The 2025 Ford Explorer gets 20 to 24 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2025 Explorer RWD (4-cyl 2.3 L, Automatic 10-spd) at 24 mpg.
In the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for 2025, the Explorer ranks 3rd (tied with 2 others) of 21 for combined mileage (24 mpg), 2nd of 21 for yearly fuel cost ($2,600 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 4th (tied with 1 other) of 21 for tailpipe CO2 (377 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 23 mpg, costs $3,100 a year and puts out 407 grams per mile.
Across all 250 2025 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 25 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 249 other models, 128 get more miles per gallon than the 2025 Explorer's best version, 18 other models get the same and 103 get less. The 2025 Explorer's cheapest version costs $2,600 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 241 other models with a cost figure, 76 cost less, 7 the same and 158 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2025. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander | 2025 Grand Highlander Hybrid | 36 | $1,750 | 246 |
| 2 | 2025 BMW X5 | 2025 X5 sDrive40i | 25 | $3,100 | 360 |
| 3 | 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe | 2025 Tahoe 2WD (Diesel, 6-cyl 3.0 L) | 24 | $3,650 | 427 |
| 3 | 2025 Ford ExplorerThis car | 2025 Explorer RWD (4-cyl 2.3 L, Automatic 10-spd) | 24 | $2,600 | 377 |
| 3 | 2025 Infiniti QX60 | 2025 QX60 FWD | 24 | $3,200 | 371 |
| 6 | 2025 Buick Enclave | 2025 Enclave FWD | 23 | $2,700 | 387 |
| 6 | 2025 Chevrolet Suburban | 2025 Suburban 2WD (Diesel, 6-cyl 3.0 L) | 23 | $3,650 | 442 |
Pick a 2025 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2025 Explorer RWD (4-cyl 2.3 L, Automatic 10-spd), 4-cyl 2.3 L: 20 mpg city, 29 highway, 24 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2025 Explorer version is $2,600 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for 2025, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The Explorer costs $1,331 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Explorer costs $6,655 less to fuel than the Tahoe (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2025 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Explorer (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Explorer | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe | 2025 Tahoe 2WD (Diesel, 6-cyl 3.0 L) | 24 mpg | $3,950 | same figure | $1,350 more a year | Compare |
| 2025 Infiniti QX60 | 2025 QX60 FWD | 24 mpg | $3,200 | same figure | $600 more a year | - |
| 2025 BMW X5 | 2025 X5 sDrive40i | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 1 higher | $500 more a year | - |
EPA test figures for 2025; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Explorer RWD (4-cyl 2.3 L, Automatic 10-spd) | 4-cyl 2.3 L | Automatic 10-spd | Rear-wheel | 20 | 29 | 24 | $2,600 | 377 | cheapest |
| 2025 Explorer AWD (4-cyl 2.3 L, Automatic 10-spd) | 4-cyl 2.3 L | Automatic 10-spd | Part-time 4-wheel | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,700 | 394 | +$100 |
| 2025 Explorer AWD (6-cyl 3.0 L, Automatic 10-spd) | 6-cyl 3.0 L | Automatic 10-spd | Part-time 4-wheel | 18 | 25 | 21 | $2,950 | 428 | +$350 |
| 2025 Explorer RWD (6-cyl 3.0 L, Automatic (S10)) | 6-cyl 3.0 L | Automatic (S10) | Rear-wheel | 18 | 25 | 21 | $2,950 | 425 | +$350 |
| 2025 Explorer RWD (6-cyl 3.0 L, Automatic 10-spd) | 6-cyl 3.0 L | Automatic 10-spd | Rear-wheel | 18 | 25 | 21 | $2,950 | 420 | +$350 |
| 2025 Explorer AWD (6-cyl 3.0 L, Automatic (S10)) | 6-cyl 3.0 L | Automatic (S10) | Part-time 4-wheel | 18 | 25 | 20 | $3,100 | 439 | +$500 |
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2025 Explorer; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Tailpipe CO2: the 2025 Explorer RWD (4-cyl 2.3 L, Automatic 10-spd) puts out 377 grams per mile; across the 6 tested versions the figure runs from 377 to 439.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2025 Explorer RWD (4-cyl 2.3 L, Automatic 10-spd): fuel economy score 5 (4 to 5 across versions), greenhouse gas score 5 (4 to 5 across versions).
Best combined figure of the Explorer gas version and hybrid each model year since 2016, set against the 2025 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Best hybrid | Versions tested | Against 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 22 mpg | none | 7 | 2 mpg lower than 2025 | |
| 2017 | 22 mpg | none | 7 | 2 mpg lower than 2025 | |
| 2018 | 22 mpg | none | 7 | 2 mpg lower than 2025 | |
| 2019 | 22 mpg | none | 7 | 2 mpg lower than 2025 | |
| 2020 | 24 mpg | 28 mpg | 6 | 4 mpg higher than 2025 | |
| 2021 | 24 mpg | 27 mpg | 10 | 3 mpg higher than 2025 | |
| 2022 | 24 mpg | 27 mpg | 15 | 3 mpg higher than 2025 | |
| 2023 | 24 mpg | 27 mpg | 17 | 3 mpg higher than 2025 | |
| 2024 | 24 mpg | none | 8 | same as 2025 | |
| 2025This page | 24 mpg | none | 6 | this page | |
| 2026 | 24 mpg | none | 6 | same as 2025 |
Compared with the 2024 model: 8 versions were tested then and 6 now; the best figure went from 24 to 24 mpg (no change).
The 2026 model has 6 tested versions.
| Version in 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Explorer RWD (4-cyl 2.3 L, Automatic 10-spd), 4-cyl 2.3 L | 24 mpg | 24 mpg | no change |
| 2025 Explorer AWD (4-cyl 2.3 L, Automatic 10-spd), 4-cyl 2.3 L | 23 mpg | 23 mpg | no change |
| 2025 Explorer AWD (6-cyl 3.0 L, Automatic 10-spd), 6-cyl 3.0 L | 21 mpg | 20 mpg | +1 mpg |
| 2025 Explorer RWD (6-cyl 3.0 L, Automatic (S10)), 6-cyl 3.0 L | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | no change |
| 2025 Explorer RWD (6-cyl 3.0 L, Automatic 10-spd), 6-cyl 3.0 L | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | no change |
| 2025 Explorer AWD (6-cyl 3.0 L, Automatic (S10)), 6-cyl 3.0 L | 20 mpg | 20 mpg | no change |
4 2024 versions have no match in 2025.
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Ford Explorer SUV 4WD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2025 Ford Explorer HEV SUV 4WD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
The agency lists 4 variants; the first 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 111 complaints, 20 recalls, 1 investigation.
Includes agency records filed under: EXPLORER, EXPLORER HEV. EXPLORER HEV is a different vehicle line than the EPA versions on this page cover, so the list can include those variants.
113 complaints for the 2025 Ford Explorer are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 25 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 22 | |
| Service Brakes | 21 | |
| Power Train | 16 | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 15 |
8 of the 113 reports say the car was in a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 7 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Includes agency records filed under: EXPLORER, EXPLORER HEV. EXPLORER HEV is a different vehicle line than the EPA versions on this page cover, so the list can include those variants.
20 recalls are on file for the 2025 Ford Explorer at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Includes agency records filed under: EXPLORER, EXPLORER HEV. EXPLORER HEV is a different vehicle line than the EPA versions on this page cover, so the list can include those variants.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2027 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. An unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start.
Fix: Dealers will disable the driver seat module (DSM) feature until parts are available. Once available, the motor will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer, Ranger, and Bronco vehicles. The engine may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engine long block, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Lincoln Navigator, 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2025 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles.
Fix: The Image Processing Module A software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. This is a Phased campaign.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles.
Fix: Dealers will replace the EGR valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 31, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer vehicles. The Dynamic Bending Light (DBL) system software may cause the passenger-side headlight to turn in the wrong direction when driving through curves in the road.
Fix: The headlight control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 23, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Lincoln Corsair, Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The windshield glass may have visible air bubbles, which can obscure the driver's visibility.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 6, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
12 more are listed at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Other 2025 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Explorer itself is at 24 mpg.
More Ford models that have a 2025 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2025 Explorer RWD (4-cyl 2.3 L, Automatic 10-spd) with 24 mpg combined (20 city, 29 highway).
The 2025 Ford Explorer costs between $2,600 and $3,100 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2025 Explorer RWD (4-cyl 2.3 L, Automatic 10-spd) at $2,600; the dearest is the 2025 Explorer AWD (6-cyl 3.0 L, Automatic (S10)) at $3,100. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
2025 Explorer AWD (4-cyl 2.3 L, Automatic 10-spd): 23 mpg combined (20 city, 27 highway); 2025 Explorer AWD (6-cyl 3.0 L, Automatic 10-spd): 21 mpg combined (18 city, 25 highway); 2025 Explorer AWD (6-cyl 3.0 L, Automatic (S10)): 20 mpg combined (18 city, 25 highway).
The 2025 Ford Explorer is 3rd of 21 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander at 36 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 23 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe at 24 mpg and the next one behind is the 2025 Infiniti QX60 at 24 mpg.
The 2024 model had 8 tested versions and the 2025 model has 6. The best figure went from 24 to 24 mpg (no change).
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2025 Ford Explorer SUV 4WD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4; 2025 Ford Explorer HEV SUV 4WD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 4 variants; the first 2 are shown.
113 complaints for the 2025 Ford Explorer are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Electrical System (25 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 20 recalls for the 2025 Ford Explorer (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2025 Ford Explorer: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2025 Ford Explorer: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2025 Ford Explorer: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2025 Ford Explorer: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2025 Ford Explorer: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.