2012 Ford Explorer FWD MPG & Specs — Real-World vs EPA, All Trims
Every trim takes regular — no premium needed.
Is the 2012 Ford Explorer FWD good on gas?
At up to 23 MPG combined, the 2012 Ford Explorer FWD is better than average for a Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD — that class averages about 18.8 MPG across 1,619 EPA-tested versions, so it's a good pick on fuel for its size.
Real-world MPG vs the EPA number
The EPA figures above come from a standardized dynamometer test, not the open road — real-world MPG typically runs a bit lower depending on your driving, climate and terrain. That's true of every car on this site, old or new.
EPA updated its fuel-economy equations again for model year 2017 — mostly affecting hybrids and turbocharged engines — and recalculated 2011-2016 ratings to match, in some cases 1-2 MPG lower. The number above already reflects that update.
At today's AAA national average price — $3.80/gal for regular gas as of 2026-07-05 — the most efficient trim runs about $2,478/year (roughly $206/month, about $16.52 per 100 miles) at the EPA's assumed 15,000 miles/year, using an estimated 652 gallons a year. We don't estimate a cost-per-fill since exact tank size isn't in the public EPA dataset, but the per-100-mile figure scales to any tank. Current national average gas prices →
2012 Ford Explorer FWD trims & fuel economy
| Trim (engine / transmission) | Fuel | MPG | Fuel/yr (today's price) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, FWD | REGULAR | 23 | $2,478 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl, S6 automatic, FWD | REGULAR | 20 | $2,850 |
2012 Ford Explorer FWD specs
What the EPA test-car listings record for this model year — every combination sold is a row in the trims table above.
| Engine options | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 3.5L 6-cyl |
| Transmission | Automatic 6-spd · S6 automatic |
| Drive type | FWD |
| EPA body class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
| Fuel | Regular |
Other years of the Ford Explorer FWD
Similar cars (Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD)
Cars that take premium · Cheapest cars to fuel · Where fuel grade depends on the trim · Fuel guides
2 trim(s) · EPA FuelEconomy.gov data retrieved 2026-07-24 · fuel prices AAA national average as of 2026-07-05.