A few Excursions will be available with 5.4-liter V8s, but I suspect they would struggle if you loaded six passengers and luggage and headed for the mountains. It's a big station wagon for the flatlands or an economical engine for fleets.
While the 4x2 comes with Ford's Twin I-beam front suspension and coil springs, the 4x4 uses a solid front axle and leaf springs. Differences in ride and handling between the two are subtle. The 4x4 rides and handles superbly, tackling corners with confidence and offering good grip on dirt roads. Strong crosswinds in the Madison River Valley and an 18-wheeler going in the opposite direction had little effect at high speed.
Of course, that long wheelbase means this is not a serious off-road vehicle. But the part-time four-wheel-drive system and 8.1-inch ground clearance should get you up some pretty gnarly dirt roads in nasty weather. The Excursion does not offer a system like GM's Autotrac, which distributes torque front to rear automatically, so you may have to slow down for slushy, inconsistent conditions. But Ford's clever vacuum-controlled hub-locking system quickly engages four-wheel drive on the fly by pressing a button. A low-range set of gears is ready whenever you need to tackle steep, slippery terrain.
Perhaps most important, the Excursion is rated to tow trailers up to 10,000 pounds, so six fishermen could pull a hefty boat behind them. All Excursions come ready to tow, with a Class IV receiver hitch and factory-wired seven-pin electrical connector; a four-pin adapter is also included. I like overkill when towing long distances through bad weather and the Excursion should pull a 6,000-pound trailer better than an Expedition. Unlike most SUVs, all Excursions come with D load range light-truck tires, LT265/75R-16D. You may want the all-terrain treads if you drive on muddy trails, but the all-season tires are smoother and quieter for towing long distances.
There's no getting around the fact that this is a big vehicle and it's size was a bit more apparent in downtown Portland. However, if you don't mind big rigs, then you'll find this one surprisingly maneuverable and easy to park. Next Page