2001 Ford Excursion As big as a bus, but best used as a tow truck. By Mitch McCullough, Editor-in-Chief, New Car Test Drive .com

Ford's gargantuan sport-utility is a wonderfully stable platform for towing heavy trailers and can at the same time carry a truckload of fishermen. It rides fairly well for a heavy-duty truck and it's luxurious and comfortable. For those who want to tow trailers up to 10,000 pounds, the Excursion is a good alternative to a pickup with a cap.

The Ford Excursion should not, however, be considered as an alternative to a minivan. It's far too thirsty, and its size and design make for poor maneuverability and handling when compared with minivans and light-duty SUVs.

Ford Excursion comes in two trim levels: XLT and Limited.

XLTs come with a nice cloth interior with comfortable seats that offer good support for long drives and a high level of standard equipment.

Limited trim adds leather and a few more goodies that are optional on the XLT. More standard equipment is added to the Limited models for 2001, including outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, fog lamps integrated in the front bumpers, and upgraded leather seating surfaces.

Three engines are available: a V8, a V10, and a turbocharged diesel. And, of course, there's a choice of two- or four-wheel drive. The base XLT 4x2 retails for $34,245. We drove a $37,560 XLT 4x4 with the V10. The diesel adds about $4,000 to the bottom line.