2005 Ford Excursion XLS | Review | Buying Guide
The 2005 Ford Excursion XLS, XLS Limo and XLT trims are the workmanlike lower end of Fords largest SUV. The 2005 Excursion also comes with a upscale Eddie Bauer trim and the top-level Limited, reviewed separately to allow room for the extras. That’s not to say that the XLT, XLS and XLS Limo trims are sparsely appointed! Quite the opposite, in fact! The reality of today’s SUV market, especially the largest ones, is that they are flagship vehicles, set-up with sedan luxury and incredibly powerful and rugged capability. These are the new kings of the road.
The 2005 Ford Excursion definitely holds its own in this competitive segment, with a great performance profile and, on the Trim levels reviewed here, an excellent collection of standard interior and exterior features.
Under the Hood
As in past years, Ford’s diversified lineup means that they have a great technological range to offer their customers and the result with regard to powertrain is a choice between three engines, two gas powered and one diesel, an option unique to Ford in this segment. The standard powertrain consists of a 5.4-liter Triton V8 that delivers 255 horsepower at 4500 rpm and 350 lb-ft of torque at 2500 rpm. 4-speed automatic is the transmission.
Stepping up to the 6.8-liter V10 engine option brings 310 horsepower at 4250 rpm and 425 lb-ft of torque at 3250 rpm. Alternatively, for maximum power and torque in the segment, go diesel! The 6.0-liter turbodiesel V8 engine uses a 5-speed automatic transmission and cranks out an eye-popping 325 horsepower at 3300 rpm and 550 lb-ft of torque at 2000 rpm.
When properly equipped, the Excursion has a maximum towing capacity of 11,000 pounds, which is far from shabby. Not surprisingly, the Excursion is available with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes are standard, and power-adjustable pedals are available on all models.
Standard Features, Options Packages and Style
Styling changes are the main refinements to the 2005 Excursion. New jeweled headlamps go well with new interior and exterior colors, new grille and bumper and revised wheel choices; the XLT and XLS line-up now comes with standard 16-inch aluminum wheels.
Beyond the wheels, massive cargo and passenger capacity gives the Excursion room for nine passengers and a 146.4 cubic feet of cargo volume. Also standard are various power features: windows, mirrors and door locks and both remote keyless and keypad entry.
2005 add-ons for the XLT include a rear-obstacle-detection system and DVD rear entertainment but a range of stand alone and options packages are available for all the Excursion models.
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Ford Excursion XLS Buying Resources...
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