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2002
Mercury Sable

Starts at:
$20,020
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New 2002 Mercury Sable
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NHTSA tested vehicle score
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr Sdn GS
    Starts at
    $20,020
    20 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GS Plus
    Starts at
    $21,080
    20 City / 28 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn GS
    Starts at
    $21,430
    20 City / 26 Hwy
    MPG
    8
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn GS Plus
    Starts at
    $22,320
    20 City / 26 Hwy
    MPG
    8
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn LS Premium
    Starts at
    $22,395
    20 City / 27 Hwy
    MPG
    6
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Wgn LS Premium
    Starts at
    $23,560
    19 City / 26 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

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2002 Mercury Sable 2002 Mercury Sable 2002 Mercury Sable 2002 Mercury Sable 2002 Mercury Sable 2002 Mercury Sable 2002 Mercury Sable 2002 Mercury Sable 2002 Mercury Sable 2002 Mercury Sable 2002 Mercury Sable 2002 Mercury Sable

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Expert 2002 Mercury Sable review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

It was a nice car in the way that a normal day is nice. It was free of drama, absent of surprises. It was pleasant in its predictability. The 2002 Mercury Sable LS Premium sedan. Some people call it boring. But what looks like boring at dawn can be a comfort at sunset, when you end the day with a smile instead of a groan.

The Sable LS provided that comfort.

My colleague Martha McNeil Hamilton and I didn’t want flash. We didn’t want a car that would attract attention, or demand the same in terms of care and feeding. We wanted something to get us in and out of New York with maximum safety at minimum hassle and cost. The Sable LS did that. Therein lies its virtue — and value.

The car’s goodness is hidden in conventional wisdom. It is produced by Ford Motor Co., which lately has been having a bad time of it in the media. The company made some serious mistakes in quality. In terms of public relations, it handled those errors badly. It was pilloried in the press, and everything connected with Ford, including the Sable and its mechanically and structurally identical twin, the Ford Taurus, suffered in consequence.

There also is the perception of “loser,” as measured in artificially segmented sales numbers. It is a silly practice that draws participants from everywhere in the auto industry. The secret flaw in the sales tally is this: The annual “best seller” often is a best seller by product name only.

For example, the Honda Accord was the best-selling mid-size car in 2001, with sales of 414,718 automobiles, according to Automotive News Data. The Toyota Camry came in second, with sales of 390,449, and the Ford Taurus came in third, with sales of 353,560. The Sable finished out of the running, with sales of 102,646.

But those numbers are misleading because they are based on nameplates, not vehicle platforms. There is only one Accord brand and one Camry brand. But Ford sells the same cars, the Sable and Taurus, under two different names. Combined Taurus/Sable sales last year totaled 456,206, easily surpassing the “leader,” the Accord.

The point is this: Consumers aren’t stupid. Taurus/Sable cars have been selling well since their introduction in 1985 as 1986 models. There is a reason for their continued success, and it all comes down to perceived value.

Look at the Sable LS Premium. It comes loaded with standard equipment, including a 3-liter, 24-valve, 200-horsepower V-6. There are amenities aplenty, including leather-faced seats, remotely operated door locks with anti-theft alarms, power seats and windows, adjustable brake and gas pedals to improve behind-the-wheel comfort for short drivers, fog lights, an electronically controlled automatic transmission (four-speed with adaptive shift control), and power-operated side-view mirrors.

The Taurus/Sable also gets the government’s top rating for occupant protection in frontal crashes of 35 mph. It gets an “average” three-star rating for occupant protection in side-impact hits.

The standard installation of side air bags could improve the side-crash ratings of the Taurus and Sable. But what the tested Sable offers now for a base price of $22,170 is very resonable.

Compare it with a similarly equipped Honda Accord EX V-6 sedan at $25,300 and a Toyota Camry XLE V-6 sedan at $25,405. The Sable is a contender here.

There’s also this: According to industry figures, thieves take Accords and Camrys far more often than they steal Sable or Taurus models. Thus, Martha and I were reasonably certain that we would leave this city in the same car in which we drove here.

Normalcy. Peace. No unhappy events interrupting an important business trip. That’s what we wanted. That’s what we got.

2002 Mercury Sable review: Our expert's take
By

It was a nice car in the way that a normal day is nice. It was free of drama, absent of surprises. It was pleasant in its predictability. The 2002 Mercury Sable LS Premium sedan. Some people call it boring. But what looks like boring at dawn can be a comfort at sunset, when you end the day with a smile instead of a groan.

The Sable LS provided that comfort.

My colleague Martha McNeil Hamilton and I didn’t want flash. We didn’t want a car that would attract attention, or demand the same in terms of care and feeding. We wanted something to get us in and out of New York with maximum safety at minimum hassle and cost. The Sable LS did that. Therein lies its virtue — and value.

The car’s goodness is hidden in conventional wisdom. It is produced by Ford Motor Co., which lately has been having a bad time of it in the media. The company made some serious mistakes in quality. In terms of public relations, it handled those errors badly. It was pilloried in the press, and everything connected with Ford, including the Sable and its mechanically and structurally identical twin, the Ford Taurus, suffered in consequence.

There also is the perception of “loser,” as measured in artificially segmented sales numbers. It is a silly practice that draws participants from everywhere in the auto industry. The secret flaw in the sales tally is this: The annual “best seller” often is a best seller by product name only.

For example, the Honda Accord was the best-selling mid-size car in 2001, with sales of 414,718 automobiles, according to Automotive News Data. The Toyota Camry came in second, with sales of 390,449, and the Ford Taurus came in third, with sales of 353,560. The Sable finished out of the running, with sales of 102,646.

But those numbers are misleading because they are based on nameplates, not vehicle platforms. There is only one Accord brand and one Camry brand. But Ford sells the same cars, the Sable and Taurus, under two different names. Combined Taurus/Sable sales last year totaled 456,206, easily surpassing the “leader,” the Accord.

The point is this: Consumers aren’t stupid. Taurus/Sable cars have been selling well since their introduction in 1985 as 1986 models. There is a reason for their continued success, and it all comes down to perceived value.

Look at the Sable LS Premium. It comes loaded with standard equipment, including a 3-liter, 24-valve, 200-horsepower V-6. There are amenities aplenty, including leather-faced seats, remotely operated door locks with anti-theft alarms, power seats and windows, adjustable brake and gas pedals to improve behind-the-wheel comfort for short drivers, fog lights, an electronically controlled automatic transmission (four-speed with adaptive shift control), and power-operated side-view mirrors.

The Taurus/Sable also gets the government’s top rating for occupant protection in frontal crashes of 35 mph. It gets an “average” three-star rating for occupant protection in side-impact hits.

The standard installation of side air bags could improve the side-crash ratings of the Taurus and Sable. But what the tested Sable offers now for a base price of $22,170 is very resonable.

Compare it with a similarly equipped Honda Accord EX V-6 sedan at $25,300 and a Toyota Camry XLE V-6 sedan at $25,405. The Sable is a contender here.

There’s also this: According to industry figures, thieves take Accords and Camrys far more often than they steal Sable or Taurus models. Thus, Martha and I were reasonably certain that we would leave this city in the same car in which we drove here.

Normalcy. Peace. No unhappy events interrupting an important business trip. That’s what we wanted. That’s what we got.

Safety review

Based on the 2002 Mercury Sable base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Frontal driver
5/5
Frontal passenger
5/5
Nhtsa rollover rating
4/5
Side driver
3/5
Side rear passenger
3/5

Factory warranties

Basic
3 years / 36,000 miles
Corrosion
5 years
Powertrain
3 years / 36,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
3 years / 36,000 miles

Consumer reviews

4.5 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.8
Interior 4.6
Performance 4.3
Value 4.6
Exterior 4.2
Reliability 4.5

Most recent

  • Transmission Failure. Underpowered!!!

    Apparently there was a problem with the torque converter spline which caused the transmission to fail like the one in my car with only 29000 mi. The info is on line if you look. How this was never recalled is astonishing. And even more astonishing is the unresponsive 3.0 push rod cant get out of its own way engine was a brilliant engineering blunder in a car of that size.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 1.0
    Value 1.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 1.0
    79 people out of 86 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • I love my car and you will too.

    This has been an excellent vehicle for my daily use since I bought it in 12/2002. I would buy another if Ford still made them; but, when I learned that Ford was going to phase out the Fiesta too, I couldn't resist buying one to replace the Sable.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    24 people out of 24 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Exactly what I wanted.

    I was looking for an older but still reliable car to go to work in, and this Mercury Sable delivers. I've owned it for close to 2 months now and have had no problems with it; it's done all I've asked it to do.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    31 people out of 36 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Loved the safety for the baby seat.

    The car was very reliable for getting back and forth to work and transporting the family. It lasted a very long time I just got another used car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Second most reliable car I've owned.

    Great gas mileage. Very roomy. Super dependable. Built tough. Rides smooth. Looks good. Low maintenance.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Crazy about a Mercury

    I bought this car in 2005 with 64,000 miles on it. Now, 10 years later, it has 217,000 miles on it and finally needs a tune up! We call it "Old Faithful" for a reason. We did have to replace a front spring under the drivers side tire, but my husband liked to drive the car through corn fields to check on his crops, so we put a little wear on it. The only frustrating thing about this vehicle is that the starter goes bad about every 2 years and needs replaced. Once I figured that out, I just took my starter to an auto parts store every 23 months and had them test it. They always found that the starter was bad and replaced it for free since it was still under warranty. Easy fix! We are selling old faithful due to a growing family. However, we just bought another car...you guessed it...another Mercury.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Good.soild.car.

    Bought my 2002 sable premium because the accord coupe I looked at the day before was sold....but I'm a ford guy away so I gave it a shot...bought it used with 72k on it for $4700 from a Honda dealer..2 1/2 years later? I had to buy a battery....,that's it....got into a front end collision with a drunk off duty cop who did a illegal u-turn Infront of me...cracked the front cover. The cop went to jail.i got 7k after they fixed my car.all it needed was a front bumper cover...got it back...still drives and rides like a new car...me and my wife where safe and unhurt...good power from the. DOHC v6 smooth ride.bad blind spot for me 6' on the drivers side..big trunk ,small opening.leather has held up great, I condition it...have no complaints..,got 110k on it now...runs and drives just like the day I got it...not sporty or exciting in any way but a great reliable family car...just washed it today (1-28-14) after this brutal winter we are having in Chicago and noticed some rust starting on the drivers side 1/4 panel on the lip...I'll get it fixed this spring.rest of car looks great....everything still works perfect...get one if your looking for a good comfy family ride..
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Reliable and Great Accessories make it happen

    This model and engine have proved to me that there are still reliable and comfortable cars that have real passing power when needed. I love this car and think it is our family's favorite.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Oldie/Goodie

    Lots of interior room, head room too, comfortable seat, handles like a dream, good pick-up. Three adults or 3 child seats will fit easily in the back seat. My only complaint is the the very large trunk has a limited opening space since the lid bends down and the back of the trunk comes up leaving little room to get things IN!
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Exceptional Vehicle

    We bought this loaded Sable with less than 19,000 miles on December 31, 2009 and it has been everything and more the dealer said it would be. It just rolled over 25,000 miles today and has been ultra comfortable, gets generally around 25 miles per gallon (better than 28 on a long trip just yesterday), and everything works perfectly. I realize it is unusual to find a 2002 model with so few miles but feel very fortunate to have found this vehicle through cars.com.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No

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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2002 Mercury Sable?

The 2002 Mercury Sable is available in 3 trim levels:

  • GS (2 styles)
  • GS Plus (2 styles)
  • LS Premium (2 styles)

What is the MPG of the 2002 Mercury Sable?

The 2002 Mercury Sable offers up to 20 MPG in city driving and 28 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 2002 Mercury Sable reliable?

The 2002 Mercury Sable has an average reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2002 Mercury Sable owners.

Is the 2002 Mercury Sable a good Sedan?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2002 Mercury Sable. 90.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.5 / 5
Based on 10 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.8
  • Interior: 4.6
  • Performance: 4.3
  • Value: 4.6
  • Exterior: 4.2
  • Reliability: 4.5
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