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:
Showing 41 through 50 of 500.00-
Excursion all the way - 2002 Ford Excursion
By bubba - February 21 - 6:15 amThe vehicle drives well. More importantly it has the best fuel economy of any SUV. I get 22MPG HWY and 20MPG towing.
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Great tow vehicle and very comfortable - 2000 Ford Excursion
By AL D - February 4 - 2:01 pmI bought this 2000 Excuriosn to tow a 6500lb travel trailer. It has exceeded my expectations! Very comfortable on long trips, tows smoothly and handles well for such a big truck. I have the V10 which is efficient and very strong. I average 13 mpg towing at 60mph, and 17 highway not towing, with 4-6 passengers. This is a great truck.
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These are the last of the Great American - 2000 Ford Excursion
By A. C. Roberson - November 11 - 8:51 pmI bought mine used with only 4k miles and it was 2 years old. The only bad part was having to replace the front drive axle on the long side. I own and operate my bike shop and I noticed that the new axle had a redesigned u- joint. I kept the old one in case I need it since Ford does not replace the u-joint but the whole unit. Other than that, I have had to disassemble the locking hubs everytime they need grease. Plus replace the battery after 7 years. The upside is that this truck does not get any worse gas mileage than a regular pickup. The MPG does not care if I am loaded down and towing or running empty. This is mostly due to the transmission "learning" as it goes.
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Wow - 2000 Ford Excursion
By big tom - October 27 - 11:50 pmWhat a ride, my kids really enjoy the ride, gas is ok on long trips. It beats taking two cars with gear. It also pulls a load well
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No comparison - 2005 Ford Excursion
By BlackWidowDiesel - October 11 - 11:51 amBelieve it or not we traded in our 2004 BMW 745i for this beast, I also have a 2003 F350 Crewcab LB 4X4 Powerstroke and love it even though it has a rough ride, my wife wanted something more practical that we can use to tow our tow hauler. I did add most of the amenties the BMW had and then some, like DVD surround sound, Bluetooth hands free set up, Ipod adapter and Pioneer nav system. This thing rides plush and has tons of power. I had a Suburban for years and it was too soft for towing. Not to mention horrible torsion bar front suspension that had constant alignment problems and bad brakes. Sub also had fuelpump problems. This monster does it all in luxury and comfort with decent MPG-Diesel
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Love this Ford - 2004 Ford Excursion
By vicratz - September 29 - 1:59 pmI have had zero problems with my Excursion and Im impressed! It drives as well today and it drove when I bought it. The steering wheel leather doesnt hold up well but thats about it.
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Love my X - 2000 Ford Excursion
By Steelsoldiers - September 10 - 11:36 pmI have always owned full-size extended or crew-cab pick-up trucks so the size of the Excursion doesnt bother me at all. My family is expanding and I love all of the air conditioned seating it provides for my kid, dog, wife and all of their stuff. I have been averaging 19-20 MPG on the highway with my Powerstroke, which is exceptional for a SUV of this size. No 5300 or 6000 powered Yukon XL will be able to match it! Its too bad Ford quit making this vehicle. I say bring it back with the new Super Duty chassis and the 6.4L Powerstroke!
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No Problem - 2002 Ford Excursion
By Bob - September 6 - 5:50 pmWhat a great truck/suv. Hard to find and there is a reason why. Reliability and ready to roll when needed
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Cruise Liner on Wheels - 2001 Ford Excursion
By agateland - August 26 - 5:29 pmMy wife and three kids can travel all over without the usual cramped feeling and without any fighting amongst the kids. Can also load up our toy hauler (10,000 lbs.) and go over any mountain pass with ease. Feels very safe when driving in any kind of traffic. Overall a great vehicle. Bought new and have had it for six years.
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Excursion is awsome - 2002 Ford Excursion
By truckman - June 12 - 5:03 pmHave seen bad accidents involving Excursions and they have proven incredably safe. The ride is very good even thought it is built on a F-250 frame and it will pull hard with any size tow load. My diesel has over 130k miles on it and most are towing miles and still have had no problems. Im also impressed with the bodys build quality. The only problem I have had is every year I go to Pensacola, Florida and on a 10 or 12 mile stretch of highway 10 the electronics radio, gauges cut out randomly then return to normal, this has happened in the same spot the last four years, it still runs fine and dosent happen anywhere else but I just thought it was funny.
