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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  Wish Ford would build them again - 2000 Ford Excursion
  By dad - April 17 - 2:16 am

  I bought this for the size, and diesel, 4x4. The 1st thing I did is put a hypertec programmer and a 4inch exhaust on for better power as I felt it lacked. I pull a 38ft travel trailer.it has been all over the US with very few problems. I have just the regular MA things to do. I avearge 24.5 mpg on the Hwy and 19 in the city ,not bad for a big SUV diesel. I do wish the chassis was long like the 4 door trucks Ford has, it would pull smoother. But overall I love this truck and the size.

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  Great Truck - 2002 Ford Excursion
  By BBHGUY - March 30 - 11:49 pm

  This truck is fantastic. It was used mostly for everyday driving and never had a complaint. When we finally asked it to tow (7000 lbs trailer), it was incredible. We towed through the mountains of West Virgina in July (95F) with the AC on and were able to set the cruise control at 65mph. This is one of the most versatile vehicles ever made.

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  Best of the Hosses - 2003 Ford Excursion
  By cruiser - March 8 - 10:15 pm

  My first Excursion. Traded my F350 Superduty 7.3. My Excrusion has all of the towing power of the truck but beats the pants off every other aspect. Great ride, 17-18 city mpg. Haven taken long trip yet. Has 90000 miles and purrs like a kitten. No major repairs since new. Cant wait to hit the road with my 37 camper. My 350 did great and I expect the Excursion to be that and more. Love. My wife has taken it over to use in her business. I am relagated to driving her sedan for now.

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  The Best Heavy Duty Family Vehicle Made - 2001 Ford Excursion
  By Daniel Jaeger - March 6 - 7:43 pm

  The Excursion is the best vehicle we have purchased. From driving around town, to driving across the country with our travel trailer, this is the best vehicle for people who want a vehicle that seats many people, gets good fuel mileage, is reliable, and is willing to tow anything. My Powerstroke Excursion with Powerservice additive gets 20 mpg city and 25 highway. An Excursion will beat a Suburban anyday. From Towing to reliability, the diesel engine will outlast a Chevy gas 3 to 1. And thats just the beginning. I saw a Ford Excursion towing a broke down Chevy Suburban down I70 in Missouri. The Excursion is the only SUV that can tow 10000 pounds.

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  Excursion all the way - 2002 Ford Excursion
  By bubba - February 21 - 6:15 am

  The 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 pm

  I 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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  Happy Excursion Owner - 2005 Ford Excursion
  By Bruce Gary - January 19 - 2:46 pm

  I like the Excursion because it is comfortable to drive and it allows you to see over most other traffic. With the 6.0 Diesel it is an excellent tow vehicle. I only wish it got much better mileage. So far it has never let me down or stranded me somewhere. The A/C and the DVD system are two of its most used items. The 4 wheel drive comes in very handy on bi-annual shooting trips to the desert areas of Southern California. I sold a 1 year old Crown Vic Sport to purchase this Excursion and have been very happy everyday since. In the past I have usually purchased either Chevys or Dodges, but I am very glad I gave Ford a second look in 2006 and 2007.

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  Well pleased - 2002 Ford Excursion
  By 2002 excursion - December 7 - 9:17 pm

  Very pleased with this truck. With 4 kids and a dog, the space is well needed and used. I went from a 2000 F- 250 to the Excursion and can still get the same loads in the Excursion if needed.

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  These are the last of the Great American - 2000 Ford Excursion
  By A. C. Roberson - November 11 - 8:51 pm

  I 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 pm

  What 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