This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.

Key takeaways

  • Returns 28% worse combined MPG than the average car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2022 model year (26.3 MPG class average).
  • The most efficient car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2022 model year is the Tesla Model X at 102 MPG.
  • EPA estimates this car costs around $5,000 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.

Fuel economy at a glance

These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.

Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).

Combined MPG 19 MPG
City MPG 16 MPG
Highway MPG 24 MPG
Annual fuel cost $3,150
Tailpipe CO₂ 470 g/mi
Fuel type Gasoline or E85

How the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD compares

The 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD returns 19 combined MPG. Cars in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year average 26.3 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 28%.

The most efficient car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2022 model year is the Tesla Model X at 102 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Ford Explorer FFV AWD alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2022 model year (across all classes) returns 30.7 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2022 model year is on its own page.

2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD
19 MPG
Class average, 2022
26.3 MPG
Class best, 2022
102 MPG
Average new car, 2022
30.7 MPG

Annual fuel cost across driving patterns

The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for E85, which is $2.63/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.

The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 789.5 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year $1,575
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year $3,150
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year $5,250

Year-over-year MPG for the Ford Explorer FFV AWD

The EPA has rated the Ford Explorer FFV AWD across 5 model years, from 2020 Ford Explorer FFV AWD through 2024 Ford Explorer FFV AWD. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.

Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run. The peak rating came with the 2023 Ford Explorer FFV AWD at 20 MPG.

Year Combined MPG Open year page
2024 20 MPG 2024 Ford Explorer FFV AWD
2023 20 MPG 2023 Ford Explorer FFV AWD
2022 19 MPG this page
2021 19 MPG 2021 Ford Explorer FFV AWD
2020 19 MPG 2020 Ford Explorer FFV AWD

Compare against other Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD for 2022

If you are cross-shopping the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.

The Tesla Model X leads this group at 102 MPG, 83 MPG ahead of the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD.

Specifications

The 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD runs a 3.3-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic 10-spd, sending power through part-time 4-wheel drive.

Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.

Vehicle class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine
3.3L 6-cylinder
Transmission
Automatic 10-spd
Drivetrain
Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
Fuel type
Gasoline or E85
Annual petroleum use
15.7 barrels per year
Start-stop system
Yes

Common questions about the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD.

  • Is the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD fuel efficient?
    Not particularly. The 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD returns 19 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year by about 28%.
  • What MPG does the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD get?
    The EPA rates the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD at 19 combined MPG, 16 MPG in city driving, and 24 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is.
  • How much does it cost to fuel a 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD per year?
    The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,150 for the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade.
  • What fuel does the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD use?
    The EPA lists the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity.
  • Has the Ford Explorer FFV AWD become more fuel efficient over time?
    Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2020 Ford Explorer FFV AWD, 19 MPG) and most recent (2024 Ford Explorer FFV AWD, 20 MPG) versions sit in the same range.
  • How much CO₂ does the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD emit?
    Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 470 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 7,050 kilograms of CO₂.
  • What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD?
    City driving returns 16 MPG and highway driving returns 24 MPG, a gap of 8 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise.
  • What engine is in the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD?
    The 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD has a 3.3-liter 6-cylinder engine (EPA description: SIDI & PFI; FFV).
  • What transmission and drivetrain does the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD have?
    The 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD comes with a automatic 10-spd transmission and part-time 4-wheel drive.
  • How does the 2022 Ford Explorer FFV AWD compare to the best car in its class?
    The most efficient car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the 2022 model year is the Tesla Model X at 102 combined MPG. The Ford Explorer FFV AWD returns 19 MPG, a gap of 83 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.