Ford Excursion Limited
Before the test this year rumors started running around that Ford would stop producing the Excursion after 2004. If this is in fact the end of the Excursion our judges will say goodbye with mixed feelings. We'll miss the new 6.0L Power Stroke and its 325 hp/560 lb-ft of torque that move the hulk much better than Ford's V-10. But we won't miss the battleship handling that comes standard with this 7,000-plus-pound SUV.
For those who don't know by now, the running gear on the Excursion is nearly identical to the components on the F-250. So they both share bogus quirks like low hanging steering dampeners and sway-bar links, and an almost complete lack of skidplates. Fortunately they also share the heavy-duty drivetrain stuff like the engine, transmission, and axles. Compared to other vehicles in the test the Excursion's steering felt far too slow. Four turns lock-to-lock is not going to cut it when you are trying to maneuver on city streets or around trees in a campsite. We don't think any of the judges expected the Excursion to be a great-handling SUV, but when tested amongst a pack of 4x4s that are, we quickly learned just how much this truck rolls around corners and bobs in the dips. It was probably the worst urban driver of the test, and judges noted that "it handled like a UPS truck" compared to the other 4x4s. Off-road wasn't much kinder to the Excursion. In the sand we experienced terrible wheelhop that would shake the doors, but the springs flexed enough to keep the passengers from getting beat up. Ground clearance is not the Excursion's strong suit either with running boards that did their best to widen every trail we went on. However the Excursion was our desert living room during the test with cold A/C, DVD, and enough leather to make any men's club look like a YMCA. The horrible fuel economy we got with this truck says more about how much judges liked hanging out in it than it does about the engine's efficiency.
General
Manufacturer: Ford
Model: Excursion Limited
Base Price: $43,353
Price as Tested: $45,523
Options as Tested: 3.73:1 gears with limited-slip differential, telescopic power-heated sideview mirrors, rear-seat entertainment with DVD
Engine
Type: Turbocharged, intercooled, 32-valve V-8 diesel
Displacement (liters/cubic inches): 6.0/363
Bore & Stroke (inches): 3.74x4.13
Compression Ratio: 18.0:1
Induction Type: Hydraulic rail, direct injection
Fuel Required (octane)/Capacity (gallons): Diesel/44
SAE Peak Horsepower: 325 @ 3,300 rpm
SAE Peak Torque (lb-ft): 560 @ 2,000 rpm
Transmission
Type: 5-speed automatic overdrive
Model: TorqueShift
Ratios: First: 3.09:1; Second: 2.20:1; Third: 1.54:1; Fourth: 1.00:1; Fifth: 0.71:1; Reverse: 2.88:1
Transfer Case
Type: 2-speed part-time, electric shift
Model: NVG 273
Low-Range Ratio: 2.72:1
Axles
Front Type: Dana 60
Rear Type: Visteon 101/2-inch with limited slip
Hubs: Automatic with manual override
Ratio: 3.73:1
Suspension
Front: Live axle with leaf springs
Rear: Live axle with leaf springs
Steering
Type: Power-recirculating ball
Turns Lock-to-Lock/Ratio: 4/17:1
Turning Radius (feet): 50.4
Wheels
Size (inches): 16x7
Material: Forged-aluminum
Tires
Size: LT265/75R16
Brand: Firestone Steeltex
Brake System
Front: 13.03-inch discs with ABS
Rear: 12.83-inch discs with ABS
Weight (pounds)
Curb Weight: 7,725
Advertised GVWR: 9,200
Mileage
EPA Estimate (city/hwy. mpg): N/A
As Tested (mpg): 7.12
Acceleration
Standing ¼-mile (seconds @ mph): 18.25 @ 79.39
Braking
60-0 mph (feet): 166
Dimensions (inches)
Wheelbase: 137.375
Overall Length: 228.5
Overall Width: 102
Overall Height: 80
Front/Rear Track: 69.125/68
Front/Rear Overhang: 38.75/50.875
Minimum Front Ground Clearance: 8.5
Likes
*Power Stroke diesel
*Best third row seat of test
*More room inside than a
studio apartment
Dislikes
*Doors shake in their hinges
*Turning radius is huge
*Auto hubs would not stay engaged when A/C cycled
Bottom Line
A diesel gunship that's big enough for the whole family