Face-Off Lite: 2008 Chrysler 300C AWD vs. 2008 Mercury Sable AWD
Recently I was scheduled back-to-back in a new Mercury Sable AWD — in the new Premier trim level — and a Chrysler 300C AWD. Besides a big difference in price and engine sizes, the two large family sedans serve pretty much the same purposes, and I thought it might be interesting to see how they match up.
Looks
I was pleasantly surprised with how good-looking the Sable was. Everyone knows the 300C, and you see plenty of them around these days. The Merlot Clearcoat Metallic on the Sable was quite handsome, and I thought the taillights were actually cool with slivers of silver accents cutting through the clear plastic. The 300C’s Dark Titanium Metallic was a little dreary for winter but still looks imposing with the high beltline and small windows.
Winner: Tie
Interior
Both cars got some changes this year in the interior department, but only the Sable got a true upgrade with significant changes to the dashboard, seating materials and controls. The 300C added some extra padding to the doors and new gauges. However, the two are so close on the quality level that it might just be personal taste on which one wins out. For me, I liked the Sable Premier’s silver touches. The fake wood … not so much.
Interior space was roomy in both, with backseat room aplenty. The driver’s seat in the 300C had better legroom, but the seat itself was more comfortable in the Sable. Trunk room also goes to the Sable.
Winner: Sable, barely
Driving Experience
If this were a straight V-6 comparison, the Sable would win outright. Of course, the 300C has the Hemi and even with the added weight of the all-wheel-drive system the thing is a blast to drive. The 300C is roughly 300 pounds heavier then the Sable, which is actually longer overall, and you can definitely feel all that weight when driving.
The all-wheel-drive system did make the 300C’s somewhat vague steering a bit better, but the Sable was much easier to navigate in parking lots and other tight spots. You could also judge where your corners were more easily in the Mercury. Ford’s 3.5 liter V-6 puts out 263 hp — 13 more than the V-6 in the 300 — with a six-speed automatic transmission that’s plenty powerful even for such a large car. I also found the ride in the Mercury to be a bit smoother on bumpy roads.
Winner: 300C (that darn Hemi)
Value
Here things get a bit uneven, so I’m going to refer to the pricing of the V-6 AWD Chrysler. Why? The sticker on the Hemi loaded with options topped $45,000. The Sable Premier priced at $32,660 with heated leather seats, 18-inch wheels, the Sync hands-free system, stability control and a navigation system. The Sable came with standard side airbags, which are a $1,000 option on either Chrysler. The 300 also scored the lowest side crash-test rating from IIHS without the optional airbags, and even the $45,000 test vehicle didn’t have them at that price. The Sable is one of IIHS’ Top Safety Picks.
A comparatively optioned V-6 300 AWD with heated leather seats and the MyGig navigation system came to $36,810 — still without the $1,000 side airbags. Interestingly enough, both V-6s have $2,000 cash back currently available ($3,000 for the Hemi).
Gas mileage also went to the Sable, even with the V-6 300: 17/24 mpg vs. 15/22 mpg city/highway. Check out a side-by-side comparison here.
Winner: Sable
Overall Winner: Sable
I was totally surprised at how competent a vehicle the Sable was, and at the same time pretty let down by the few improvements made in the Chrysler. Besides giving me a fun-filled week of Hemi-powered commutes, the 300C left me cold. That’s not to say there aren’t better vehicles out there than the Mercury Sable, but with its considerable size, interior space, power, AWD availability and price, I’m baffled as to what those cars may be.
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I'm honestly surprised that Mercury hasn't gone the way of Oldsmobile. You don't see many of them around anymore and I thought most people now a days thought of them as "old people cars". Does Mercury still sell a decent amount of cars? I've never owned one - but the newer ones look decent.
As far as I know, Chrysler only has one axle ratio for its four wheel drive (there is a center differential) LX cars: 300, Charger, Magnum. 3.07
http://www.vibratesoftware.com/html_help/html/DaimlerChrysler/2007/2007_LX_Chrysler_300-Magnum-Charger.htm
So the Hemi gets approximately 9% shorter gearing, while the V6 gets the same axle ratio. (the 4 speed automatic gets the 3.64) The results are the same mileage for the 5.7 & 3.5 15/22mpg, a reduction of only 1 mpg highway for the 5.7, while the V6 loses 2mpg city & highway.
So if you are getting a four wheel drive Chrysler LX car, get the Hemi.
The Sable (Haldex) model has a 14% shorter gearing (3.16 vs. 2.77) as it stands. Maybe Ford will shorten the axle ratios to (3.39 & 3.16) for improved performance without a reduction in mileage (due to more torque converter lockup)
I think Chrysler phased out the rear drive 3.5 V6 with 5 speed automatic (3.07 axle ratio) for 2008, though it is listed in the 2008 fuel economy guide.
That combination was available in '07 in the Touring & Touring Signature Series.
yeahhhh.it says it gets that mileage...the new EPA rules don't work so well this time out. In the city I was getting low teens.
How come the exterior of the Montego is so dirty but the interior is not; on the other hand the 300C is exactly the opposite?
J,
That's what happens in a week in Chicago during the winter!
Winner Sable? Please...! The chrysler is 100 times better looking than the sable! Everyone knows that! Also the engine is much better then the sable! Besides anyone thats shopping and / or driving a Chrysler 300 wouldn't even consider a sable. The sable is for the 60+ consumer, the Chrysler 300 is for the 40+ consumer. Your trying to compare two totally different animals!
I don't understand Ford's current obsession with tiny speedo and tach dials. Look at all that wasted space on the instrument cluster.
The Mercury Sable is a very beautiful design, in this time when most of the cars in the market look very boring. I loved the Milan and I like the Sable very much.
Old people car? Come on, this is not your grandsma's Camry...
Antonio's got it all wrong. They are not two totally different models. You are mixing perception with reality. The competition wasn't based solely on looks. Besides, the 300 isn't limited to an age group, but it does cater to the gang bangers and the baby boomers. The gang bangers just like to show how much money they've made slingin' dope by throwing some purple paint and some "22s" on their 300s. The fact is that Ford doesn't make a AWD V8 sedan.
The Sable is manufactured in the same great city where Dave performed the evaluations. That has to count for something ;)
Dave,
I drive around Motown, so I know that first hand too.
But what I was asking is that, why is it dirty outside, but clean inside; while the other one is the other way around (Dirty inside, and clean outside)?
So lemme get this straight, the V8 AWD 300C is 300lbs heavier than the Sable, meanwhile it packs:
1. A proper drivetrain, mostly RWD
2. Memory seats + power steering column
3. A great deal more features (and if that seemed like not enough, wait till the 2009s come out with keyless go as an option and some OTHER neat things)
And of course, the 300 doesn't look like it's trying to be Japanese.
Call me biased, but what can I say? My dad was a ford guy, we still have our Mystique sitting in the driveway and all, but when the time came to get another car, the options were a FWD car that looked like a funky Audi A6, or a car that had good looks, plenty of power, great features, and wonderful build quality.
What will the Ford be worth in 10 years? I know we're talking american cars here, and the 300 is also a rental company's love car, but unlike the Ford it won't be just another FWD random crappy car with a bunch of failing engine mounts and a failing transaxle like most old FWD cars have.