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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this truck is great - 2004 Ford Excursion
By bob marshall - May 9 - 2:00 ami have always wanted this truck. i traded in her 98 expedition.my limiteds color is mineral gray which is a very rich color.i had a remote starter,power sunroof and navigation installed by the dealer.i had the nav unit un-installed and the original cd6-radio re- installed.the reason being is that with the nav unit you lose your radio controls in the steering wheel and the console and you can only listen to dvd movies on the headphones.my wife did not care for these inconviences so the original unit went back in.i am getting 14 mpg in in-town driving and with the 44 gallon tank it is weeks between fill-ups
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Great Big SUV - 2004 Ford Excursion
By JRHW - May 9 - 2:00 amMuch better than the 01 Suburban 8.1 I had previously The Turbo outperforms the Chevy and the vehicle gets much better fuel exconomy. I have had nor problems after 28,000 miles and love to drive this vehicle every day
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This is the 3rd Excursion - 2004 Ford Excursion
By Channel1tv - May 8 - 2:00 amI have put over a 100,000 miles on the three in our fleet and they are the best !
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excursion04240 - 2004 Ford Excursion
By duane04240 - May 8 - 2:00 ami love it its feels big and safe with very classy stying it has a look and sound of its own and likes to tow big trailers i would love a new one every year
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excursion - 2004 Ford Excursion
By rob68 - May 8 - 2:00 ammore subtle than an h2 with more useful interior room. great for road trips and hauling the gang around. nothing like getting flipped off by the gal in the prius.
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My Excursion - 2004 Ford Excursion
By DougXX - April 30 - 2:00 amIdeal vehicle for tailgating. You can easily haul BOTH person and their gear. This vehicle is solid and has excellent build quality. The V-10 gets 14+ on the highway, 13+ otherwise and has sufficient power. Far exceeds roominess and feel of friends (smaller!) GM Tahoe XL SUV. ONE GREAT VEHICLE.
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Great SUV - 2003 Ford Excursion
By Sailer - April 29 - 2:00 amThis SUV is a great family truck for those who tow. Room is a big plus. Mileage is good in the diesel. Avgerage 18 highway 16 city. Towing avg is 12.
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6.8 Liter 16.5 MPG HWY, 13.7 MPG City - 2003 Ford Excursion
By BIG TRUCK - April 25 - 2:00 amI love the whole package with this Excursion. I added a Gibson Exhaust, a Pro-M 95MM MAF Meter with a conical airfilter, and a custom computer ECU upgrade. All of these have greatly added to the fuel economy of the big truck! Build quality is far better than the last 2 decades from Ford.
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Comfort - 2004 Ford Excursion
By HAlleniii - April 19 - 2:00 amThis Vehicle is made for the Big and Tall, built fot comfort! I love It. I have traveled form the East coast to the West Coast and back, could not have had a better (ride) Trip ! I just Towed my Daughters car and Family from Dallas Texas to Georgia at times I had forgotten I was towing another Vehicle, the ride was very smooth !
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Consumer - 2004 Ford Excursion
By nana3l - April 19 - 2:00 amWe test drove other SUVs and always came back to the Ford Excursion. The Expedition is popular and everybody seems like theyre buying it, but we wanted more towing power and more room for the family to stretch out and enjoy. The Excursion is set apart from the others and we can feel and see it as we drive up and down the interstate. Its fun, challenging and rewarding. The pricing was okay. And the gas mileage, well, we knew what we were getting ourselves into when we bought it. Had two Windstars prior to this and we accept the Excursion and the 10.2 or so gas mileage. We still put it on the highway.
