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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  HOW TO AMKE NEW FRIENDS! - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By RICKKLING - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE MY EXCURSION, BEST VEHICLE I HGAVE EVER OWNED. I CVAN TOW ALMOST ANYTHING, HAUL 7 PASSENGERS ( AND THEIR LUGGAGE!) GREAT INTERIOR WITH LOADS OF ROOM! AND THE BEST PART IS THAT I AM MAKING NEW FRIENDS AT ALL OF THE GAS STATIONS I HAVE TO STOP AT!

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  Because I can! - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By kirstelles - May 22 - 2:00 am

  With 2 young children/2 car seats, this is our best bet yet! It has all of the room we need to carry extra passengers plus our do-it-yourself projects. It is easy to drive, park and back up. My only suggestion: measure your garage before you buy. We have an oversized garage but many garages cant fit it! One mini-van driver asked sarcastically asked why I drive such a big tank? I replied..."Because I can!" We dont put much mileage on it so fuel economy wasnt a concern. Well worth the $$ and we are very happy!

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  LOVE MY EXCURSION - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By netta - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I JUST LOVE MY EXCURSION. I DRIVE 28 MILES ONE WAY TO DROP OFF KIDS TO 4 SCHOOLS AND GAS USAGE IS NOT BAD. THE SPACE IS EXCELLENT I HAVE 5 KIDS MORE THAN ENOUGH ROOM. GETTING IN AND OUT OF REAR SEATS IS GOOD (SEATS ROLL FORWARD.0 QUIET ENGINE GREAT LEG ROOM

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  Best SUV on Market - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By limbo - May 22 - 2:00 am

  This monster SUV fits in great when you have several kids. It drives great on the open road, tows anything, and gets great Gas mileage with the TurboDiesel. I have had no problems with it at all. I am getting 15 miles per gallon around the city.I consider that great mileage considering the size of this SUV. very comfortable ride on the open road!

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  Diesel Limited - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By JUDOMAN007 - May 17 - 4:36 am

  Bought new and have been driving since. I have 105,000 miles and still have original tires, brakes. Mileage has been an average of 16.8-16.9 though I do mostly highway driving. Only problem I had was the alternator went around 75,000 miles and parts are expensive for this big truck. It is fun to drive and can carry just abuot anything! Great value, too bad they got rid of this truck line!

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  Good Kid Hauler - 2002 Ford Excursion
  By mustangfever2006a - April 25 - 3:49 pm

  Very good SUV. Good ride, and nice interior and exterior. 2wd has very smooth ride compared to 4wd.

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  Behemoth - 2000 Ford Excursion
  By WAIN - April 17 - 10:10 pm

  This is the best family vehicle in comfort, ride, reliability, and safety. And not to forget the cargo space. My father in-law is a world business man and travels quite often and brings us back a lot of goodies and this Excursion welcomes him and all his cargo with open doors. Weve taken trips from San Diego to Vancouver Canada and back, Vegas, LA to Seattle, and many trips to San Francisco with 4 large adults and two kids, and everyone praised how well it rides. It is really comfortable on long and short trip, rides high so you can enjoy the scenery.

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  Excursion-a fun trip and room to stretch - 2001 Ford Excursion
  By FOZ - April 15 - 3:33 pm

  Although this was a "Big Boat", it was still fun to drive. The power and economy of the 7.3L/TD was just awsome. We felt comfortible, safe, and secure in our "boat", even our Great Dane agreed. On several trips, the unit always performed to expectations and more. There was always enough room for everyone and everything. Even pulling a trailer was a joy. We hardly knew the trailer was there. We would gladly replace our present vehicle with a newer one (2005 being the last of the line), but for the right price. Right now they are still over priced on resale and under priced on trade values.

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  Huge and beautiful - 2005 Ford Excursion
  By Mike - March 20 - 1:29 pm

  I bought my Excursion a year ago and I never have a problem with it. Most important for me is that my kids love it. I wish they will continue to make them. Excursions are gorgeous and very comfortable.

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  My dream truck - 2000 Ford Excursion
  By SHYSMOM - March 19 - 9:31 am

  I absolutely love my Excursion. I have the diesel. I am a Ford lover and went from an F250 crew cab 4x4 to the Excursion and am loving every minute of it.