh grille and hood, as well as a reworked tail. Inside, the dashboard was revised and additional storage spaces provided. Sables came in base GS, upscale LS, and LS Premium trim. Standard engine was a 153-horsepower 3.0-liter V6. A 200-hp twincam V6 went into the LS Premium and was optional on the LS. Both engines came only with a four-speed automatic transmission. Front head/chest side airbags, antilock brakes, and traction control were optional; 16-inch tires were standard. Sedans had an emergency inside trunklid release. All Sables had Ford’s Advanced Restraints System, designed to minimize airbag injuries to front-seat occupants by gauging crash severity and such variables as seat position. The system then determined whether to deploy the front airbags, and with how much force.

Unlike the Taurus wagon, Mercury’s version did not come with a 2-place third-row seat, and therefore was limited to six occupants. Power-adjustable pedals were standard on LS models, optional on the GS.

Yearly Updates

2001 Sable
Fuel tanks grew from 16- to 18-gallon capacity this year, and lower rear child-seat anchors were installed. A single-disc CD player joined the options list.
2002 Sable
ABS became a no-cost option for 2002 Sables.
2003 Sable
New door seals and additional sound dampening were added to reduce road and wind noise. Other changes included new cupholders, revised interior materials, and new colors.
2004 Sable
Sable gets a new front and rear fascia, taillights, and a new grille for 2004.
2005 Sable
Due to be dropped from the Mercury lineup during the model year, Sable sedans roll into 2005 virtually unchanged. Wagon models have been discontinued.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

Sables came with two different 3.0-liter V6 engines. The base overhead-valve V6 developed 153 horsepower, while the twincam version was rated at 200 hp. Both engines drove a four-speed automatic transmission.

ohv V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.0/182
Engine HP 153
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 182
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

 19/28
dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.0/181
Engine HP 200
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 200
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

 20/28

 18.4

Road Test

In most respects, the Sable is similar to Ford’s Taurus. Both deliver plenty of performance, though they lack class-leading acceleration. Each engine runs smoothly, but neither can move the car all that swiftly beyond midrange speeds–the 25-50 mph range, when extra vigor is needed for passing. Either V6 can accelerate suitably from a standstill, however. A test Sable LS with the twincam engine did 0-60 mph in a brisk 8.2 seconds. Sables score higher in road manners, coming across as balanced, secure, and predictable even in rapid directional changes. Steering has fine on-center sense, though turning effort could be more linear. Resistance to wallow and float is impressive, but ride quality on rough pavement is unsatisfactory, with potholes and pavement patches registering sharply. Braking feels strong and easily modulated. Tire thrum is noticeable at highway speeds, but not especially annoying. Interior space is abundant, promising excellent rear-seat room and comfort, on a substantial and comfortably contoured bench. Rear head clearance is generous. Leg and foot space also are plentiful. Outboard front occupants are uncrowded if a bench seat is installed, but the center spot is snug.

Adjustable pedals work easily, teaming with the standard tilt steering wheel. If those pedals are installed, shorter drivers can sit farther away from the steering-wheel airbag. Gauges are unobstructed, but analog markings are small. Luggage space is generous in either body style. The sedan’s trunk is among the largest in its class. Useful grocery-bag hooks are included, though hinges and brackets intrude into the cargo area and the opening isn’t particularly large.

Ratings

Model Tested: 20001Mercury Sable LS Premium

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 5
50%
Fuel Economy - 5
50%
Ride Quality - 5
50%
Steering/Handling - 6
60%
Quietness - 5
50%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Rear - 6
60%
Cargo Room - 8
80%

Other

Value - 7
70%

Total: 59

Specifications

4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
108.5 200.5 73.0 55.5
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
16.0 16.0 6
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.8 36.7 42.2 38.9
4-door wagon
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
108.5 197.7 73.0 58.0
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
81.3 16.0 6
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.3 38.7 42.2 38.5
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2000 Sable 4-door sedan

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Front Passenger Injury - 5
100%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - 3
60%
Rear Passenger Injury - 3
60%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision 81
Injury 80
Theft 43

Trouble Spots

Automatic transmission
Description: Harsh downshifts or shudder, especially on curves, can be caused by the transmission-fluid level being below the fullest level as shown on the dipstick. (1999-2000)
Fuel odors
Description: Gasoline odor is probably due to a bad gasket on the lower intake manifold on the 3.0-L Duratec engine. (2000-01)
Heater core
Description: Installing a restrictor in the heater inlet hose may repair heater cores leaks. (2000-02)
Audio system
Description: Noise in the radio speakers is probably due to RFI from the in-tank fuel pump requiring RFI filter on the pump assembly. (2000-01)

Recall History

1999-01
Description: Front coil springs on certain cars sold in specified states could fracture, due to corrosion associated with road salt used in winter.
2000
Description: On certain vehicles, “vehicle capacity weight” and “designated seating capacity” information was not printed on the safety-certification labels.
2000
Description: Headlamp-switch knob on certain vehicles can fracture and separate, making it difficult to activate headlamps.
2000-01 w/adjustable pedals
Description: Grease from the adjustable-pedal assembly enters the stoplamp switch and can contaminate the contacts leading to carbon buildup, and potentially, a short circuit.
2000-01
Description: A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper-motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of wiper function or fire.
2000-02
Description: Adjustable pedals are not far enough apart and could be inadvertently depressed simultaneously. Dealers may adjust pedal spacing.
2000-03
Description: Certain vehicles may have faulty stop lamp wiring, rendering them inoperable or cause them to stay on all the time. Dealers will inspect and replace affected parts.
2001
Description: Owner guides may not identify center rear seating position as having LATCH-compatible lower anchorages.
2001
Description: Child Safety Seat Anchor Latch fasteners on certain vehicles do not have adequate residual torque; road vibrations could cause nut to loosen and separate from its stud.
2002-03
Description: Some windshields may have been mounted improperly, leading to increased wind noise and leakage. Dealer will inspect and replace these windshields.
2003
Description: The air filter paper may catch on fire in certain vehicles. Dealers will inspect and replace affected parts.
2004
Description: Power seats may not perform as intended during a crash, due to inadequate welding.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on July 22, 2014.
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