Ford · Standard SUVs · Hybrid
Ford Explorer Hybrid: MPG and annual fuel cost, 2023
The Ford Explorer Hybrid was last rated in the data for model year 2023, at 27 MPG combined, 3rd of 7 standard SUVs, in the upper half, ahead of 67% of the others.
- 27MPG combined3rd of 7 in class
- $2,500a year in fuel3rd of 7 in class
- 324g/mile CO2
Where it stands
The standard SUVs rated for 2023 run from 18 to 79 MPG, with a median of 23 MPG.
In its class, just ahead of it is the Audi e-tron S at 75 MPGe and just behind it is the Lincoln Aviator Plug-in hybrid at 23 MPG.
Fuel cost and CO2
Assuming 15,000 miles a year with 55% of them in the city and regular gasoline at $4.47 per gallon, fuelling the most efficient version comes to about $2,500 a year. That is $400 less than the standard SUVs median of $2,900.
Tailpipe CO2 is 324 g/mile, about level with the standard SUVs median of 324 g/mile.
Rated versions
Its city rating is 27 and its highway rating 28: the highway figure is 1 higher. 4 versions are rated for 2023. The most efficient, Explorer HEV RWD: 3.3 L, 6 cyl hybrid, Automatic 10-spd, RWD, gets 27 MPG; the least efficient listed, Explorer Platinum HEV AWD: 3.3 L, 6 cyl hybrid, Automatic 10-spd, part-time 4WD, gets 23 MPG, a gap of 4 MPG. With the file's assumptions that gap is worth about $400 a year in fuel.
| Version | Combined MPG | City MPG | Highway MPG | Annual fuel cost | CO2 g/mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer HEV RWD: 3.3 L, 6 cyl hybrid, Automatic 10-spd, RWD | 27 | 27 | 28 | $2,500 | 324 |
| Explorer Platinum HEV RWD: 3.3 L, 6 cyl hybrid, Automatic 10-spd, RWD | 26 | 25 | 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| Explorer HEV AWD: 3.3 L, 6 cyl hybrid, Automatic 10-spd, part-time 4WD | 25 | 23 | 26 | $2,700 | 361 |
| Explorer Platinum HEV AWD: 3.3 L, 6 cyl hybrid, Automatic 10-spd, part-time 4WD | 23 | 23 | 24 | $2,900 | 379 |
Year by year
The Ford Explorer Hybrid is in the data for 4 of the 8 model years from 2019 to 2026. Between 2020 and 2023 the best combined rating fell by 1 MPG, from 28 to 27. The number of rated versions grew from 2 to 4. Fuel cost for the best version is $2,500 in the latest data against $2,400 in 2020, although the file applies today's fuel prices to every model year, so that change comes from the rating, not from prices.
| Model year | Versions | Best MPG | Lowest MPG | Fuel cost | CO2 g/mi | Class median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 | 27 | 23 | $2,500 | 324 | 21 |
| 2022 | 4 | 27 | 23 | $2,500 | 324 | 21 |
| 2021 | 2 | 27 | 25 | $2,500 | 324 | 20.5 |
| 2020 | 2 | 28 | 25 | $2,400 | 322 | 21 |
Similar models
| Model | Powertrain | Combined MPG | Annual fuel cost | Model year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Aviator Plug-in hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | 23 | $2,900 | 2023 |
| Jeep Wagoneer Hybrid | Hybrid | 18 | $4,200 | 2023 |
| BMW X5 | Gasoline | 18 | $4,550 | 2023 |
| Audi e-tron S | Electric | 75 | $1,000 | 2023 |
| Audi e-tron | Electric | 79 | $950 | 2023 |
Compare and rank
Rankings: Standard SUVs.
Data: US EPA and DOE, as prepared in methods and data.