2014 Ford Explorer MPG

The 2014 Ford Explorer offers four powertrain options that deliver average fuel efficiency ratings for a large crossover SUV—here’s how it competes against itself and class-competitors for gas mileage.
Written by Jaya Anandjit
Reviewed by Claire Beaney
With four powertrain options for the 2014 Ford Explorer, this seven-seater crossover SUV gets an EPA-estimated rating of 18 to 20 combined miles per gallon depending on its engine and drivetrain combination.
The 2014 Ford Explorer sustains the upscale vibes of this beloved family car with collective impressive upgrades across four trims. Whether you’re on the hunt for a comfortable seven-seater with luxurious interior and exterior finishes, or a powerful drive alongside convenient features—the 2014 Ford Explorer is a superb choice for SUV drivers. 
But with four powertrain options to choose from, you may be wondering which version of the 2014 Ford Explorer has the best gas mileage. Let’s take a look at trim levels, powertrain options, and drivetrain options that influence fuel efficiency for the 2014 Explorer. 
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2018 Acura RDX fuel economy

Depending on your powertrain and drivetrain options, you can expect an EPA-estimated 18 to 20 combined mpg from the Ford Explorer. 
The 2014 Ford Explorer gets two front-wheel drive engine options, including the base 3.5-liter V6 with a six-speed automatic transmission, and the optional 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with six-speed automatic transmission. These front-wheel-drive powertrain options are available for the base, XLT, and Limited trims, along with the option of a 3.5-liter V6 with all-wheel drive
The high-level 2014 Ford Explorer Sport trim comes exclusively with all-wheel drive and gets an upgraded 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine with the cross-trim six-speed automatic transmission. 
With four available powertrains, the Ford Explorer delivers four different EPA-estimated fuel efficiency ratings, which are listed in the table below:
2014 Ford Explorer trim level
Powertrain
Drivetrain 
EPA-estimated mpg (combined/city/highway)
Fuel type
Base,
XLT
,
Limited
3.5-liter V6 w/six-speed automatic transmission
Front-wheel drive
20/17/24
Flex fuel
Base, XLT, Limited
2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder w/six-speed automatic transmission
Front-wheel drive
23/20/28
Flex fuel
Base, XLT, Limited
3.5-liter V6 w/six-speed automatic transmission
All-wheel drive
19/17/23
Flex fuel
3.5-liter turbocharged V6 w/six-speed automatic transmission
All-wheel drive
18/16/22
Regular unleaded fuelAll available configurations for the 2014 Ford Explorer features an 18.6-gallon fuel tank, and while the Base, XLT, and Limited trims are fuel flexible, the Sport trim takes regular unleaded fuel. Fuel flexibility in the 2014 Ford Explorer means the vehicle takes gasoline and ethanol blends, which lowers CO and CO2 emissions and burns at a cooler temperature. 
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2014 Explorer models with the base engine and standard front-wheel drive deliver an EPA rating of 20 mpg combined with 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on highways
These numbers aren’t bad, but the most fuel-efficient iteration of the 2014 Ford Explorer is the front-wheel drive model with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a six-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain option delivers 23 mpg combined, 20 mpg in the city, and 28 mpg on highways, which is fairly high for such a sizable SUV.
The all-wheel drive options for the 2014 Ford Explorer get the lowest fuel efficiency ratings, with the base powertrain delivering 19 mpg combined and the turbocharged V6-powered Sport trim getting an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined
While the Sport trim gets the lowest miles per gallon, it delivers an extra 75 horsepower for a total of 365 horsepower—this trim is clearly performance-oriented rather than fuel-efficiency-friendly. 
Edmunds estimates that the monthly fuel costs for 2014 Ford Explorers with the base engine and front-wheel drive are approximately $238, while all-wheel drive will bump that cost up to $243. The Sport trim with all-wheel drive and its turbocharged V6 will run you anywhere around $256, making it the most expensive 2014 Explorer to fill, but still not as expensive as the average estimated SUV monthly fuel cost of $293.
You’ll get the highest miles per gallon if you do most of your driving on the highway with any version of the 2014 Ford Explorer, but if you’re looking for great gas mileage from this model year, you’ll want to opt for front-wheel drive and the 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine option in the base, XLT, or Limited trims.
MORE: How to pass emissions testing

Is the 2014 Ford Explorer good on gas? 

The 2014 Ford Explorer delivers pretty good fuel economy ratings for a larger crossover SUV with a V6 engine. 
Vehicles like the 2014
Honda Pilot
and 2014
Mazda CX-9
feature similarly-sized V6 engines with front-wheel drive, and while the Pilot gets 21 mpg combined, the CX-9 only offers 19 mpg combined. The 2014 Ford Explorer delivers around 1 mpg less than the Pilot, but 1 mpg more than the CX-9, slotting it right between the two for fuel efficiency.
The 2014
Toyota Highlander
and its 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive gets 22 mpg combined with 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on highways. Compared to the 2014 Ford Explorer’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder option with front-wheel drive, the Toyota Highlander gets a lower EPA-estimated fuel economy rating. 
In general, the 2014 Ford Explorer gets pretty competitive fuel efficiency ratings compared to other vehicles of the crossover SUV class, making it a solid choice for gas mileage.

How to improve fuel efficiency for a 2018 Acura RDX

If you’re considering buying a 2014 Ford Explorer or already own one and you’re looking for tips to conserve fuel and improve your gas mileage, you came to the right place. Here are a few tips for optimizing your 2014 Ford Explorer’s fuel economy: 
  • Clean out your vehicle. You can improve your Ford’s gas mileage by lightening your overall load.
  • Use adaptive cruise control to minimize harsh acceleration or heavy braking, which increases fuel consumption.
  • Keeping up with
    Honda maintenance
    helps you avoid issues that could impact fuel efficiency.
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