Overview & Reviews

From its yacht-like boulevard cruisers of the early '70s to its more recent Super Duty pickups, Ford has long catered to buyers with king-sized transportation needs. The Ford Excursion followed in this tradition. This full-size SUV was manufactured between 2000 and 2005, and holds the distinction of being the longest and heaviest sport-utility vehicle ever produced.

With seating for up to nine passengers and a tow rating of 11,000 pounds (when properly equipped), the Excursion was mecca for SUV buyers with super-sized hauling needs. But its gargantuan proportions came at a price. Driving and parking a vehicle of this scale presented major challenges. And as you'd expect, fuel economy was dismal.

The Ford Excursion ultimately fell victim to high gas prices. Declining sales prompted Ford to retire the mega-size SUV after the 2005 model year. If you need a big SUV but not necessarily one that's the biggest in its class, we'd encourage you to explore less unwieldy, more fuel-efficient alternatives. But a used Ford Excursion could be a decent choice for those who have a genuine need for this level of roominess and towing capability.

Most Recent Ford Excursion

Built on Ford's F-250 Super Duty truck platform, the four-door Ford Excursion was the largest SUV in Ford's lineup, based on overall size and interior room. It was available with either two- or four-wheel drive.

In its first year of production, the Excursion was offered in just two trim levels: the base XLT and the more upscale Limited. The Eddie Bauer trim level made its debut in model year 2003 as a midlevel alternative, falling between the XLT and the Limited. In 2004, trim levels were revised to reflect the following hierarchy: base XLS, XLT, Eddie Bauer and top-of-the-line Limited.

Excursions were initially available with three engines. The standard engine on both XLTs and Limiteds was a 5.4-liter V8 good for 255 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, with both a 310-hp 6.8-liter V10 and a 235-hp 7.3-liter turbodiesel V8 offered as options. In 2001, the 7.3-liter turbodiesel saw its power increase to 250 hp. The Excursion's 7.3-liter turbodiesel was phased out in 2004 to make way for a new 325-hp, 6.0-liter turbodiesel V8 that also offered more torque and cleaner emissions.

All engines were governed by a four-speed automatic transmission, except for the 6.0-liter turbodiesel, which had a five-speed automatic. In a test involving a 2000 Ford Excursion equipped with the 6.8-liter V10, our editors averaged just 12.4 mpg in combined city and highway driving. Of all these choices, the 6.0-liter turbodiesel was the pick of the litter: With 560 lb-ft of torque, it was best suited for hauling heavy loads, and it delivered the best cruising range to boot.

Base-model Excursions boasted a generous standard features list, offering amenities like a rear air-conditioner, cruise control, full power accessories and a CD player. Pricier trim levels got you goodies like rear audio controls, power-adjustable pedals, a premium audio system and heated front seats. Options like an in-dash six-disc CD changer and a DVD-based rear-seat entertainment system were available across some trim levels.

The Excursion's interior was more utilitarian than elegant, with a no-frills dashboard that came courtesy of the Super Duty pickup. Top-tier trim levels were a bit more stylish. The Eddie Bauer model featured a cabin with a two-tone color scheme, and the Limited trim offered an interior with cherry wood accents. Nine passengers could be seated in XLS and XLT models; other models seated only eight as a result of their front captain's chairs. Excursions offered 146.4 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. This is the most capacity ever offered in a full-size SUV, but it still felt short of the cubic footage available in a full-size van -- arguably a better choice for large families.

In editorial reviews, the Ford Excursion's size prevented it from scoring high marks as a daily driver. Steering feel was vague, and ride quality was rough and bouncy. Routine trips down the expressway were a chore, as continual steering correction was needed to keep the big Ford from wandering out of its lane. Acceleration was leisurely no matter which drivetrain you selected, as the engines were tasked with motivating more than 7,000 pounds of vehicle. In consumer reviews, the Excursion was praised for its roomy interior and panned for its interior styling and poor fuel economy.

Past Ford Excursions

On the market for a mere five years, the Ford Excursion was a single-generation vehicle. Although we think GM's heavy-duty series Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL are better choices on the used market, if you're dead set on getting an Excursion, we'd recommend a 2004 or 2005 model with the optional 6.0-liter turbodiesel.

User Reviews:

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  The Bus - 2000 Ford Excursion
  By Kevi - July 31 - 2:00 am

  Since owning the bus. Have had plenty of comments from passerbys. People simply dont like this truck. I have people stare as I turn infront of them. But it is a great truck. I find it comfortable, and plenty of power. I didnt buy this truck because I was looking for fuel economy. I find it is very safe for my wife and kids. I know if they are involved in an accident, they will walk away..

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  BIG RIG - 2003 Ford Excursion
  By SLINGBLADE - July 17 - 2:00 am

  IT HAD A STICKER OF 53500 BUT I BOUGHT IT FOR 44000 GOT THE 6.0 LOTS OF POWER THE 560LBS OF TORQUE CAN BE A LITTLE SCARY GET ABOUT 14 AROUND TOWN AND 22 ON THE ROAD AT 70 WITH NO TRAILER BOUGHT IT TO TOW MY 11000LB TRAILER I HOPE MY MILAGE WILL BE AROUND 15 HAD A 3500 GMC AND WAS GETTING ABOUT 7 WITH A GAS ENGINE MY OTHER CARS ARE GERMAN AND THE FORD HAS REAL INTERIOR QUALITY ISSUES COMPARED TO THE AUDI ITS A JOKE BUT I BOUGHT IT TO HAUL SO WE WILL SEE. AFTER 4 WEEKS I HAVE A CD PROBLEM AND A COUPLE OF SQUEEKS BUT THE THING MOVES FOR A 4 TON TRUCK MY FIRST SERVICE IS COMING UP JUST CAUSE I WANT TO CHANGE MY FIRST OIL AT 2000 MILES

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  Biggest and best on the road - 2002 Ford Excursion
  By 155gunner - June 28 - 2:00 am

  I love this SUV! The view is awesome and the interior room is big enough to live in. I can easily transport my family, cats, ferret, and Saint Bernard and still not feel crowded. The V10 has plenty of power for my needs and the mileage is not that bad considering the thing weighs close to 8,000 pounds and is 4WD. I get 11 mpg in town and 15 mpg highway, with the AC running full blast. If you need room and want a little more safety from a large vehice, this ones for you.

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  LOVE IT - 2000 Ford Excursion
  By wade - June 23 - 2:00 am

  I thoroughly enjoy driving the excursion. It is an automobile that I feel safe in and have good visibility. The Excursion for us has been great for pulling our horse trailer and for hauling the high school tennis team. Wish you would continue to make them.

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  Its Almost Perfect - 2002 Ford Excursion
  By Deej - June 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought this expecting to have all the room in the world. I do! The only thing that takes some getting used to is the stiffer ride than I had in my F- 150. With the V10 I have all the power I want and then some and it gets the same mileage no matter what. Towing or touring it is consistant. Including its huge range, it is a really good buggy.

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  Excursion - 2000 Ford Excursion
  By brooks - May 18 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my Excursion while trading in my F-150 to tow my 21 boat and 33 camping trailer and also needed the extra room (have 4 children). I could not be more pleased with the Excursion with its towing capacity and room. My ford has the 6.8 Liter V10 and has tons of torque. The seating arangement is great. I had to pick up some items so I removed the 3rd row seat and had lots of room while still having the 2nd row available. The 3rd row seat could not be more easily removed... a quick pull on the latch and it rolls right out the back on its built in rollers. The 2nd row seats then simply fold down if more room is needed.

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  Opinion - 2002 Ford Excursion
  By G. Garton - May 13 - 2:00 am

  Great truck, but it has been in the shop twice for electrical breakdowns. First the accelerator went out, then the alternator and batteries. Thank goodness for warranty service, but what a pain. But, it a a glorious vehicle to drive and tow my toys.

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  TOWS THE LOAD - 2003 Ford Excursion
  By AVE8ER - March 26 - 2:00 am

  This is a great truck! The only real gripe I have is it rides and sounds like a truck on the inside. I had a eddie bauer expedition with the air suspension before and it had a great ride. This truck has way to many creaks and rattles. The gmc denali doesnt have creaks and rattles!

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  Excursion - 2002 Ford Excursion
  By wlittl9466 - March 24 - 2:00 am

  I have the V-10 powerplant. Very good engine which has all the power you would ever need. The ride is stiff around town due to the F-250 heavy duty frame the Excursion sits on. However, the highway is where this truck really shines. It is very smooth and stable with little wind noise. I modified the engine with a Flowmaster dual exhaust and high flow air filter which improved fuel economy dramatically. Fuel mileage increased from 11c/14h to 13c/16h, which is as good as the Suburban but with more pulling power.

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  Built to Haul - 2001 Ford Excursion
  By Trucking man - January 22 - 2:00 am

  Great vehicle that tows my 31ft travel trailer with ease. No its not good on gas mileage but thats not why I bought it. Its a good looking truck that gets the job done. I have the V10 and have had no problems with brakes or any other things I read about such as rough ride or hard to steer. Very comfortable on long trips with plenty of room for passengers and luggage.