2016 Ford Explorer MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2016 Ford Explorer is rated 18 to 22 mpg combined across 7 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 2.3L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic.

EPA fuel economy

2016 Ford Explorer · 7 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

22MPG combined

19 city 27 highway

$2,950 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score5/10

2.3L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic

Best version costs $3,250 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.32 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 27, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,950 to $3,600 a year.

Every 2016 Explorer version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
2.3L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic Best EPA listing: Explorer FWD	22 mpg	19 / 27	$2,950
2.3L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Explorer AWD	21 mpg	18 / 26	$3,100
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Explorer FWD	20 mpg	17 / 24	$3,250
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85) EPA listing: Explorer 2WD FFV · Flex-fuel (E85)	20 mpg	17 / 24	$3,250
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Explorer AWD	19 mpg	16 / 23	$3,400
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85) EPA listing: Explorer AWD FFV · Flex-fuel (E85)	19 mpg	16 / 23	$3,400
3.5L turbo 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Explorer AWD	18 mpg	16 / 22	$3,600

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.32 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
2.3L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,945	$245	$14,727
2.3L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,086	$257	$15,429
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85)	$3,240	$270	$16,200
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,240	$270	$16,200
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,411	$284	$17,053
3.5L 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85)	$3,411	$284	$17,053
3.5L turbo 6-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,600	$300	$18,000

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Ford Explorer MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 22 to 24 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); 24 since 2020. Hybrid: 27 to 28 mpg (2020 to 2023); highest in 2020.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2016: gas 22 mpg · hybrid not offered

Show as a table

Ford Explorer best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2016	22	–
2017	22	–
2018	22	–
2019	22	–
2020	24	28
2021	24	27
2022	24	27
2023	24	27
2024	24	–
2025	24	–
2026	24	–

How the 2016 Explorer compares

2016 midsize SUVs covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2016 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Lexus RX Best: hybrid	30 mpg	23 mpg	$2,650
Toyota Highlander Best: hybrid	28 mpg	22 mpg	$2,300
Jeep Grand Cherokee Best: diesel	25 mpg	21 mpg	$3,100
Kia Sorento Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,700
Ford Edge Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,700
Honda Pilot Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,800
Hyundai Santa Fe Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,800
Nissan Pathfinder Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,800
Ford Explorer This page Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,950
Dodge Durango Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$3,100
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	18 mpg	18 mpg	$3,600

Ford Explorer vs Toyota HighlanderMPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests side by side

2016 Explorer recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 14 safety recalls and 2,451 owner complaints for the 2016 Explorer.What they cover, and crash test ratings

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2016 Ford Explorer's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, AWD lowers the combined rating by 1 mpg: the 2.3L turbo 4-cyl gets 22 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 21 with AWD.

Does the 2016 Ford Explorer need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2016 Ford Explorer version on regular gasoline.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.32, midgrade $4.93, premium $5.32, diesel $6.29 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and complaint file dated Sep 26, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.