The Ford Explorer Sport does 17.3 mpg combined (15.3 city, 20 highway), which works out to about $2,220 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Ford Explorer Sport engine, compared
The Ford Explorer Sport was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4L 6-cyl | 15.3 / 20 | 2001–2003 | $2,220 |
What that actually costs
The Ford Explorer Sport burns a gallon every 17.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 694 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.185 |
| Fuel per year | $2,220 |
| Fuel over five years | $11,100 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$290 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,583 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Ford Explorer Sport gives up 4.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 20 out there against 15.3 in town, a 31% drop worth $590 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 15.3 mpg | $2,510 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 20 mpg | $1,920 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +4.7 mpg (31%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Explorer Sport changed over the years
The Explorer Sport peaked in 2001 at 18 mpg (16 city, 20 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2003 at 17 — 1 mpg apart, or $126 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2003 car does 17.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2002 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2001 | 16 / 20 | 1 | $2,133 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 3 EPA ratings of the Ford Explorer Sport — 1 engine across 2001–2003. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,583. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Ford Explorer Sport get?
17.3 mpg combined on average — 15.3 in the city and 20 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2001–2003.
How much does a Ford Explorer Sport cost in fuel per year?
About $2,220 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $11,100 over five years, or 0.185 dollars a mile.
Which Explorer Sport engine is the most economical?
The 4L 6-cyl at 17.3 mpg.
Is the Explorer Sport good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world Explorer Sport figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Ford Explorer Sport is $3,583 against the $2,220 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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