Ford Explorer Vehicle Class & EPA Size Category
The EPA classifies the 2026 Ford Explorer as a Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD / Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, a rating based on body style and interior volume.
Latest model year (2026):
The Ford Explorer is classified by the EPA as a Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD / Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD.
Ford Explorer Vehicle Class — All Years
| Year | Trim | Vehicle Class | Drive | Fuel Type | MPG Comb. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Auto (S10), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2026 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 |
| 2026 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2026 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2026 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 23 |
| 2026 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 24 |
| 2025 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2025 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2025 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 23 |
| 2025 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 24 |
| 2025 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2025 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2024 | Auto (S10), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2024 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2024 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2024 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 23 |
| 2024 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 24 |
| 2024 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2024 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2024 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2023 | Auto (S10), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2023 | Auto (S10), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2023 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2023 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2023 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2023 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 |
| 2023 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 23 |
| 2023 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 24 |
| 2023 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 23 |
| 2023 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2023 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2023 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2023 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 |
| 2023 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 26 |
| 2023 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2023 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 27 |
| 2023 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 23 |
| 2022 | Auto (S10), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2022 | Auto (S10), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2022 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2022 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2022 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 26 |
| 2022 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 |
| 2022 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 27 |
| 2022 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 23 |
| 2022 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 23 |
| 2022 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 24 |
| 2022 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 23 |
| 2022 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 |
| 2022 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2022 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2022 | Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 |
| 2021 | Auto (S10), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 24 |
| 2021 | Auto (S10), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 23 |
| 2021 | Auto (S10), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2021 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2021 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2021 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 27 |
| 2021 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 |
| 2021 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 |
| 2021 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 24 |
| 2021 | Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 23 |
| 2020 | Auto (S10), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 23 |
| 2020 | Auto (S10), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 24 |
| 2020 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2020 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 |
| 2020 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 28 |
| 2020 | Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 |
| 2019 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2019 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 |
| 2019 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2019 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 |
| 2019 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2019 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 18 |
| 2019 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 18 |
| 2018 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2018 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 |
| 2018 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2018 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 |
| 2018 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 18 |
| 2018 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2018 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 18 |
| 2017 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 |
| 2017 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2017 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 18 |
| 2017 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2017 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2017 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 |
| 2017 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 |
| 2016 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 22 |
| 2016 | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.3 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 |
| 2016 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 |
| 2016 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 |
| 2016 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 18 |
| 2016 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2016 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2015 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2015 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 20 |
| 2015 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 |
| 2015 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 19 |
| 2015 | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 18 |
| 2015 | Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 23 |
Data sourced from fueleconomy.gov (U.S. Department of Energy). MPG figures are EPA-tested. Fuel costs are estimates based on average fuel prices and 15,000 miles/year.
Ford Explorer Vehicle Class FAQ
What class of vehicle is the Ford Explorer?
The EPA classifies the Ford Explorer as a Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD / Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD. This classification is based on interior volume and body style and affects how its fuel economy is compared with other vehicles.
Is the Ford Explorer considered a small or large vehicle?
Based on its EPA class (Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD), the Ford Explorer is grouped with vehicles of similar size and interior volume. The class can change between model years when the body is redesigned.