Mercury Sable vs. Hyundai Sonata - Comparative Review

The 2009 Mercury Sable

The Mercury Sable is a modern and refined full-size sedan that was remade from the Montego in the 2008 model year. The Sable is powered by a new 3.5-liter, 24-valve V6 engine that makes 30 percent more power and 22 percent more torque than the 3.0-liter V6 it replaces. The new 3.5-liter V6 is the same Ford-designed engine that powers the larger and heavier Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers and MKZ luxury cars. This new engine/transmission combination not only makes more power, it also gets 10 percent better fuel economy, even after adjusting for the new 2008 EPA method now used for fuel economy labeling.  The 2009 Mercury Sable comes in standard and Sable Premier trim levels. All-wheel drive is included on the Sable AWD and Sable Premier AWD models. Options include a Convenience package, which has a universal remote control, a reverse sensing system, a cargo net, and memory adjustable pedals; a wood package ; a DVD entertainment system; AdvanceTrac electronic stability control; moon roof ; voice-activated DVD navigation; 18-inch chrome wheels; engine block heater; and Sirius Satellite Radio. The Sync system developed by Ford with Microsoft is available on all Sable models.  Sync offers integration with all Bluetooth-enabled phones and music players, including iPods, via electronic and USB 2.0 connections. Sync can read text messages aloud and features voice recognition for control of both phone and music functions, and phonebook transfer. 

Safety features are complete and include front, side and curtain airbags, ABS, and traction control. AdvanceTrak electronic stability control is optional. With its large physical size and this standard package of safety features, the new Sable has been awarded a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and full five-star ratings from the federal government. 

The greatest aspect about the Sable's interior is the sheer space inside it, 108 cubic feet inside, with a 21 cubic-foot trunk.  This is by far the largest interior in the class at 129 cubic feet total. With folding rear seats and a flat-folding right front seat, a nine-foot-long object can fit inside the car. The Sable has extended choices for interior schemes, beyond the basic chrome and aluminum, including faux carbon fiber, guitar maple, and one called San Macassar, all complementing the two-tone interior theme.  Even at freeway speeds, the Sable is very quiet inside.  The car does excellent in wet weather, as the traction control and optional AdvanceTrac stability control use computers that take over whenever there's a problem with rain, snow, ice or mud, to keep the car going in its original, intended direction.  The AWD models have a very capable computer-controlled all-wheel-drive system for all-weather driving.

The 2009 Hyundai Sonata

The Hyundai Sonata is a four-door, five-passenger sedan.  Although it is technically in the mid-size market, it is so big inside that the EPA classifies it as a large car.   There are many improvements for 2009.  The seats are more comfortable and there is an entirely new dashboard/console layout and a voice-operated navigation option. The 2009 Hyundai Sonata comes in three trim levels and many configurations, including: the Hyundai Sonata GLS; the GLS automatic; the GLS V6; the SE; the SE V6; the Limited; and the Limited V6. A 175-horsepower four-cylinder engine comes standard, and a 249-hp V6 is optional. The four-cylinder is available with a five-speed manual or a five-speed Shiftronic automatic transmission. 

The Sonata GLS is the base model. It comes with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, cruise control, power heated outside mirrors, power windows, central locking with keyless remote, CD/MP3 stereo with six speakers, XM Satellite Radio, tilt steering wheel, and a 60/40 folding rear seat.  The four-cylinder automatic is similarly equipped, while the V6 automatic adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel, solar control glass and chrome dual exhaust tips.  Sonata SE and SE V6 come with leather/cloth seats, five-speed automatic, larger disc brakes, 17-inch alloy wheels, firmer suspension, eight-way power driver's seat with adjustable lumbar support, leather-wrapped shift knob, tilt-and-telescope leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, fog lights, and automatic headlights. The Limited adds leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, automatic climate control with filtration, the top-line audio system, electrochromic auto-dimming rear view mirror with HomeLink, and a sunroof. 

The exterior of the Limited is identified by a chrome grille, chrome-accented exterior door handles, and bodyside moldings.  Safety features on all Sonatas include dual-stage front-seat airbags; front-seat side-impact airbags for torso protection; and full-coverage side curtain airbags designed to provide head protection. Antilock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with traction control also come standard, as does a tire-pressure monitor. A new voice-activated navigation system is available.  The outward visibility is good, although the wide C-pillars constrict quick, over-the-shoulder traffic checks. Both of the engines available for the Hyundai Sonata have been revised for 2009, achieving the incredible benefits of lower emissions and higher fuel efficiency.  Acceleration is brisk with the four-cylinder; with the new five-speed automatic both performance and economy are improved. Shifts are executed easily with the five-speed manual.  Steering is light and direct, with good directional stability.


Summary

The Mercury Sable competes directly against the other large front-drive and all-wheel-drive sedans on the market. The Sable is the largest car in the group, and carries four five-star safety ratings for front, rear, side and rollover crashworthiness.  To see how a Sable performs, read a 2009 Mercury Sable road test.  The MSRP is $24,425 - $30,535, and the invoice price is $22,458 - $27,956.  The Sable's fuel economy range is 28 mpg Hwy, 18 mpg City.  It comes with a basic warranty of 36 months/36,000 miles.  The Hyundai Sonata is a roomy version of a mid sized sedan. A remake in the 2008 model year gave the Sonata a better response and more precision than before. Read a Hyundai Sonata First Drive for more information. This is a fine family vehicle with a remodeled interior.  The MSRP for the Sonata is $18,700 - $26,550, and its invoice price is $17,922 - $24,809.  This sedan takes regular unleaded gasoline and has a fuel range of 32 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg in the city.