Photo: Ford Explorer by Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. It shows the model, not always this exact version.
Ford · model year 2027
2027 Ford Explorer AWD
SUV · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive · Gas · EPA class: Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Where it places
- 346 Fuel-efficient SUVs
Ordered by combined MPG #346 of 479 - 220 Fuel-efficient large SUVs
Ordered by combined MPG #220 of 488 - 168 2027 cars and trucks
Every car of that year, A to Z #168 of 539 - 847 Fuel-efficient AWD and 4WD cars
Ordered by combined MPG #847 of 1,362 - 1119 Gas and hybrid cars by fuel cost
Ordered by fuel a year #1119 of 2,158 - 04 Ford cars
Every model year, newest first #4 of 3,957
Against fuel-efficient SUVs
The CarCody take
The 2027 Ford Explorer AWD is a gasoline SUV rated at 20 MPG combined. Its EPA figures are 17 MPG in city driving and 24 MPG on the highway. Ford pairs part-time four-wheel drive with a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder and a 10-speed automatic. EPA annual fuel cost is $3,350.
Good to know
- 24 MPG highway rating
- Part-time 4-wheel drive
- 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine
- 10-speed automatic transmission
Watch for
- 17 MPG city rating
- 20 MPG combined rating
- $3,350 EPA annual fuel cost
- 447 grams of CO2 per mile
Who it suits. SUV shoppers who want part-time 4-wheel drive Drivers comfortable with a 20-MPG combined rating
Choose the 2027 Explorer AWD if its SUV body, part-time four-wheel drive, and turbocharged six-cylinder match the way you drive. The numbers point to a vehicle that uses less fuel on open highway than in town, yet still carries a $3,350 annual EPA fuel estimate. Buyers who put fuel economy first should compare its 20 combined MPG with other SUVs before deciding.
What it is
The 2027 Ford Explorer AWD is a standard sport utility vehicle with part-time 4-wheel drive. It uses gasoline, a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine, and a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Its defining EPA figure is 20 MPG combined. In mixed driving, that rating means about 20 miles from a gallon of gasoline.
The EPA numbers
The Explorer AWD is rated at 17 MPG in city driving and 24 MPG on the highway. The 7-MPG gap shows how much stop-and-go driving changes its fuel use.
Those figures describe the same gasoline SUV and drivetrain: part-time 4-wheel drive with the turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder.
What it costs to run
EPA estimates annual fuel cost at $3,350. Your actual bill will change with fuel prices and how much you drive.
The vehicle's tailpipe output is 447 grams of CO2 per mile.
How it compares
No competing SUV figures are included here, so there is no direct MPG or fuel-cost comparison to make. You can place it beside other entries in fuel-efficient SUVs or browse Ford cars.
Who it suits
This Explorer suits a buyer who wants an SUV with part-time 4-wheel drive and a six-cylinder gasoline engine, and who accepts a 20-MPG combined rating.
It makes more sense for drivers whose priorities include this drivetrain layout than for someone focused mainly on lowering annual fuel spending.
Trade-offs
The 24-MPG highway rating is higher than the 17-MPG city rating, but the combined figure remains 20 MPG. Stop-and-go routes will use more fuel than steady highway trips.
Part-time 4-wheel drive and the turbocharged six-cylinder are paired with an EPA fuel-cost estimate of $3,350 a year.
Verdict
Choose the 2027 Explorer AWD if its SUV body, part-time four-wheel drive, and turbocharged six-cylinder match the way you drive. The numbers point to a vehicle that uses less fuel on open highway than in town, yet still carries a $3,350 annual EPA fuel estimate. Buyers who put fuel economy first should compare its 20 combined MPG with other SUVs before deciding.
Every figure on record
- Combined MPG
- 20 MPG
- City MPG
- 17 MPG
- Highway MPG
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost
- $3,350
- Tailpipe CO₂
- 447 g per mile
- Model year
- 2027
- Body
- SUV
- EPA size class
- Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
- Drive
- Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
- Engine
- 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo
- Transmission
- Automatic 10-spd
- Fuel
- Gasoline
Questions
What is the 2027 Ford Explorer AWD's combined MPG?
The EPA combined rating is 20 MPG.
What city and highway MPG does it get?
It is rated at 17 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway.
How much does fuel cost each year?
The EPA annual fuel-cost estimate is $3,350.
What drivetrain does the Explorer AWD use?
It uses part-time 4-wheel drive.
What engine and transmission are fitted?
The powertrain has a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission.
How much tailpipe CO2 does it produce?
Tailpipe output is listed at 447 grams of CO2 per mile.
What kind of vehicle is it?
It is a gasoline SUV classified by the EPA as a standard sport utility vehicle with 4-wheel drive.
Cars around it
2027 Dodge Durango RWD
20 MPG · $3,350 fuel a year
2025 Cadillac XT6 AWD
20 MPG · $3,350 fuel a year
2027 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT AWD
20 MPG · $3,350 fuel a year
2027 Lincoln Aviator RWD
20 MPG · $3,350 fuel a year
2027 Kia Telluride AWD
20 MPG · $3,350 fuel a year
2027 Hyundai Palisade AWD
20 MPG · $3,350 fuel a year 2027 Dodge Durango AWD
20 MPG · $3,350 fuel a year