As the adage goes, size matters, and that is one of the key reasons why the Ford Excursion is still relevant nearly 20 years after production ended on the heavy-duty, large SUV. Ford launched the Excursion in 1999 as a 2000 model year with just one generation-spanning until 2005, was based on the Ford F-250 heavy-duty pickup, and is the largest SUV to ever enter mass production.
The model was launched as the SUV craze had firmly planted its feet in the automotive landscape and was created to rival the Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet Suburban — but only for sales as the GM products couldn’t compete with the Excursion’s massive footprint.
The Excursion was both loved and hated. Its huge dimensions and heavy-duty, truck-like performance gained it a niche following among those who enjoy the larger things in life, while its insane appetite for gasoline, and again, massive size, put it in the crosshairs of environmental groups as a prominent example of the excess of the automotive industry and how cars were harming the planet.
The Sierra Club environmental organization dubbed it the Ford “Valdez,” a play on the Exxon Valdez oil supertanker which spilled nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound, Alaska, in 1989. No matter which camp automotive enthusiasts found themselves in regarding the Excursion, it remains one of the most notable SUVs of the 21st century.
Ford Excursion
- 48-Cubic Feet Cargo Space
- Tow Rating Up To 11,000 Pounds
- 9-Seat Capacity
- Power Adjustable Pedals
- Turbo Diesel Engine
- Rear Seat Entertinament System
- Model: Excursion
- Engine:: 5.4L V-8 /6.8L V-10 /7.3L Turbo Diesel /6.0L Turbo Diesel
- Power Output: 235-325 HP
- Torque: 350-550 LB-FT
- Transmission: 4/5-Speed Automatic
- Driveline: RWD/4-Wheel Drive
- Heavy-Duty Truck Capability
- Massively Practical
- Powerful Engines
- Terrible Efficiency
- Unwieldy Size
- Basic Amenities
2000-05 Ford Excursion Performance And Capability
The 2000-05 Ford Excursion was available in several trims, including:
- XLS
- XLT
- XLT Premium
- Eddie Bauer
- Limited
- Limited Ultimate
To move the Excursion’s sizeable heft, the SUV was powered by a quartet of engines with equally sizeable displacements. The standard engine is a 5.4-liter Triton V-8 engine offering 255 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, while an optional, massive 6.8-liter Triton V-10 delivers 310 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque. For the first three years of production (2000-03), the Navistar, 7.3-liter, turbocharged V-8 diesel Excursion specs were 250 horsepower and 525 pound-feet of torque.
From 2003-05, the available diesel was reduced in size to a 6.0-liter turbo V-8 that offered more power, 325 horsepower, and a massive 560 pound-feet of torque. The gasoline engines and 7.3-liter turbo diesel are mated to a four-speed automatic transmission while the 6.0-liter diesel is fitted with a five-speed automatic. Rear and four-wheel drive were standard depending on engine choice/trim.
When fitted with the V-10 engine, the Excursion can rumble from 0-60 mph in 10.9 seconds and needs 18.1 seconds to cross the quarter-mile mark at 75 mph. These figures are undoubtedly impacted by its incredibly hefty 7,000-pound-plus weight.
Another impressive figure, though for opposite reasons, is the Excursion’s ultra-thirsty nature. Due to its classification as a heavy-duty vehicle, the Excursion was not subject to EPA ratings, but tests undertaken during its heyday showed the Excursion’s mpg was about 10 to 14 mpg for gasoline versions while diesel powertrains could manage about 16-18 mpg.
As the Excursion was based on the F-250 pickup, it was no surprise that it has heavy-duty capabilities in addition to its ability to move plenty of passengers and cargo with ease. The base V-8 engine can haul between 6,100-7,200 pounds, the V-10 has a towing capacity of 9,600 to 11,000 pounds, and the diesel powertrains can handle 10,000 to 11,000 pounds. Even two decades later, these towing figures are wildly impressive for an SUV, even for one that's based on a pickup.
Engine Type | 5.4L V-8/6.8L V-10/7.3L Turbo Diesel/6.0L Turbo Diesel |
|---|---|
Horsepower | 235-325 HP |
Torque | 350-550 LB-FT |
Transmission | 4/5-Speed Automatic |
0-60 | 10.9 seconds (V-10) |
Drive | RWD/4-Wheel Drive |
Mileage/Range | N/A |
Towing Capacity | 6,100-11,000 lbs. |
Exterior Design
Ford didn’t stray too far away from its heavy-duty pickups in designing the Excursion, as it almost resembles a crew cab F-250 of the time with a truck “cap.” One of the most dominant features of the Excursion, other than its overall footprint and high ride height, was its four, full-sized doors, with the rear wheel arches not interfering with rear-door access, and massive rear side and rear windows.
The Excursion was available with the following exterior colors:
- Black
- Dark Satin Green
- Deep Wedgewood Blue
- Medium Steel Blue
- Oxford White
- Silver
- Toreador Red
- Red Fire
- True Blue
- Silver Birch
- Arizona Beige
- Chestnut
Length | 226.7 in. |
|---|---|
Width | 79.9 in. |
Height | 80.2 in. |
Wheelbase | 137.1 in. |
Ground Clearance | 7.4 in. |
Curb Weight | 7,100 lbs. |
Interior Quality And Technology
Like the exterior, the Excursion’s cabin was nearly a carbon copy of the F-250 with a basic steering wheel with a few controls and a busy dash covered in knobs and buttons for climate control/radio/towing functions and a large center console.
The cabin of the Excursion was fairly basic, even for its time, but it did offer amenities in the form of full leather seating, power-adjustable brake, and throttle pedals (with an available memory feature), a rear seat entertainment system with a VCR and wireless headphones and six-CD changer.
Where the Excursion separated itself from its truck sibling in seating arrangements. The Excursion could seat up to nine passengers with a split, folding bench in the second row and a removable bench in the rear. Those needing less passenger hauling capabilities could also opt for the second-row captain’s chairs in the Limited trim models.
Though it features ample passenger space in all three rows, the Excursion didn’t skimp on cargo capability. Even with the third row in place, the Ford offered a huge 48 cubic feet of cargo space. For perspective, that’s seven more cubic feet than what’s available in the current Chevy Suburban. Additionally, unlike its F-250 sibling, the Excursion’s rear glass operated like a liftgate, but the lower “tailgate” split and opened toward each curb instead of lowering like a traditional tailgate.
Seating Capacity | 9 |
|---|---|
Headroom (front) | 41 in. |
Headroom (middle) | 41.1 in. |
Legroom (front) | 42.3 in. |
Legroom (middle) | 40.5 in. |
Shoulder room (front) | 68.3 in. |
Shoulder room (middle) | 67 in. |
Cargo Room (behind third row) | 48 cu.-ft. |
2000-05 Ford Excursion Price And Availability
The Excursion provided a lot of bang for the buck with its capabilities and space with prices ranging from $38,035 to $51,570 for new 2005 models, the last year of production. Interestingly enough given its cult-like status, capabilities that are still relatively impressive today, and somewhat limited numbers, used Excursions haven’t depreciated nearly as much as other full-size SUVs of the time. According to CarGurus, the average price paid for a 2000-05 Excursion between August 20, 2022, and February 15, 2023, was still over $17,000.
If you're interested in purchasing an Excursion should ensure its recalls have been fixed, including the installation of a fused wiring harness to the speed control system which, if left unfixed, could result in a fire. Other recalls include fixes for the driver or passenger seatbelts not fully latching, a camshaft sensor replacement to avoid engine stall, and a fix for the airbag inflator canister to assure it deploys properly.
Safety
The Excursion’s biggest safety feature was its sheer size. Otherwise, it included anti-lock brakes, front-impact airbags for the driver and front passenger, and a BlockerBeam, a steel cross-member installed below the front bumper that prevented smaller cars from being engulfed by this massive Ford’s front end during a crash.
Main Competition
The Excursion was the Blue Oval’s response to the full-size SUVs from General Motors’ camp, specifically the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon and its longer XL iteration. However, Ford’s massive dimensions allowed it to effectively stand in a class of its own. The Excursion was over seven inches longer than the Chevy Suburban, it had a seven-inch longer wheelbase, was six inches taller, and weighed nearly a full ton more. It was also available with its turbo diesel engines while the GM products relied on unleaded fuel.
With these figures, the Excursion had no real direct competition. Rather, it provided an even larger alternative to Yukon, Suburban, and Tahoe. The Excursion also provided added size and capability over its Ford stablemate, the Expedition, which was more closely aligned with GM’s full-size SUVs. To this day, the Excursion still remains a stand-alone SUV for its sheer size and capabilities.
FAQ
Q: Why was Ford Excursion discontinued?
The Excursion was discontinued primarily due to lacking sales.
Q: Is Ford Excursion still being made?
No, the Excursion was discontinued after the 2005 model year, and the model has not been revived.
Q: Is the Ford Excursion coming back?
Rumors of the Excursion re-entering Ford's lineup circulated in 2020 with Ford aiming to trademark the nameplate, but so far no actual news of its revival has come from the automaker.
Q: Is the Excursion the biggest SUV?
The Excursion is the largest mass-produced SUV to enter production.
Q: Is Excursion 4 wheel drive?
The Excursion was available either with rear-wheel or four-wheel drive.