2020 Ford Explorer
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2020 Ford Explorer is sold in the U.S. with gasoline and hybrid power. The EPA lists 6 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 19 to 28 MPG and an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300 to $3,400 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Fuel type(s) | Gasoline, Hybrid |
| Combined economy | 19-28 MPG |
| Best / worst combined | 28 / 19 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,300-$3,400 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 322-468 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 5-5 / 10 |
| NHTSA overall | 5 / 5 stars |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2020 Explorer costs about $2,300 to $3,400 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $2,842. Over five years that is about $14,208 in fuel alone before maintenance, insurance and depreciation — which is why the running cost, not just the price, decides what a car really costs.
Relative to an average new vehicle, the most efficient Explorer configuration saves about $0 in fuel over five years; less efficient versions spend more.
For context, the average combined economy of standard sport utility vehicle 4wd in this dataset is about 23 MPG. The Explorer sits roughly 1 MPG above that mark at its midpoint, making it more efficient than average for its EPA class.
Configurations and fuel economy
| Version | Engine | Drive | Trans | Fuel | Combined | Annual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer HEV RWD | 3.3L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Hybrid | 28 MPG | $2,300 |
| Explorer HEV AWD | 3.3L 6-cyl | Part-time 4-Wheel | Automatic | Hybrid | 25 MPG | $2,600 |
| Explorer RWD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | Rear-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 24 MPG | $2,700 |
| Explorer AWD | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | Part-time 4-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 23 MPG | $2,800 |
| Explorer AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Part-time 4-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 20 MPG | $3,250 |
| Explorer FFV AWD | 3.3L 6-cyl | Part-time 4-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 19 MPG | $3,400 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2020 Explorer records tailpipe CO₂ of 322-468 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 5-5 out of 10, a 5-star NHTSA overall crash rating. The EPA classifies it as standard sport utility vehicle 4wd.
Compare this car
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Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.