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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  Fits our needs - 2000 Ford Excursion
  By Richard - September 12 - 4:47 pm

  This has been a good truck. It hauls all 6 of my family members and gear plus a 24ft travel trailer. The door actuators have failed a couple of times but thats all. Wish they still made them.

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  second time - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By Greg in Georgetown - March 21 - 10:00 am

  This is my second excursion. I owned a 2000 limited and was very happy with it. Since I knew Ford was eliminating the Excursion I wanted a new one. The ride and handling have improved greatly. It is quieter and the additional luxury options make this a dream to drive. I would recommend getting the diesel engine if you drive a lot of miles per year. For me it is not an issue since we only put about 13,000 miles per year on the vehicle. If you have the need, I guarantee you will enjoy driving this on the highway.

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  peerless - 2002 Ford Excursion
  By boat fancier - January 7 - 2:13 pm

  At 107,000 only repair is rear end. Ford indicates no maintenance required - bad idea. 18 mpg summer, 17 winter at 75 mph. Still on original brakes. Harsh ride made up for by large comfortable seats. Excellent visibility. Upright driver position = no backache making 800 mile day quite doable. There is simply no vehicle in which you can carry as much or pull as much so far so cheaply in safety and comfort. Ford also has best am radios.

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  Safety FIRST - 2002 Ford Excursion
  By Twins Dad - January 6 - 12:29 am

  I bought this to travel with my newborn twins when they got here. What a great truck. Lots of space for toys and strollers and groceries. Never had a problem in any weather. I like the respect it gets. Known as Godzilla to family and friends. Replaced the front brakes and the exhaust to vented disks and a Banks exhaust. Just the right finishing touches. The gas is a drag to buy but as I said safety first.

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  All the room we need - 2003 Ford Excursion
  By safety first - December 18 - 6:48 pm

  We bought this truck when we had our third child. I had never owned a truck but I loved my husbands Expedition. In fact, I wanted to buy an Expedition because I thought the Excursion was too big. But my husband wanted us in the biggest vehicle possible in case of an accident. Turns out I am very happy with the Excursion because of the amount of room behind the third row seat. With a large baby stroller back there and a full load of groceries or Christmas presents, I use up the entire space. Not to mention the times I am carrying an unusual load like rented tables and chairs or landscaping plants. I can get everything I need on one trip, saving me time, aggravation and gas.

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  Gr8 Truck! - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By Paulo - December 4 - 2:33 am

  Great truck! Great performance! Excellent towing capacity and gas mileage in the city and road. Very happy about it.

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  Diesel MPG - 2002 Ford Excursion
  By Dan - December 1 - 9:38 pm

  This vehicle is too big unless you need to tow something heavy. But the good news is that the diesel gets better gas mileage than any of the V8s in the smaller SUVs. Im getting 17 around town, and 19-20 on the road when I keep the speed down to 60-65. With the price of fuel going ever higher, the fuel savings may someday cancel out the higher acquisition cost of the big engine. Get Michelin tires. They cut the road noise in half.

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  Excursion - 2005 Ford Excursion
  By Eddie - October 31 - 8:21 pm

  Enjoy this truck a lot. Plenty of space and power for towing and love the big tank!

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  Nice Truck. But.... - 2001 Ford Excursion
  By pielue - September 26 - 7:31 pm

  I bought it new. 3 times is has just shut-off by itself while I was driving both interstate and in town. Now at 96,000 the transmission went out on it. The motor on the windows is bad and the electric door lock had to be fixed. I am a woman I do not drive it hard or haul anything. I love the room and the fact that it is a diesel.

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  road locomotive - 2002 Ford Excursion
  By mijon - September 7 - 3:30 pm

  Several trips from Lansing, MI, to Portland, ME nonstop, one driver and one tank of diesel (with a tailwind). Visibility and leather driver seat make driving a pleasure. I weigh 240# and get a backache driving luxury sedans in $40-50k range in half the time. Rock solid diesel never misses a tick at 98000 miles (but would not consider gas). Pulls better than my F350 crew long box diesel because it weighs more. Biggest problem is non support attitude of FMC. No satisfaction on missing rear sway bar, 2002 only. If Toyota or Nissan built a diesel SUV, bye-bye Ford.