Fifth Place
Ford Excursion 6.0L Power Stroke
What's new The big news for the Excursion is what is found lurking under its massive hood--the all-new 6.0L V-8 Power Stroke. While we affectionately refer to this engine as the baby 'Stroke, it is no baby. It packs 325 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque while offering reduced emissions and noise. Bolted to the 6.0 is the all-new TorqShift five-speed automatic transmission. Besides those additions, changes are limited to things like colors and trim.
What we liked
Tops on everyone's list was the P-Stroke's power output. It is hard to argue with an engine that produces this kind of power and torque, and none of our judges did. There was just a bit of turbo lag right off the bottom, but then the Stroke would accelerate with an amazing rush. It was the second-quickest out of our group at the dragstrip, which is quite amazing when you consider its size. Also receiving praise was the Torqshift five-speed automatic transmission. Its operation was seamless and it always seemed to have the appropriate gear for the job. Our judges also liked its tow/haul mode. Once engaged, the transmission would raise its shift points, and downshift automatically. The downshifting is an especially nice touch, as it helps take advantage of the diesel's awesome compression braking.
On the trail, the diesel Excursion was an effective crawler. The diesel's awesome torque and compression braking allow it to crawl along with hardly any input to the brake or gas pedal. It was easy to finesse it through difficult sections of the trail, as just a tad of throttle was needed to overcome most obstacles.
Our judges also liked the massive interior of the Excursion. It was huge, and was the only vehicle that could accommodate all of our staff at once--important at day's end, when we all wanted to head out to dinner. We also constantly found ourselves throwing our mountain of luggage into it, as it all would fit with ease.
What we didn't like
Everyone complained about the steering on the Excursion. It was vague, sluggish, and required constant recentering to keep the big Ex heading straight. There also were times on the trail when it simply did not have the power to turn the tires.
Another complaint was the Excursion's massive size. On the dirt it felt like we were trying to take a school bus over the trail. In the city it was hard to find a parking spot for the massive beast. While we did enjoy its gargantuan interior, its giant size made it a hard vehicle to live with.
Check It Out If:
You need to haul a bunch of people in great comfort and security while easily towing your trail rig straight up the side of Pike's Peak.
Avoid It If: You've got to have crisp, precise steering.
The Short Version:
Power Stroke 6.0L is the engine to have. Good, but not great, as a wheeler. Might be the best tow rig on the planet. Comfortable, understated interior. Dead, vague steering.
Final Verdict
The Excursion is a massive beast that when equipped with the 6.0L Power Stroke makes for an awesome tow rig or family hauler. Just make sure that you have plenty of wide-open spaces for it to roam free in.