2000 Ford Excursion...Continued

When Ford claims Excursion offers comfortable seating for up to nine adults they are not making hollow advertising promises. More frequently it will seat eight when dual captain's chairs are fitted in place of the 40-20-40 front-bench seat.

Excursion offers 48.6 cubic feet of cargo space when all seats are in place. The last row bench is mounted on rollers and removal increases cargo capacity to 108.3 cubic feet, then folding down the second-row seat backs creates an impressive 165 cubic feet for cargo -- about eight times the trunk volume of a full-size car.

Excursion has a payload capacity of up to 1,906 pounds, towing capacity up to 10,000 pounds and the low-profile roof rack has a 200-pound capacity.

Standard convenience features include wide running boards and based on experience with the Super Duty trucks, was wise enough not to even think of making them an option. It's a lot easier than a stepladder, and even a 5'1ä woman was able to mount and control the beast. Adjustable seat, steering wheel and foot pedals allow good visibility, control and safety.

Outward visibility from the driver is enhanced by Ford's distinctive step-down belt line, which lowers the forward edge of the front-door side windows. Standard power outside rearview mirrors are heated and well-proportioned. Optional heated, power trailer tow mirrors offer three times the viewing area of the standard exterior mirrors and include an auxiliary convex mirror.

Creature comforts are taken care of with front and rear air conditioning with three 360-degree adjustable ventilation registers for the second row and two for the third row. There are separate pairs of reading lamps for second- and third-row seating plus up to 10 cup holders and five power points. While there are three grab handles and three ride handles inside the front-seat passenger door opening and above both second-row door openings, the lack of at least one for the driver is a strange omission.

Starting out as a small niche market, the heavy-duty utility segment has almost doubled during the past eight years to more than 150,000 vehicles in 1998. Personal-use customers and businesses increasingly need a vehicle that can tow, haul and pack in a lot of passengers and gear. Customer uses for Excursion are expected to range from taking the baseball team to practice to hauling a horse trailer or boat. Excursion equally is designed to appeal to commercial buyers.

Excursion is almost a segment unto itself, and despite the ÎBig Sky' introduction, look for most of them to fill suburban driveways -ö some previously occupied by Suburbans.