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 Barge - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By Cecil - September 16 - 2:00 am

  From the day I test drove this, I did not like it and had problems. First off, on the test drove and pulled out in traffic. The Excursion snorted bucked and chattered as we tried to accelerate into traffic. I told the salesman that I wanted to go back and test drive one with the V10...He said- THIS IS THE V10! When I went to get out of the vehicle. The door handle snapped off in my hand! Not only has this vehicle been nothing but problems, the dealer I bought this from could care less. I think it even seems to burn gas when the engine is off. Going into a corner with the Excursion is like trying to manuver a drunk hippo.

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  driving great - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By morin - September 15 - 2:00 am

  had to add a pro stering dampner to the beast [with respect to the big girl],it was all it needed,other than that its always dependable for us,and confert for us is great,gas mil nis about 26 on freeway,19 to 21 in city,i cant complane,ac in unit will freeze you out.its like a meat locker,the power is a monster,and thats before you give it gas,when that happens,hold on to your head please.as you can see,i like real power and quilty,and this is it!!!!!!!!!!1

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  Great family ride - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By thecrazy8s - September 11 - 2:00 am

  Love my Excursion! were a tall family of 5, husband 63, wife 510 and three kids ages 10,10, & 13 who are all tall for their age. We frequently tow a jeep or sand rail and an occasional boat. Towing ability is great, plenty of leg room for long hauls (500 miles to get to the beach). Great for the winter driving, snow is no worry. Great hwy mpg (16-18) getting kids into town for school with the diesel. 4X4 does great driving in sand or to rocky trail heads. Like the firm ride- doesnt feel like a boat bobbing around like other lrg SUVs. Its big--but worth it if your a big family who travels & tows.

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  Macdaddy truck - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By dpichardo - September 11 - 2:00 am

  Diesel is a great engine. Very comfortable for family and pets for long & short trips. Handles very well for a truck of its size.

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  Excursion can do it all! - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By brewdaddy - September 7 - 2:00 am

  I traded my mini-van in to get my Excursion so I could feel like a man again while driving my family with four girls. What I didnt know was how versatile this beast is. It seats even 8 adults comfortably. It tows almost anything without trying. The ride is very smooth. I took out the back seat & folded the middle one down then camped in it by myself for three days quite comfortably. Here is the one that is hard to believe. My trailer was out of comission so I took off the front wheels of my YFZ450 Quad and stuck it in the back! I took pictures to prove it and Im sending them to a quad mag. This truck is amazing.

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  Good Choice - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By Good Driver - September 4 - 2:00 am

  Purchased to tow a boat and has the power and smooth ride to make it a good experience.

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  Brakes Suck - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By HarryB - September 4 - 2:00 am

  I have a 2002 that I have replaced the brakes on this vehicle 5 times in 120000 miles. They are terribly undersized for the weight of the vehicle and dealer denies knowledge of any problem, even though I have talked to other owners and mechanics, 100% agree that Ford has a major design problem with the brakes. We finally replaced the brakes with racing brakes that were cross-drilled and slotted to disapate the heat (not a Ford product) and know the brakes are working much better.

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  big is better - 2003 Ford Excursion
  By sammyk - August 24 - 2:00 am

  This is the second Excursion Ive owned. The first had the V-10 and really bad mileage. The 6.0 diesel is very powerfull and gets GREAT mileage for the size of the vehicle. On the highway, I average 24 MPG at 75 MPH. My Jeep Wrangler gets a paltry 15 MPGs. We have had a few minor, but annoying problems, particularly electrical ( A/C looses power.. just shuts off ) but far less than the problems we had with the 2000 V-10 ( also electrical, interior lights would blink on and off everytime it rained and it rains a lot in FLorida ). Overall, this vehicle represents the best value for people / cargo around.

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  X - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By EMAGEE - August 23 - 2:00 am

  WONDERFUL VEHICLE. ONLY DIESEL SUV AVAILABLE FUEL MILAGE 18 - 20MG HAVE LARGE FAMILY GALLONS PER PERSON IS WAY LOWER THAN 2 CARS IT REPLACE. IM 62 TALL ONLY VEHICLE I TESTED THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO HAVE SEAT ALL THE WAY BACK TO BE COMFORTABLE. SUBURBAN CANT HOLD A CANDLE TO IT. FOR SPACE OR ECONOMY SINCE THEY HAVE NO DIESEL. I ALSO TOW A LARGE TT NOOO PROBLEM. LOVES TO PULL 31 FOOTER AT 65 13.5 MPG. TRY THAT WITH A 8 LITER GAS

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  Love it and would buy it again - 2001 Ford Excursion
  By wald5 - August 21 - 2:00 am

  I bought my excursion new and have loved it. I had 2 suburbans before and liked them also. But really wanted the diesel engine. We have the 7.3 in our F-350 crewcab and loved the power and mileage. The kids love the space and the reclining 2nd seat and the powerpoints and rear stereo control. I thought it had too much backend sway, so we added a leaf or two to the suspension in the back and one in the front & larger tires. Now it handles great. Ford should have stiffened the rear suspension to handle the load it is meant to carry. Went to Yellowstone a month after we had it and got 17-19 mpg with it, and that was a lot of mountain driving.