Ford Excursion

Ford Excursion: Which Version Should You Buy?

The Ford Excursion was offered in one generation from March 1999 to November 2004 as an SUV 5-doors, with 12 listed modifications. Since there is no later generation to compare, the buying decision is entirely about engines and drivetrains. The range comprises naturally aspirated Gasoline 5.4 AT and 6.8 AT versions plus turbocharged Diesel 6.0 AT and 7.3 AT versions.

The Ford Excursion was offered in one generation from March 1999 to November 2004 as an SUV 5-doors, with 12 listed modifications. Since there is no later generation to compare, the buying decision is entirely about engines and drivetrains. The range comprises naturally aspirated Gasoline 5.4 AT and 6.8 AT versions plus turbocharged Diesel 6.0 AT and 7.3 AT versions. Every listed Excursion has an Automatic gearbox with 4 gears; depending on the modification, drive is RWD or AWD.

Ford Excursion generations and versions

The 1 generation ran from March 1999 through November 2004. Its only body type was SUV 5-doors, and the catalogue contains 12 versions within this generation. There is no separate restyling or second generation in the supplied data. Consequently, choosing between Excursion versions means comparing outputs from 238 to 329 hp, torque from 474 to 745 Nm, kerb weights from 3,125 to 4,037 kg, and either RWD or AWD.

Engine specs and drivetrain comparison

Repeated names identify distinct catalogue entries, so power and drive must be checked alongside the exact version name. The four 5.4 AT entries include 258 hp and 263 hp tunes with either RWD or AWD. The 7.3 AT appears with 238 hp or 253 hp, again across both drive layouts.

The 6.0 AT produces the highest outputs: 329 hp and 745 Nm. That is 15 hp and 169 Nm more than the 6.8 AT, despite having 800 cc less displacement. Relative to the 253 hp 7.3 AT, the 6.0 AT adds 76 hp and 60 Nm while using 1,322 cc less displacement.

Calculated from the supplied displacement and output figures, the 6.0 AT delivers about 55.3 hp per litre. The 263 hp 5.4 AT follows at about 48.7 hp per litre, with the 258 hp tune at about 47.8 hp per litre. The 6.8 AT develops about 46.5 hp per litre. The 253 hp 7.3 AT provides about 34.8 hp per litre, while the 238 hp tune provides about 32.7 hp per litre.

Performance and fuel economy

Among versions with complete consumption data, the RWD 6.0 AT has the lowest figures: 16 l/100 km city, 10 l/100 km highway, and 12.5 l/100 km combined. Its combined figure is 2.5 l/100 km below the 263 hp AWD 5.4 AT, 3.5 l/100 km below both measured AWD 7.3 AT entries, and 5.6 l/100 km below the AWD 6.8 AT.

Only the AWD 6.8 AT has a measured 0–100 km/h time, at 11 seconds. A 153 km/h top speed is listed for every entry except the 258 hp RWD 5.4 AT, whose top speed is not measured. No acceleration comparison can be made for the remaining versions because their 0–100 km/h figures are not measured.

Dimensions, weight, clearance, and tank size

Exterior dimensions and wheel sizes are not measured for any listed version. Ground clearance is 185 mm wherever it is measured; the 258 hp AWD 5.4 AT is the sole entry for which clearance is not measured. Every version has a 166-litre fuel tank.

The lightest entries are the two RWD 5.4 AT versions at 3,125 kg. They are 200 kg lighter than their corresponding AWD 5.4 AT entries. The RWD 6.8 AT is 210 kg lighter than the AWD 6.8 AT, while the RWD 6.0 AT is 225 kg lighter than the AWD 6.0 AT. In the 253 hp 7.3 AT pair, RWD reduces kerb weight by 207 kg.

Calculated weight per horsepower highlights the 314 hp RWD 6.8 AT at about 10.1 kg/hp, narrowly ahead of the 329 hp RWD 6.0 AT at about 10.2 kg/hp. The AWD 6.8 AT is about 10.7 kg/hp, and the AWD 6.0 AT is about 10.9 kg/hp. The 263 hp RWD 5.4 AT is about 11.9 kg/hp. At the other end, the 238 hp RWD 7.3 AT is about 17.0 kg/hp.

Which Ford Excursion version should you choose?

For the strongest engine and the best measured economy, the RWD 6.0 AT is the clearest numerical choice. It combines 329 hp and 745 Nm with measured consumption of 12.5 l/100 km combined. Its 3,370 kg kerb weight also gives it a better calculated weight-to-power figure than either AWD 6.0 AT or either 7.3 AT tune.

Choose the AWD 6.0 AT when AWD matters more than the 225 kg weight increase over the RWD version. It retains the same 329 hp and 745 Nm, but its fuel consumption and 0–100 km/h time are not measured, so the data cannot establish its economy or acceleration.

The 6.8 AT is the Gasoline performance choice. With 314 hp and 576 Nm, it exceeds the 263 hp 5.4 AT by 51 hp and 102 Nm. The RWD 6.8 AT also has the best calculated weight per horsepower in the range, while the AWD version is the only Excursion here with measured acceleration: 11 seconds to 100 km/h. Its measured 18.1 l/100 km combined consumption is, however, the highest complete combined figure in the catalogue.

The 5.4 AT is the lighter Gasoline option. The 263 hp RWD entry weighs 3,125 kg, which is 35 kg less than the RWD 6.8 AT and 245 kg less than the RWD 6.0 AT. Between the two 5.4 AT tunes, the 263 hp version gains 5 hp over the 258 hp version while torque remains 474 Nm. The 263 hp AWD version is the useful choice when published consumption matters, because it records 15 l/100 km combined; economy for the other 5.4 AT entries is not measured.

Choose the 253 hp 7.3 AT over the 238 hp tune if output is the priority within that displacement: it adds 15 hp and 7 Nm. The AWD 253 hp version weighs only 2 kg more than the AWD 238 hp version, and both have measured consumption of 19 l/100 km city, 13 l/100 km highway, and 16 l/100 km combined. The 7.3 AT does not match the 6.0 AT for output: even its stronger tune trails by 76 hp and 60 Nm.

On the supplied figures, the RWD 6.0 AT offers the strongest all-round case; the AWD 6.0 AT adds AWD with identical engine output; the RWD 6.8 AT provides the best calculated weight per horsepower; and the 263 hp RWD 5.4 AT minimizes kerb weight while retaining the stronger 5.4 AT tune. Reliability and problems are not measured in the source data, so they cannot support a choice between versions here.