2026 Ford Explorer vs. Bronco Sport MPG: Which SUV Saves You More at the Pump?
Counting Gallons Between Ford’s Big SUV and Its Little Brother
Two Ford SUVs can sit side by side on the same lot and burn wildly different amounts of gas over a year. One carries seven people and pulls a boat. The other tucks into tight parking spots and still crawls up a muddy trail. Your fuel budget notices the difference long before your neighbors do.
- A 2026 Bronco Sport with the 1.5L EcoBoost engine earns EPA ratings of 25 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.
- Rear-wheel-drive Explorer models with the 2.3L EcoBoost engine get 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.
- Off-road packages on either SUV shave several miles per gallon off the window sticker.
Two SUVs With Two Very Different Jobs
Size explains most of the gap here. Explorer stretches 198.7 inches long, seats six or seven depending on how you spec the second row, and tows up to 5,000 pounds with the Class III Tow Package that comes standard. Bronco Sport measures just over 173 inches, seats five, and tows 2,200 pounds by Ford’s published rating. That’s more than two feet of length and a full row of seats separating them.
Weight follows size, and weight burns fuel. So while the Ford Explorer vs Bronco Sport MPG question has a clear winner on paper, the honest answer depends on what you actually haul during the week.
The Bronco Sport Squeezes a Lot From Three Cylinders
Big Bend, Heritage, and Outer Banks trims all run the 1.5L turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost paired with an eight-speed automatic. Every Bronco Sport ships with 4×4 as standard equipment, which makes those 25 city and 30 highway numbers look even better. Combined, it lands at 27 mpg.
Add the Sasquatch Package to an Outer Banks, and the bigger tires drag those ratings down to 23 city and 26 highway. Step up to a Badlands with the 2.0L EcoBoost four-cylinder, and you’re at 21 city and 28 highway. You gain torque and off-road hardware. You give back gas mileage.
Explorer Ratings Move With Engine and Drivetrain
Ford builds the Ford Explorer with two engines and two drivetrains, and each combination reads differently on the sticker. The 2.3L EcoBoost with rear-wheel drive posts 20 city and 29 highway, which is impressive for a three-row hauler. Switch to Intelligent 4WD, and highway drops to 27.
Want the 3.0L twin-turbo V6 in an ST? Plan on 18 city and 25 highway. Tremor sits at the bottom of the chart because of its all-terrain tires and lifted suspension, landing at 19 city and 23 highway with the four-cylinder, or 17 city and 22 highway with the V6.
2026 Ford Explorer vs Bronco Sport MPG Comparison Chart
| Model and Configuration | Engine | Drivetrain | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronco Sport Big Bend, Heritage, Outer Banks | 1.5L EcoBoost I-3 | 4×4 | 25 | 30 | 27 |
| Bronco Sport Outer Banks with Sasquatch Package | 1.5L EcoBoost I-3 | 4×4 | 23 | 26 | 24 |
| Bronco Sport Badlands | 2.0L EcoBoost I-4 | 4×4 | 21 | 28 | 24 |
| Explorer Active 100A, Active, ST-Line, Platinum | 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 | RWD | 20 | 29 | 24 |
| Explorer Active 100A, Active, ST-Line, Platinum | 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 | Intelligent 4WD | 20 | 27 | 23 |
| Explorer Tremor | 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 | Intelligent 4WD | 19 | 23 | 21 |
| Explorer ST | 3.0L EcoBoost V6 | RWD | 18 | 25 | 21 |
| Explorer ST | 3.0L EcoBoost V6 | Intelligent 4WD | 18 | 25 | 20 |
| Explorer Tremor | 3.0L EcoBoost V6 | Intelligent 4WD | 17 | 22 | 19 |
| Seating | Bronco Sport 5 passengers | Explorer 6 or 7 passengers | |||
| Max Towing | Bronco Sport 2,200 lbs | Explorer 5,000 lbs | |||
| Max Cargo Room | Bronco Sport 65.2 cu ft behind front row with the 1.5L | Explorer 85.8 cu ft with rows folded | |||
All mpg ratings are EPA estimates. Actual mileage varies with options, driving conditions, and habits. Ford publishes 2,200 pounds as the Bronco Sport tow rating, while some third-party guides list 2,700 pounds for a properly equipped Badlands.
What Those Three MPG Points Cost Each Year
Run the math on 15,000 miles a year at $3.10 per gallon. Figure a 1.5L Bronco Sport at 27 combined burns roughly 556 gallons, or about $1,723. Park a rear-drive Explorer beside it, and 24 combined works out to about 625 gallons, or roughly $1,938. That’s a difference of $215 over twelve months, which works out to less than $18 a month.
Now compare the extremes. A Tremor with the V6 sips through about 789 gallons at 19 combined, close to $2,446 a year. Set that against the thriftiest Bronco Sport and you’re looking at $725 more annually. Gas mileage matters most when you climb toward the top of the Explorer lineup.
Matching the SUV to Your Real Weekly Miles
Drive 40 miles a day solo with a dog crate in the back? Bronco Sport wins on paper and on your bank statement, and standard 4×4 means Ohio winters won’t slow you down. Carting kids to practice, pulling a camper, and filling a third row every weekend? A rear-drive or 4WD Explorer with the 2.3L engine gives up almost nothing on the highway while doing work the smaller SUV can’t touch.
Trims that hurt most at the pump are the ones built for dirt and speed. If you’re not planning trail runs, skip the Tremor and Sasquatch hardware, and your fuel budget stays predictable either way.
Why Buy Your Next Ford SUV at Dave Arbogast Ford
Numbers on a screen only get you so far. We keep both the Explorer and Bronco Sport on our Troy lot so you can sit in the third row, load a stroller into the cargo area, and drive each on the same stretch of I-75 before deciding. Our team can walk you through which engine and drivetrain pairing fits your commute, and we’ll run the fuel math with you instead of at you. Custom ordering is available if the exact trim you want isn’t parked out front, and our service department is here for oil changes and tire rotations long after you drive home.
