ArcaMax

The just re-released Mercury Sable sedan has at least three things going for it. First, it's large - not quite as big as the six-passenger Grand Marquis, but close. Five will fit - and not clown-car style, either. Second, it's available with all-wheel-drive.

Granted, that's not an unusual feature - as such. But combine the Sable's bigness with its available AWD - and a price for both features that just barely crests $25k - and now you've got something to write home about. Most AWD-equipped cars are smaller. Or they cost a lot more.

The fact that the Sable's big, AWD - and a true Blue Light Special - provides some much-needed wind behind its back as it re-enters the market after not being around for a couple of years. It might not be enough to relive the glory days of the late '80s - when the Sable and its lower-trim Ford cousin, the Taurus, were the best-selling cars on the road. But it might prompt some buyers to at least cross-shop - and consider. The car deserves that much.

ENGINES & PERFORMANCE

Like the Taurus, the Sable comes standard with a 3.5 liter V-6 which is rated at 260 hp. That puts it on par with the optional V-6 engines offered in potential competitors such as the Toyota Camry and Avalon (268 hp) Honda Accord (268 hp) and Chevy Malibu (252 hp), none of which offer AWD - even as optional equipment.

A six-speed automatic transmission is the standard gearbox with either version of the Sable - FWD or AWD. Here also the Sable offers more than several possible competitors - many of which don't even come standard with an automatic transmission (Camry) or don't offer one with six forward gears (Accord, Impala).

Zero to 60 capability is in the 7.8 second range for FWD versions; AWD models are a tick or two slower due to the slightly higher curb weight and inertial load of the AWD.

RIDE & HANDLING

Let's start with the seats - because they tell you a lot about the Sable as soon as you sit down and close the door. They are a pillowy oasis for your aching back; a refuge of softness after eight hours of brutality at the cube farm. They don't have much in the way of lateral support - but man, you'll be happy there after three hours of sitting in traffic, if it comes to that. And that's what the Sable was built for.

This is not a corner carver; it's a commuting cocoon. Most of us don't spend our work schlepp diving into apexes; we spend it creeping along at 35-50 mph or so among a sea of fellow sufferers. What's wanted is quiet and comfort - and these two invaluable stress relievers the Sable delivers for as long as you need them. In today's commuting environment that's about two hours per day - both ways. That is a long time to spend inside a car. You'll be happy if you end up spending it in a car like this one.

Back seat travelers, too. Here again, size is a virtue. The leg and headroom for second row occupants is generous - 41.2 inches and 38.8 inches, respectively. That is more than Camry, Avalon and Accord. It's also more than the "full-size" Chevy Impala offers - and by a not-small margin, either. The Chevy has just 37.6 inches of backseat leg room and a full inch less headroom (37.8 inches) than you'll find in the Sable. The Impala has a bit more front seat legroom (42.3 inches) as well as front seat legroom (but just barely, 39.4 inches). On the other hand, the Sable has a huge trunk (21-plus cubic feet) that dwarfs the trunks of these competitors, including Impala (18.6 cubic feet).

STYLING & UTILITY

I found the Sable to be a great road trip companion. Lots of room for my six-foot-three self to spread out, fantastic seats for long hauls, ample power for high-speed cruising/passing - and most important of all, a low profile. This is an unobtrusive car that is more likely to pass under the eye of a cop running radar than something flashier - even if both cars are doing the same 10 mph over the limit. Run in a pack - and you are just about bulletproof.

The LCD display for the optional GPS is very user-friendly; Mercury did a good job here of resisting the temptation to over-tech things. Changing the radio station, switching over to the map - all done in any easy, straightforward manner. No mice to chase; no menus to scroll through. Just touch the screen - and it does what you want done. There are equally sensible half-moon buttons on either side of the smaller climate control display, just under the larger LCD GPS screen, that you tap for warmer (red) or colder (blue).

The interior is finished with brushed nickel and/or wood accents, which nicely complement the Sable's soft tones - and soft, welcoming demeanor.

QUALITY/SAFETY

The Sable - like other Mercurys - is more "finished" in its overall appearance than its Ford counterpart, the Taurus. This (along with higher standard trim content and some unique, Mercury-only features) is what you're paying extra for when you buy the Sable rather than the more proletarian Taurus.

All Sables feature side-impact air bags as well as head/curtain air bags for both front and rear seat occupants. Traction control and ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution are also included in the base car's price of $23,780.

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS

"Performance" has a different definition when applied to large cruiser-mobiles and family sedans like the Sable. This car is not set up with paddle shifters or tire-barking axle ratios. Nor is the V-6 set up for high RPM tower buzzes. The Sable's six-speed automatic doesn't even have selector ranges beyond "Drive" and "Low" - which are all the people buying this car will likely ever want or need. Not even a "Sport" setting. Just put it in gear - and leave it alone.

The Sable won't compress your spine when you floor it but its zero to 60 timeslips prove it has ample power for everyday use. The car's gearing allows 70 mph steady state cruising at an easy 1,800 RPM or so. This, in turn, leads to better than ok mileage on long trips. I drove my test car 240 miles up the Interstate with the cruise control set at precisely 70 mph - and the tank was still about a third full at the end of the line. For a big sedan, that is all right.

Actually, better than all right. I have driven hybrids the same distance at similar speeds and barely made it on a full tank - probably because the wheezy little engine had to strain to maintain the pace. While a smaller engine is theoretically more efficient, it is also a fact that sometimes, a larger, theoretically less efficient engine can do better - because it's not working as hard. My Sable test car just loped along contentedly - with the computer only occasionally having to bump up the RPMs to keep up with changing terrain and so on.

Bottom line - this is a car that makes a lot of sense as a family car/road-trip car or commuter car that also needs to serve as a large family's main car. It outclasses the Camry/Avalon and Accord on the size of its interior space and trunk capacity and offers AWD they don't even sell - and lets you buy it for about the same money these guys want for their FWD (and smaller inside and outside) cars. Even Chevy's supposedly six-passenger Impala can't out-size the Sable when it comes to backseat passenger (and trunk) space. And while the Chevy does offer a standard V-6 and comes in at a lower price to start ($21,650) it can't be had with AWD - no matter how much money is involved.

It's easy to overlook the Sable (and the Taurus) and dismiss them as rental car specials not worthy of your attention. But if you're in the market for a car with Blue Chip credentials - at a Blue Light Special price - you'd be foolish not to at least give this Merc a look.

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www.ericpetersautos.com or EPeters952@aol.com for comments.