The Ford Explorer does 19.3 mpg combined (16.9 city, 23 highway), which works out to about $1,990 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3.3L 6-cyl Hybrid does 27.3 mpg while 5L 8-cyl does 14.5 — a difference of $1,241 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Ford Explorer engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Ford Explorer ranges from 27.3 down to 14.5 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,241 a year across 8 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3L 6-cyl Hybrid | 27 / 28.3 | 2020–2023 | $1,407 | |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 20.1 / 27.8 | 2016–2026 | $1,648 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 20 / 27.3 | 2012–2015 | $1,670 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 18 / 25.4 | 2020–2026 | $1,837 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 17.2 / 24.2 | 2011–2019 | $1,920 | |
| 4L 6-cyl | 15 / 20.3 | 1991–2010 | $2,259 | |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 13.4 / 19.2 | 2002–2010 | $2,446 | |
| 5L 8-cyl | 12.5 / 17.5 | 1996–2001 | $2,648 |
What that actually costs
The Ford Explorer burns a gallon every 19.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 622 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.166 |
| Fuel per year | $1,990 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,950 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$60 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,332 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Ford Explorer gives up 6.1 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 23 out there against 16.9 in town, a 36% drop worth $602 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 | 16.9 mpg | $2,272 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 23 mpg | $1,670 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6.1 mpg (36%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Explorer changed over the years
The Explorer peaked in 2023 at 24 mpg (22 city, 27.3 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2006 at 15.5 — 8.5 mpg apart, or $877 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 22.5. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 19 / 27 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2025 | 19 / 27 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2024 | 19.5 / 27 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2023 | 22 / 27.3 | 3 | $1,600 | |
| 2022 | 22 / 27.3 | 3 | $1,600 | |
| 2021 | 22 / 27.3 | 3 | $1,600 | |
| 2020 | 22 / 27 | 3 | $1,600 | |
| 2019 | 18 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2018 | 18 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2017 | 18 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2016 | 18 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2015 | 18.5 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2014 | 18.5 / 26 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2013 | 18.5 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2012 | 19 / 26 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2011 | 18 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2010 | 14.5 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 2009 | 14.5 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 2008 | 13.5 / 20 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 2007 | 13.5 / 20 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 2006 | 13.5 / 19 | 2 | $2,477 | |
| 2005 | 13.5 / 18.5 | 2 | $2,477 | |
| 2004 | 13.5 / 18.5 | 2 | $2,477 | |
| 2003 | 13.5 / 18.5 | 2 | $2,477 | |
| 2002 | 14 / 19 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 2001 | 14 / 19 | 2 | $2,400 | |
| 2000 | 14.5 / 19.5 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 1999 | 14.5 / 19.5 | 2 | $2,327 | |
| 1998 | 13.5 / 18.5 | 2 | $2,477 | |
| 1997 | 14 / 19.5 | 2 | $2,400 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 70 EPA ratings of the Ford Explorer — 8 engines across 1991–2026. 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 $3,332. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Ford Explorer get?
19.3 mpg combined on average — 16.9 in the city and 23 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1991–2026.
How much does a Ford Explorer cost in fuel per year?
About $1,990 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,950 over five years, or 0.166 dollars a mile.
Which Explorer engine is the most economical?
The 3.3L 6-cyl Hybrid at 27.3 mpg, against 14.5 for the 5L 8-cyl — a difference of about $1,241 a year.
Is the Explorer 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 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 is $3,332 against the $1,990 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 28 and 14 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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