2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD: MPG and fuel economy
The 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD is a hybrid rated at 25 combined MPG by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It returns 23 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV 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
- 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.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV 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 | 25 MPG |
| City MPG | 23 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 26 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,400 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 361 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD compares
The 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD returns 25 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 5%.
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 HEV 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.
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 regular gasoline, which is $3.99/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 600 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,200 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,400 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $4,000 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Ford Explorer HEV AWD
The EPA has rated the Ford Explorer HEV AWD across 4 model years, from 2020 Ford Explorer HEV AWD through 2023 Ford Explorer HEV 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, hovering close to 25 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 25 MPG | 2023 Ford Explorer HEV AWD |
| 2022 | 25 MPG | this page |
| 2021 | 25 MPG | 2021 Ford Explorer HEV AWD |
| 2020 | 25 MPG | 2020 Ford Explorer HEV AWD |
Compare against other Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD for 2022
If you are cross-shopping the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV 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, 77 MPG ahead of the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD.
Specifications
The 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD runs a 3.3-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (s10), 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 (S10)
- Drivetrain
- Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 11.9 barrels per year
- Start-stop system
- Yes
Common questions about the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD.
-
Is the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD returns 25 combined MPG, and the average car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for the same model year sits at 26.3 MPG. -
What MPG does the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD get?
The EPA rates the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD at 25 combined MPG, 23 MPG in city driving, and 26 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 HEV AWD per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,400 for the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV 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 HEV AWD use?
The EPA lists the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV 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 HEV AWD become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2020 Ford Explorer HEV AWD, 25 MPG) and most recent (2023 Ford Explorer HEV AWD, 25 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 361 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 5,415 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD?
City driving returns 23 MPG and highway driving returns 26 MPG, a gap of 3 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns. -
What engine is in the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD?
The 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD has a 3.3-liter 6-cylinder engine (EPA description: SIDI & PFI; Hybrid). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD have?
The 2022 Ford Explorer HEV AWD comes with a automatic (s10) transmission and part-time 4-wheel drive. -
How does the 2022 Ford Explorer HEV 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 HEV AWD returns 25 MPG, a gap of 77 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.