2004 Ford Excursion

Standard seating includes 2nd-row 60/40 split bench with center armrest and 3rd-row removable folding flat bench. If you want space for up to nine passengers, then this is your SUV.

Besides that handsome body laden with familiar FoMoCo styling cues, under its skin, the Excursion's bone structure came straight from Ford's hefty Super Duty F-250/F-350 truck series. It's no sports car, but neither is any other heavy-duty pickup. The Excursion just so happens to come with more seats and ceiling. You soon get used to the Excursion's size—and power.


The base engine, standard on all 4x2 and 4x4 XLS and XLT models, is a 5.4-liter V-8 producing 255 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. The 6.8-liter V-10 produces 310 horsepower and 425 lb.-ft. of torque, and is standard on Eddie Bauer and Limited 4x4 models and optional on all other editions. With either of these gas engines, you'll like the way the heavy-duty four-speed automatic's nifty tow-haul feature subtly adjusts the transmission's shift pattern to compensate for hills, load variations and altitude changes.


The 6.0-liter turbo-diesel V-8 features a cast-iron block and cylinder heads. Matched with a five-speed automatic, it delivers 325 hp and 560 lb.-ft. of torque—the best horsepower and torque performance in the class. Stopping force are big discs in each corner—very reassuring—as is the included ABS anti-lock braking system.


If you have a large family or work crew, live in wide-open spaces, and/or frequently tow horses, trailers or boats, you'll especially enjoy the king (or queen) of the road feeling you get in this road warrior. As a freeway cruiser, with lots of kids, gear, and nearly anything you could imagine hooked-up behind, it was a more-than-pleasurable performer. (www.fordvehicles.com)