New Car Review of the 2004 Ford Excursion Full-Size Sport Utility Vehicle

Description: Full-Size Sport Utility Vehicle
Base MSRP Range: $36,755-$50,010
Invoice Price Range: $32,325-$43,723

Ford's super sport utility vehicle starts with the chassis of a super-size F-250 Super Duty work truck, which contains the Super-Duty mechanical systems and pulls from one of three Super-Duty engines. A sport utility vehicle's superstructure rises from the Super-Duty chassis, with four access doors etched into the side and a tri-panel gate at the rear, plus three tiers of seats, yet still there's more room in the back bay for cargo.

Excursion for 2004 supports a new base trim XLS, plus XLT, Eddie Bauer and Limited variations. Powertrains consist of gasoline V8 and V10 engines or a diesel V8. Ford's Triton 5.4-liter V8 is standard with 255 hp. A 6.8-liter Triton V10 -- stock for Eddie Bauer and Limited 4WD but optional on other models -- hits 310 hp. Ford's 6.0-liter Power Stroke diesel, pumping best-in-class 325 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque, is also available.

New options reach to chrome running boards for XLT, Eddie Bauer and Limited trims, and telescoping trailer tow mirrors with integrated clearance lights, turn signals and heat elements.