2021 Ford Explorer RWD: MPG and fuel economy
The 2021 Ford Explorer RWD is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 24 combined MPG, with 21 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. That puts it well above the average for cars in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD. 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. The EPA rates 3 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. 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 21% better combined MPG than the average car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for the 2021 model year (19.8 MPG class average).
- The most efficient car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for the 2021 model year is the Ford Explorer HEV RWD at 27 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $1,750 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 2021 Ford Explorer RWD. 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.
When the EPA tests several variants of the same nameplate (for example, a front-wheel-drive version and an all-wheel-drive version), each gets its own rating. The figures shown here are the headline variant, taken as the configuration with the best combined MPG. The trims table further down covers all 3 variants side by side.
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 | 24 MPG |
| City MPG | 21 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 28 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,500 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 373 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD compares
The 2021 Ford Explorer RWD returns 24 combined MPG. Cars in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for the same model year average 19.8 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 21%.
The most efficient car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for the 2021 model year is the Ford Explorer HEV RWD at 27 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Ford Explorer RWD alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2021 model year (across all classes) returns 27.9 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 2021 model year is on its own page.
Trim variants rated for 2021
The EPA rates 3 separate variants of the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD. The differences come from the engine size, transmission type, and drivetrain (front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and so on). The same nameplate can land several MPG apart depending on the configuration you actually buy.
| Engine and transmission | Drive | Combined | City | Highway | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L, 4-cyl, turbo, Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 24 MPG | 21 MPG | 28 MPG | $2,500 |
| 2.3L, 4-cyl, turbo, Automatic 10-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 24 MPG | 21 MPG | 28 MPG | $2,500 |
| 3L, 6-cyl, turbo, Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 MPG | 18 MPG | 26 MPG | $2,850 |
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 625 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,250 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,500 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $4,167 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Ford Explorer RWD
The EPA has rated the Ford Explorer RWD across 7 model years, from 2020 Ford Explorer RWD through 2026 Ford Explorer RWD. 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 24 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 24 MPG | 2026 Ford Explorer RWD |
| 2025 | 24 MPG | 2025 Ford Explorer RWD |
| 2024 | 24 MPG | 2024 Ford Explorer RWD |
| 2023 | 24 MPG | 2023 Ford Explorer RWD |
| 2022 | 24 MPG | 2022 Ford Explorer RWD |
| 2021 | 24 MPG | this page |
| 2020 | 24 MPG | 2020 Ford Explorer RWD |
Compare against other Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD for 2021
If you are cross-shopping the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD 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 Ford Explorer HEV RWD leads this group at 27 MPG, 3 MPG ahead of the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD.
Specifications
The 2021 Ford Explorer RWD runs a 2.3-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a automatic (s10), sending power through rear-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 2WD
- Engine
- 2.3L 4-cylinder turbocharged
- Transmission
- Automatic (S10)
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 12.4 barrels per year
- Start-stop system
- Yes
Common questions about the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD.
-
Is the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2021 Ford Explorer RWD returns 24 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for the same model year by about 21%. -
What MPG does the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD get?
The EPA rates the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD at 24 combined MPG, 21 MPG in city driving, and 28 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 2021 Ford Explorer RWD per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,500 for the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD. 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 2021 Ford Explorer RWD use?
The EPA lists the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Ford Explorer RWD become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2020 Ford Explorer RWD, 24 MPG) and most recent (2026 Ford Explorer RWD, 24 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 373 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 5,595 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD?
City driving returns 21 MPG and highway driving returns 28 MPG, a gap of 7 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 2021 Ford Explorer RWD?
The 2021 Ford Explorer RWD has a 2.3-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine (EPA description: SIDI). Smaller turbocharged engines like this one tend to deliver bigger-engine power on demand while keeping fuel economy closer to a non-turbo version of the same displacement. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD have?
The 2021 Ford Explorer RWD comes with a automatic (s10) transmission and rear-wheel drive. -
How does the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for the 2021 model year is the Ford Explorer HEV RWD at 27 combined MPG. The Ford Explorer RWD returns 24 MPG, a gap of 3 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.