I’m curious about the average gas mileage others are getting with their 2020-2024 Explorers that have the 2.3 EcoBoost engine. I drive a 2022 ST-Line mainly in the city, on flat terrain, and I’m only getting around 400-450 km on a full tank in ‘Normal’ driving mode with 87 octane gas. This seems really low to me. What are your experiences? Would love to hear your thoughts.
That seems very low. On my 2020 2.3, I used to get around 400-450 miles per tank, which is about 650-700 km per tank. I tried 85, 87, and 91 octane, and didn’t notice much of a difference. What speed are you going to get such low mileage?
@Sullivan
Thanks for your reply. Your mileage makes more sense. I’m in Montreal, Canada, so the cold weather could be a factor in the winter, but I’m not seeing much improvement in the summer months either. As for speed, I mostly do stop-and-go neighborhood driving with very little highway driving. I know city driving is the worst for gas mileage, but it still feels too low.
@Riley
I have a 2020 Limited, also in Montreal, and I get about the same—around 450 km per tank. It’s great on the highway but not so much for city driving.
Hollis said:
@Riley
I have a 2020 Limited, also in Montreal, and I get about the same—around 450 km per tank. It’s great on the highway but not so much for city driving.
Thanks for confirming. Glad I’m not the only one, but it’s strange that people in the US are getting over 450 miles per tank. That’s a big difference. Do you think the cars are tuned differently for Canada? Also, do you ever get that rotten egg smell from the exhaust or burning smells inside the cabin?
@Riley
I get that burning smell at the start of the season when I first turn on the heat. As for the longer range in the US, I suspect it’s because those people live outside big cities and drive mostly on highways. I get great mileage on longer trips, like to Ottawa or Toronto, and probably around 450 miles on those.
@Hollis
Thanks for confirming. My highway mileage is about the same as yours. As for the smell, I’ve noticed it every year since I bought the car. My dealer replaced the catalytic converter under warranty after they noticed the rotten egg smell, but the issue still keeps coming back. I’ve been talking to Ford, but they refuse to take further action. I feel like they’re just waiting for my warranty to expire. Do you think the burning smell and gas mileage are connected?
@Riley
The dealer says it’s normal. They also told me the hard shifts and occasional missed shifts are normal, and they’ve documented it. Honestly, the dealership experience has been terrible. This will be my last new car, and definitely the last Ford. Did you buy yours from West Island Ford by any chance?
@Hollis
There’s nothing normal about any emissions leaks in a car. I deal with Desjardins Ford, and they’ve been responsive about reporting the issues to Ford. But beyond replacing the catalytic converter under warranty, they refuse to do anything else because Ford HQ hasn’t issued a ‘solution.’ Every time I bring the car in, they say they can’t replicate the issue. I think the dealer wants to help, but Ford is stalling to avoid a big recall. The Explorer is their top-selling vehicle, and they had a similar problem with the previous generation but left many owners high and dry. This is definitely the last Ford I’m buying. I’ve never had these issues with other cars I’ve owned. It would be great to stay in touch if you have any updates or breakthroughs with servicing.
@Riley
Sure, feel free to DM me. Is the Explorer really their best-seller? I thought it was the F150 by a big margin. But yeah, I always wanted an Explorer, and this is the first new car I ever bought. Let’s just say it’s been a huge learning experience. I thought Fords were reliable, but now I see that’s not always the case. For the first three years, this car was in the shop more than the old one I traded in.
@Hollis
You’re right about the F150 being #1. I think I got confused with some stats about the Explorer being a top-selling SUV. It’s a shame about these issues because I really do love the car otherwise. Thanks for all your feedback. I’ll DM you if anything new comes up.
@Riley
The dealership is giving you the runaround. That’s frustrating. Have you considered reaching out to a third-party service center to get a second opinion on the issues?