Does the 2021 Ford Explorer RWD need premium gas?
Every trim takes regular — no premium needed.
| Trim (engine / transmission) | Fuel | MPG | Fuel/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl, S10 automatic, RWD | REGULAR | 24 | $2,600 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl, Automatic 10-spd, RWD | REGULAR | 24 | $2,600 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl, S10 automatic, RWD | REGULAR | 21 | $2,950 |
The EPA records the fuel each version was tested on. Whether premium is strictly required or just recommended is an owner's-manual detail the EPA dataset doesn't include — so we don't guess it.
3 trim(s) · EPA FuelEconomy.gov · retrieved 2026-06-14.