MileGrade

EPA ratings · 2002 · Ford · Explorer

2002 Ford Explorer Fuel Economy

EPA rates the 2002 Ford Explorer's 17 trims from 14 to 39 MPGe combined, Explorer 4WD to Explorer USPS Electric. Electric and plug-in trims show MPGe and kWh per 100 miles. The table below prices every trim per mile at a fuel price and mileage you can change.

EPA ratings by trim

2002 Ford Explorer trims and EPA ratings
TrimEngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyCombinedkWh/100 miElectric range
Explorer 2WD · Regular4 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spdRear-Wheel Drive141916 MPG——
Explorer 2WD · Regular4 L, 6 cylManual 5-spdRear-Wheel Drive152017 MPG——
Explorer 2WD · Regular4.6 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spdRear-Wheel Drive131815 MPG——
Explorer 2WD FFV · Gasoline or E854 L, 6 cyl, FFVAutomatic 5-spdRear-Wheel Drive141916 MPG——
Explorer 4WD · Regular4 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive131815 MPG——
Explorer 4WD · Regular4 L, 6 cylManual 5-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive141816 MPG——
Explorer 4WD · Regular4.6 L, 8 cylAutomatic 5-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive131714 MPG——
Explorer 4WD FFV · Gasoline or E854 L, 6 cyl, FFVAutomatic 5-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive141916 MPG——
Explorer Sport 2WD · Regular4 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spdRear-Wheel Drive152017 MPG——
Explorer Sport 2WD · Regular4 L, 6 cylManual 5-spdRear-Wheel Drive162017 MPG——
Explorer Sport 4WD · Regular4 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive131815 MPG——
Explorer Sport 4WD · Regular4 L, 6 cylManual 5-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive141815 MPG——
Explorer Sport Trac 2WD · Regular4 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spdRear-Wheel Drive141916 MPG——
Explorer Sport Trac 2WD · Regular4 L, 6 cylManual 5-spdRear-Wheel Drive152017 MPG——
Explorer Sport Trac 4WD · Regular4 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive131815 MPG——
Explorer Sport Trac 4WD · Regular4 L, 6 cylManual 5-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive141816 MPG——
Explorer USPS Electric · ElectricityElectric—2-Wheel Drive453339 MPGe87.038 mi

City and highway are EPA's adjusted label figures; combined is the 55/45 blend printed on the window sticker. For electric and plug-in trims the MPG columns are MPGe, and the kWh per 100 miles is the figure a charging cost actually turns on; EPA measures it at the wall, so charging losses are already in it. Unrounded combined figures, where EPA publishes them: none for this model.

What the rating costs per mile

The rating divided by a price, times your miles. It starts at EIA's current U.S. averages and EPA's 15,000 miles so the right-hand column is comparable; type your own pump price, home rate and mileage over them.

Fuel cost per mile and per year for each trim at the prices and mileage above
TrimRuns onRatedPer milePer yearEPA's figure
Explorer 2WDRegular Gasoline16 MPG26.8¢$4,016$4,200
Explorer 2WDRegular Gasoline17 MPG25.2¢$3,780$3,950
Explorer 2WDRegular Gasoline15 MPG28.6¢$4,284$4,450
Explorer 2WD FFVRegular Gasoline16 MPG26.8¢$4,016$4,200
Explorer 4WDRegular Gasoline15 MPG28.6¢$4,284$4,450
Explorer 4WDRegular Gasoline16 MPG26.8¢$4,016$4,200
Explorer 4WDRegular Gasoline14 MPG30.6¢$4,590$4,800
Explorer 4WD FFVRegular Gasoline16 MPG26.8¢$4,016$4,200
Explorer Sport 2WDRegular Gasoline17 MPG25.2¢$3,780$3,950
Explorer Sport 2WDRegular Gasoline17 MPG25.2¢$3,780$3,950
Explorer Sport 4WDRegular Gasoline15 MPG28.6¢$4,284$4,450
Explorer Sport 4WDRegular Gasoline15 MPG28.6¢$4,284$4,450
Explorer Sport Trac 2WDRegular Gasoline16 MPG26.8¢$4,016$4,200
Explorer Sport Trac 2WDRegular Gasoline17 MPG25.2¢$3,780$3,950
Explorer Sport Trac 4WDRegular Gasoline15 MPG28.6¢$4,284$4,450
Explorer Sport Trac 4WDRegular Gasoline16 MPG26.8¢$4,016$4,200
Explorer USPS ElectricElectricity87 kWh/100 mi15.8¢$2,370$1,950

Per mile = price ÷ rated MPG (gasoline) or price per kWh × kWh per 100 miles ÷ 100 (electricity). Per year = per mile × miles. EPA's figure is its own annual fuel cost at 15,000 miles, 55% city, and the national price in force when the file was built; it will differ from the middle columns whenever the price here differs. A plug-in hybrid is shown once on each fuel; its real cost sits between them, by how much of its driving is on the battery.

Fuel only — before depreciation, insurance, maintenance or tires, which the True Cost per Mile Calculator adds. Most drivers land below the rating; the True MPG Calculator measures your own from two fill-ups. The EV vs. Gas Cost Calculator sets the electric trim against a gasoline one over a year.

EPA's own figures, and why they differ

The “EPA's figure” column is EPA's annual fuel cost from the same file: 15,000 miles, 55% city, and the national fuel price fueleconomy.gov was using on the day the file was built (2026-09-29). fueleconomy.gov recomputes its page every week at the current price, so its number and the file's drift apart between file dates; the middle columns here use a price you can see and change, which is the only honest way to compare two cars. EPA also prints a five-year “you save/spend” against the average new vehicle (saves $2,250 for the Explorer USPS Electric); it rests on the same assumptions and is not repeated here as a result.

Every figure on this page is a rating, not a measurement of any particular car. The site never calls a rating wrong; it shows what your own price and miles do to it. See the model on fueleconomy.gov.

Other model years of the Ford Explorer: 2027, 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991.

Related tools

Informational only — published averages for scale and comparison, not a quote for any pump, utility or vehicle. Your own price is the one that counts, and every calculator on this site takes it as an input.

Ratings: U.S. EPA and U.S. DOE, fueleconomy.gov vehicles.csv dated 2026-09-29 (EPA record ids 18067, 18068, 18069, 18286, 18170, 18171, 18172, 18280, 18070, 18071, 18173, 18174, 17891, 17892, 17948, 17949, 18291). Prices: EIA, U.S. regular gasoline week of October 19, 2026; U.S. residential electricity August 2026. Snapshots refreshed monthly.