New Car Review of the 2005 Mercury Sable Mid-Size Sedan and Wagon

Description: Mid-Size Sedan and Wagon
Base MSRP Range: $21,055 - $24,020
Invoice Price Range: $19,300 - $21,968
Where built: USA

Mercury's mid-size sedan and station wagon have simplified trim designations in 2005, with sedans tagged as GS or LS and the wagon as LS.

Cabins for sedans hold five or six due to a choice in front seat style -- bench or buckets. The three-person front bench for Sable GS contains a flip-down center back section that becomes a console when tipped forward. Two front buckets for Sable LS are split by a console that has an open bin in front and a closed compartment in back. Sable LS wagon fits seven or eight by adding an optional rear-facing third bench.

Engines for Sable begin with the 3.0-liter Vulcan V6 that achieves 153-hp. Optional power comes from Ford's Duratec version with twin cams pumping 201-hp. The Duratec plant goes with the LS sedan and wagon, while every Sable employs a 4-speed automatic transmission with adaptive shift control program.

A new LS Premium Package brings leather seats, automatic climate controls and automatic headlamps. And the latest Sable body paint is called Windveil Blue.