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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MY TURN - 2004 Ford Excursion
By rdy - April 10 - 2:00 amDROVE IN MOUNTAINS IN MOMTANA FOR 3 MONTHS LAST FALL AND HAD NO PROBLEMS AND GOOOD POWER V10S RULE
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Great Big Ride - 2004 Ford Excursion
By Powermom - April 8 - 2:00 amI love my Excursion. I always wanted one with the Powerstroke and it has been everything I thought it would be. Smooth ride, GREAT engine, space, power, fuel economy - what else can I say. Oh yeah, and it looks great, too! My husband always had diesel pickups that I had driven and I knew I wanted one in this. It was a super choice. If you drive a lot and want superior engine performance, interior space and comfort, this SUV is the ONLY choice.
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I love my Excursion! - 2004 Ford Excursion
By kblair2001 - April 8 - 2:00 amI drove the Expedition, I drove the new 4 door F-150...neither of them compared to the Excursion! The engine is awesome, the interior room is unbelievable and the driving performance blows me away. I LOVE it!
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The Life of the Ford Excursion - 2004 Ford Excursion
By David Vanderbilt Nus - April 8 - 2:00 amI think that this is a great car, really, I have had Range rovers in the past, still do and have had sububrbans, and I prefer this always. I Last and not least I have been hearing rumors that the excursion will cease to be in production after 2005, and I really hope Thanks, Charles Nussbaum
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Get the Diesel - 2004 Ford Excursion
By JWatts2222 - April 4 - 3:00 amMake sure you get the diesel. It offers better fuel mileage and is more reliable.
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Get the Diesel - 2002 Ford Excursion
By tracman in the world - March 31 - 2:00 amI bought this car because i was driving a lot in dangerous traffic and wanted to be able to tow my camper. Since then i have taken all sorts of stuff in this car. With the diesel engine it has great pick-up and i get 18mpg average with 20 on the highway. turbo whine gives me that big truck feeling and lots of passing power. The 4wd drive feature is weak especially when you are still supposed to get out to lock the hub for serious off roading
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Love the Deisel! - 2004 Ford Excursion
By Emmie - March 30 - 2:00 amI love my Excursion! The Deisel gets great mileage, 20-24 per gallon if I keep it 65 mph and under. The size really isnt all that bad! Just as big as a pick-up. And towing is incredible, dont even realize there is anything back there is is so smooth and effortless (6k boat).
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florida truck - 2004 Ford Excursion
By jboneezer - March 30 - 2:00 amThis is our 3rd Excursion. We lemon lawed our 02 because of a thumping noise in the front end, unexpected stalling, and a several squeaks in the interior. Now we have a 2004, which has some of the same troubles. We still like the vehicle and have decided to ignore these troubles....for now.
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2004 Ford Excursion Limited 6.0 Diesel - 2004 Ford Excursion
By Lovin the Excursion - March 28 - 2:00 amOutside of having great luck with Ford, I turned to the Excursion because the Diesel engine. At first I thought the Excursion would be too large, but coming from a Supercrew, the size is virtually the same. Here are some other notes- Engine-THE ONLY WAY TO GO WITH THIS VEHICLE-DIESEL!! It is awesome! I drive mostly in city like conditions, and have been averaging 17 miles per gallon. For those that want to know if it is worth paying the extra $$ for a diesel, I did a comparison versus the V10 at 10 miles per gallon, and the ROI is about 48,000 miles of driving. O
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Awesome Vehicle - 2004 Ford Excursion
By cdy - March 25 - 2:00 amIf you want comfort and room you go with the Excursion. I have had mine for 4 years now and I would not take anything for it. There is always room for anything and everyone. If you are looking for good gas mileage you are not looking for an Excursion. I have learned that there are compromises in life and you drive what you want to drive and I choose to drive the EXCURSION. AWESOME VEHICLE.
