2016 Ford Explorer FWD MPG and Fuel Economy
On this page, you will find a complete guide to the miles per gallon and fuel efficiency data for the 2016 Ford Explorer FWD.
The 2016 Ford Explorer FWD has 2 model options: Automatic (S6) 6-cyl, 3.5 L and Automatic (S6) 4-cyl, 2.3 L.
The 2016 Ford Explorer FWD Automatic (S6) 6-cyl, 3.5 L runs on regular gasoline and is in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD car class.
The 2016 Ford Explorer FWD Automatic (S6) 4-cyl, 2.3 L runs on regular gasoline and is in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD car class.
🛣 How Many Miles per Gallon (MPG) Does a 2016 Ford Explorer FWD Get?
Across all models, the combined average MPG for the 2016 Ford Explorer FWD is 21 miles per gallon.
The table below breaks down the MPG for each model option:
| Model Option | Combined MPG | City MPG | Highway MPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic (S6) 6-cyl, 3.5 L | 20 | 17 | 24 |
| Automatic (S6) 4-cyl, 2.3 L | 22 | 19 | 27 |
💵 What is the Average Yearly Fuel Cost for a 2016 Ford Explorer FWD?
The average fuel costs for all models of the 2016 Ford Explorer FWD is $3,000.
The average fuel costs have been estimated by government regulators based on 15,000 miles driven per year, using regular gasoline, and a split of 55% city driving and 45% highway driving.
Comparing a 2016 Ford Explorer FWD to an average vehicle over 5 years, you will spend $3,500 more on fuel.
The table below shows the fuel costs and 5-year save/spend for each model option:
| Model Option | Fuel Cost | 5-Year Save/Spend |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic (S6) 6-cyl, 3.5 L | $3,150 | spend $4,250 more |
| Automatic (S6) 4-cyl, 2.3 L | $2,850 | spend $2,750 more |
🛢 How Many Barrels of Petroleum Does a 2016 Ford Explorer FWD Consume?
Across all models, the average number barrels of petroleum that the 2016 Ford Explorer FWD will consume in one year is 15 barrels.
The majority of the world's petroleum is sourced from countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, and the United States.
| Model Option | Barrels |
|---|---|
| Automatic (S6) 6-cyl, 3.5 L | 15 |
| Automatic (S6) 4-cyl, 2.3 L | 14 |
💨 How Many Grams of CO2 Does a 2016 Ford Explorer FWD Emit?
The 2016 Ford Explorer FWD will emit an average of about 6,465,000 grams of CO2 per year.
🌳 To help you understand the impact of this, a normal tree will absorb around 21,000 grams of CO2 per year. This means that roughly 220 trees would be needed to offset emissions from the 2016 Ford Explorer FWD.
Overview
The tables below cover all of the miles per gallon, engine specifications, and emission details we have for the 2 2016 Ford Explorer FWD model options.
Automatic (S6) 6-cyl, 3.5 L
The table below contains all of the details we have for the 2016 Ford Explorer FWD Automatic (S6) 6-cyl, 3.5 L:
| City MPG | 17 |
|---|---|
| Highway MPG | 24 |
| Combined MPG | 20 |
| Save/Spend vs Average Car | Spend $4,250 |
| Fuel Cost | $3,150 |
| Fuel Type 1 | Regular |
| Barrels of Petroleum | 15 |
| Grams of CO2 | 6,780,000 |
| Trees Needed to Offset | 323 |
| Drive | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement | 3.5 |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6) |
| Vehicle Class | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| Start/Stop? | No |
| Supercharged? | No |
| Turbocharged? | No |
Automatic (S6) 4-cyl, 2.3 L
The table below contains all of the details we have for the 2016 Ford Explorer FWD Automatic (S6) 4-cyl, 2.3 L:
| City MPG | 19 |
|---|---|
| Highway MPG | 27 |
| Combined MPG | 22 |
| Save/Spend vs Average Car | Spend $2,750 |
| Fuel Cost | $2,850 |
| Fuel Type 1 | Regular |
| Barrels of Petroleum | 14 |
| Grams of CO2 | 6,150,000 |
| Trees Needed to Offset | 293 |
| Drive | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement | 2.3 |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6) |
| Vehicle Class | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| Start/Stop? | No |
| Supercharged? | No |
| Turbocharged? | Yes |
Link To or Reference This Page
If you use this page in your research, please reference MPG Buddy as the source.
<a href="https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/ford/explorer-fwd/2016">2016 Ford Explorer FWD MPG and Fuel Economy</a>
"2016 Ford Explorer FWD MPG and Fuel Economy." MPG Buddy. Accessed on January 3, 2026. https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/ford/explorer-fwd/2016.
"2016 Ford Explorer FWD MPG and Fuel Economy." MPG Buddy, https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/ford/explorer-fwd/2016. Accessed January 3, 2026.
2016 Ford Explorer FWD MPG and Fuel Economy. MPG Buddy. Retrieved from https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/ford/explorer-fwd/2016.