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Why did Ford stop selling excursions?

Ford discontinued the Excursion, its largest and most powerful SUV, in 2005 after a decade-long production run. The decision to end the Excursion's production was driven by a combination of factors, including changing consumer preferences, stricter fuel economy regulations, and the vehicle's high operating costs.

The Rise and Fall of the Ford Excursion

The Ford Excursion was introduced in 1999 as a response to the growing demand for large, truck-based SUVs. It was designed to be the biggest and most capable SUV on the market, with seating for up to nine passengers and a towing capacity of up to 11,000 pounds. The Excursion was based on the Ford F-250 Super Duty platform and shared many of its components, including its powerful V8 engines.

Initially, the Excursion was a popular choice among consumers who needed a spacious and powerful SUV for towing, hauling, or transporting large families. However, as fuel prices began to rise in the early 2000s and concerns about the environmental impact of large vehicles grew, the Excursion's appeal began to wane.

Factors Behind the Excursion's Discontinuation

Changing Consumer Preferences: As gas prices increased and environmental awareness grew, consumers began to favor more fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly vehicles. The Excursion's large size and powerful engines made it a gas-guzzler, which became less appealing to many buyers.

Stricter Fuel Economy Regulations: The introduction of stricter fuel economy standards, such as the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations, put pressure on automakers to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Excursion's poor fuel economy made it difficult for Ford to comply with these regulations.li>
High Operating Costs: The Excursion's large size and powerful engines resulted in high fuel and maintenance costs, which further deterred consumers from purchasing the vehicle.

In the face of these challenges, Ford decided to discontinue the Excursion in 2005, marking the end of an era for the brand's largest and most powerful SUV.

Why did they stop making Ford excursions?

Ford stopped making the Excursion because of declining sales, driven by a combination of rising fuel prices, increased environmental awareness, and a shift in market demand toward smaller SUVs. The large and heavy SUV was criticized for its poor fuel economy and was also subject to new emissions regulations that made production difficult.

Poor sales performance: After an initial spike in sales, demand dropped significantly due to these factors, and the model was consistently Ford's lowest-selling SUV.
Fuel prices and environmental concerns: The early 2000s saw a sharp increase in gas prices, which made a gas-guzzling vehicle like the Excursion less appealing. Environmental groups also criticized it for its poor fuel efficiency.
Changing regulations: New emissions standards, such as the Tier 2 emissions standards introduced by the EPA, made it challenging for the Excursion to be certified to meet light-duty standards due to its heavy, truck-based chassis.
Market shift: The overall market was moving away from large, heavy SUVs and toward more efficient, smaller models.
Production strategy: Discontinuing the Excursion also allowed Ford to repurpose production capacity at its Kentucky Truck Assembly Plant for its Super Duty pickup trucks.

How much is a new 2025 Ford Excursion?

There is no 2025 Ford Excursion, as the vehicle has been out of production since 2005. While rumors suggest it may return for the 2026 model year, an official Ford announcement has not been made and pricing is not available. Ford is, however, releasing a 2025 Expedition, with pricing starting around $64,515 for the Active trim.
This video discusses the possibility of the Ford Excursion returning in 2025: 58sAuto CornerYouTube · Mar 31, 2025

No 2025 Ford Excursion: The Ford Excursion was discontinued in 2005 and has not been produced since.
Rumored 2026 Return: There is speculation that the Excursion nameplate could return as a 2026 model, but this is not officially confirmed by Ford.
No pricing available: Because the 2025 model does not exist and the 2026 model is unconfirmed, there is no official pricing for a 2025 or 2026 Ford Excursion.
2025 Ford Expedition pricing: Ford's current large SUV, the 2025 Expedition, has pricing that starts at approximately $64,515 for the Active trim.

Is Ford bringing back the Excursion in 2026?

There is no official confirmation from Ford, but rumors and renderings suggest the Excursion nameplate could return for 2026, potentially built on the Super Duty truck platform. While this is not a confirmed product, speculation includes a large, three-row SUV with powerful engine options and advanced technology, aiming to compete with other large SUVs on the market. Ford conducted market research that indicated strong customer interest.

Potential Platform: If revived, the Excursion would likely be built on the Super Duty truck platform, suggesting strong towing capabilities.
Likely Features: Rumors suggest it could have three rows of seating, multiple engine options (including the 7.3L Godzilla V8 and 6.7L Powerstroke diesel), and luxury and off-road packages.
Market Research: Ford's market research has shown strong customer demand for a vehicle of this size and capability.
Unconfirmed Status: It is important to note that this is not an official Ford model and is based on rumors and speculative content. Some sources caution that the original concept of the Excursion may not be resurrected, even if the name is used again.

Is Ford coming back out with an Excursion?

There are frequent online rumors and speculation that Ford will bring back the Excursion, but the company has not officially confirmed this. Many recent "leaks" and images of a potential new model are computer-generated or speculative, often based on the Super Duty platform and powered by a V8 or diesel engine. While there's strong customer demand, the lack of official confirmation means the comeback is not guaranteed.
This video discusses the possibility of the Ford Excursion making a comeback: 58sMad MechanicYouTube · Jul 29, 2025

Rumors and speculation: Online forums and social media are filled with images and reports about a potential 2026 Ford Excursion revival.
Digital renderings: Much of the visual content online is AI-generated or speculative, and not from official Ford sources.
Potential features: Speculation suggests a modern Excursion would be based on the Super Duty truck platform and could feature a powerful diesel engine, high towing capacity, and potentially a hybrid option.
Lack of official confirmation: Ford has not announced any plans to reintroduce the Excursion.
Reasons for speculation: The strong interest is driven by demand for a large, capable SUV, particularly for towing, which is currently dominated by GM in the market.

This video is about the potential features of a new Ford Excursion: 44sAuto CornerYouTube · Jan 26, 2025

Kevin Bennett

Company Owner

Kevin Bennet is the founder and owner of Kevin's Autos, a leading automotive service provider in Australia. With a deep commitment to customer satisfaction and years of industry expertise, Kevin uses his blog to answer the most common questions posed by his customers. From maintenance tips to troubleshooting advice, Kevin's articles are designed to empower drivers with the knowledge they need to keep their vehicles running smoothly and safely.