2021 Ford Explorer Gas Mileage

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Ford Explorer Gas Mileage by Engine

Your engine is the most important thing to consider when you’re looking at the gas mileage of the 2021 Ford Explorer. This large SUV gives you three gas-powered configurations to pick from, all of which deliver a different fuel economy, according to EPA estimates.

There’s an available hybrid powertrain, too, but we’ll look at that one in depth later. In the table below, we’re going to compare the MPG of the gas-powered engines:

Engine Option	Powertrain Specs	EPA-estimated 4-Wheel Drive (4WD) Gas Mileage	EPA-estimated Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) Gas Mileage
2.3L EcoBoost® I-4	300 horsepower 310 lb-ft of torque	20 city/27 highway MPG	21 city/28 highway MPG
3.0L EcoBoost® V6	365 horsepower 380 lb-ft of torque	18 city/24 highway MPG	N/A
Enhanced 3.0L EcoBoost® V6	400 horsepower 415 lb-ft of torque	18 city/24 highway MPG	N/A

As you can see, the standard 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 engine gets you the highest EPA-estimated fuel economy, all while delivering on that turbocharged EcoBoost® engine power.

If you want an even more energetic drive, you can also upgrade to either of the available V6 engines. These engines produce either 365 or 400 horsepower and each can get an EPA-estimated gas mileage of 18 city/24 highway MPG.

All three engines are paired with the efficient 10-speed automatic transmission.

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Explore Ford Gas Mileage by Drivetrain

You may have noticed that there’s another factor at play here when it comes to the Ford Explorer gas mileage, and that’s drivetrain. The standard I-4 engine comes with RWD, which boosts your fuel economy to an EPA-estimated 21 city/28 highway MPG. That’s the maximum gas-powered MPG for the 2021 Explorer.

However, many Indy drivers like you prefer to equip their SUV with the available Intelligent 4WD system. This smart system actively monitors your roadway conditions and automatically adjusts torque distribution as necessary to improve traction control.

This 4WD system also includes Selectable Drive Modes, which can further optimize your traction control system. Choose among up to seven different modes, like:

• Slippery
• Trail
• Eco
• Deep Snow/Sand
• Tow/Haul

If we’re having one of those Midwest snow storms, switch into Deep Snow/Sand mode, and your Explorer will adjust the transmission shift schedule, pedal response, and driveline configuration for better handling. If it’s a dry, sunny day, move into Eco mode to maximize efficiency and increase driving range.

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Ford Explorer Gas Tank

Of course, at this point, you may be wondering just how much gas you can fill up with when you stop at the pump. This, again, is going to vary based on your trim level:

• XLT/Limited: 17.9-gallon tank
• St/Platinum: 20.2-gallon tank

While the 2.3L I-4 engine may have a higher overall fuel economy than the V6 engines, you may find that their different fuel tank capacities evens things out enough to have you going equally as far between fill-ups with either gas-powered powertrain.

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