Ford Explorer Sport MPG by year — every rating on record
The Ford Explorer Sport has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 3 model years, from 2001 to 2003. Across those years its best rated version returned 18 mpg (2001) and its thirstiest returned 15 mpg (2001). The EPA record holds 14 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD / Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 6 | 18 mpg | 15 mpg | #19 of 45 (59th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular, Gasoline or E85 | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| 2002 | 4 | 17 mpg | 15 mpg | #27 of 54 (51th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| 2003 | 4 | 17 mpg | 15 mpg | #30 of 58 (49th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Ford Explorer Sport placed highest in 2001 at #19 of 45, and lowest in 2003 at #30 of 58. It spent 2 of its 3 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 14 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 4.0L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Regular | 4.0L 6-cyl | 14 | 18 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 2003 | 4.0L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 4.0L 6-cyl | 14 | 17 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 2003 | 4.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Regular | 4.0L 6-cyl | 14 | 19 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $3,900 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 2003 | 4.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 4.0L 6-cyl | 15 | 20 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 2002 | 4.0L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Regular | 4.0L 6-cyl | 13 | 18 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 2002 | 4.0L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | SOHC | 14 | 18 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 2002 | 4.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Regular | 4.0L 6-cyl | 15 | 20 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 2002 | 4.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 4.0L 6-cyl | 16 | 20 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 2001 | 4.0L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Regular | 4.0L 6-cyl | 14 | 18 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 2001 | 4.0L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Gasoline or E85 | FLEX-FUEL, FFV | 13 | 17 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 2001 | 4.0L 6-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 4.0L 6-cyl | 14 | 18 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $3,900 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 2001 | 4.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Regular | 4.0L 6-cyl | 15 | 20 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 2001 | 4.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Gasoline or E85 | FLEX-FUEL, FFV | 15 | 20 | 17 | 676.5 | 17.5 | $3,650 | 522.7647058823529 | n/a |
| 2001 | 4.0L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 4.0L 6-cyl | 16 | 20 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $3,450 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 0 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 → 2002 | 18 → 17 mpg | -1 mpg | 676 gal |
What Explorer Sport fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport burns 676 to 767 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $2,029 | $2,300 | $271 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,368 | $2,683 | $316 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,706 | $3,067 | $361 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2003 model year is $3,650 to $4,150 a year in fuel, or $8,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
Across the 140 nameplates EPA classifies as Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, the median best combined rating is 22 mpg. At 17 mpg the Ford Explorer Sport is 5 mpg below the median, which is worth about $538 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Ford nameplates
Every Ford model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.