2021 Ford Explorer MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2021 Ford Explorer gets up to 24 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 27 mpg as a hybrid, across 7 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2021 Ford Explorer · 7 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

24MPG combined

21 city 28 highway

$2,600 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score5/10

2.3L turbo 4-cyl · RWD · 10-speed automatic

Best hybrid version

27MPG combined

27 city 28 highway

$2,300 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score6/10

3.3L 6-cyl hybrid · RWD · 10-speed automatic

Best version costs $500 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.00 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Nov 12, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,300 to $3,100 a year. Compared with 2020, the best hybrid version is down 1 mpg.

About a typical Explorer year

The 2021 drew 157 owner complaints in its first three years, against 193 for a typical Explorer year (about 144 for a typical year since 2016).

Years to avoid: 2015 to 2017; best year: 2019. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Explorer year ranked The 2021 Explorer's recalls and problems

Every 2021 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
Hybrid
3.3L 6-cyl hybrid · RWD · 10-speed automatic Best EPA listing: Explorer HEV RWD	27 mpg	27 / 28	$2,300
3.3L 6-cyl hybrid · Part-time 4WD · 10-speed automatic EPA listing: Explorer HEV AWD	25 mpg	23 / 26	$2,500
Gas
2.3L turbo 4-cyl · RWD · 10-speed automatic EPA listing: Explorer RWD (also Explorer RWD)	24 mpg	21 / 28	$2,600
2.3L turbo 4-cyl · Part-time 4WD · 10-speed automatic EPA listing: Explorer AWD (also Explorer AWD)	23 mpg	20 / 27	$2,700
2.3L turbo 4-cyl · Part-time 4WD · 10-speed automatic · Timberline EPA listing: Explorer Timberline AWD	21 mpg	19 / 23	$2,950
3.0L turbo 6-cyl · RWD · 10-speed automatic EPA listing: Explorer RWD	21 mpg	18 / 26	$2,950
3.0L turbo 6-cyl · Part-time 4WD · 10-speed automatic EPA listing: Explorer AWD	20 mpg	18 / 24	$3,100

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.00 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
3.3L 6-cyl hybrid · RWD · 10-speed automatic	$2,222	$185	$11,111
3.3L 6-cyl hybrid · Part-time 4WD · 10-speed automatic	$2,400	$200	$12,000
2.3L turbo 4-cyl · RWD · 10-speed automatic	$2,500	$208	$12,500
2.3L turbo 4-cyl · Part-time 4WD · 10-speed automatic	$2,609	$217	$13,043
2.3L turbo 4-cyl · Part-time 4WD · 10-speed automatic · Timberline	$2,857	$238	$14,286
3.0L turbo 6-cyl · RWD · 10-speed automatic	$2,857	$238	$14,286
3.0L turbo 6-cyl · Part-time 4WD · 10-speed automatic	$3,000	$250	$15,000

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

Does the hybrid pay for itself? See the payback for every model sold both ways.

Ford Explorer MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 17 to 24 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); 24 since 2020. Hybrid: 27 to 28 mpg (2020 to 2023); highest in 2020.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2021: gas 24 mpg · hybrid 27 mpg

Show as a table

Ford Explorer best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2010	17	–
2011	20	–
2012	23	–
2013	23	–
2014	23	–
2015	23	–
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	–

Every Explorer year's ratings in one table

How the 2021 Explorer compares

2021 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.

2021 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Kia Sorento Best: hybrid	37 mpg	26 mpg	$1,700
Toyota Highlander Best: hybrid	36 mpg	24 mpg	$1,750
Hyundai Santa Fe Best: hybrid	34 mpg	26 mpg	$1,850
Lexus RX Best: hybrid	30 mpg	23 mpg	$2,600
Ford Explorer This page Best: hybrid	27 mpg	24 mpg	$2,300
Chevrolet Blazer Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
GMC Acadia Best: gas	25 mpg	25 mpg	$2,500
Ford Edge Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,600
Mazda CX-9 Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,600
Kia Telluride Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Honda Pilot Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Subaru Ascent Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Nissan Murano Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700
Hyundai Palisade Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Honda Passport Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Volkswagen Atlas Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,850
Jeep Grand Cherokee Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Dodge Durango Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950
Buick Enclave Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950

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

2021 Explorer recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 27 safety recalls and 463 owner complaints for the 2021 Explorer.

Owners most often describe loss of power (30 complaints, 6%), then backup camera problems (26). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 5 stars.

See the 2021 Explorer recalls and problems

Questions

Does 4WD lower the 2021 Ford Explorer's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, 4WD lowers the combined rating by 1 to 2 mpg: the 3.3L 6-cyl hybrid gets 27 mpg combined with two-wheel drive and 25 with 4WD.

How much fuel does the 2021 Explorer hybrid save?

Comparing AWD or 4WD versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.00 a gallon), the hybrid costs $2,500 a year to fuel against $2,700 for the gas model: $200 a year, or $1,000 over five years.

Does the 2021 Ford Explorer need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2021 Ford Explorer version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2021 Explorer's MPG compare with the 2020?

For 2021, the best gas version is rated 24 mpg, the same as the year before and the best hybrid version is rated 27 mpg, down 1 from 28.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Nov 4, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.00, midgrade $4.61, premium $5.01, diesel $6.13 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Nov 12, 2026 and complaint file dated Nov 11, 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.