2016 Ford Escape MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2016 Ford Escape is rated 23 to 26 mpg combined across 5 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic.

EPA fuel economy

2016 Ford Escape · 5 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

26MPG combined

23 city 31 highway

$2,500 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score6/10

1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic

Best version costs $1,000 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.32 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 27, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,500 to $2,800 a year.

Every 2016 Escape version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic Best EPA listing: Escape FWD	26 mpg	23 / 31	$2,500
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Escape AWD	25 mpg	22 / 29	$2,600
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Escape FWD	25 mpg	22 / 30	$2,600
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Escape FWD	24 mpg	21 / 29	$2,700
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Escape AWD	23 mpg	21 / 28	$2,800

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.32 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,492	$208	$12,462
1.6L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,592	$216	$12,960
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,592	$216	$12,960
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,700	$225	$13,500
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic	$2,817	$235	$14,087

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Ford Escape MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 26 to 30 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); 30 since 2020. Hybrid: 39 to 41 mpg (2020 to 2026); highest in 2020.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2016: gas 26 mpg · hybrid not offered

Show as a table

Ford Escape best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2016	26	–
2017	26	–
2018	26	–
2019	26	–
2020	30	41
2021	30	41
2022	30	41
2023	30	39
2024	30	39
2025	30	39
2026	30	39

How the 2016 Escape compares

2016 compact SUVs covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2016 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Toyota RAV4 Best: hybrid	32 mpg	26 mpg	$2,050
Honda CR-V Best: gas	29 mpg	29 mpg	$2,250
Mazda CX-5 Best: gas	29 mpg	29 mpg	$2,250
Nissan Rogue Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,300
Hyundai Tucson Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,300
Subaru Outback Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,300
Chevrolet Equinox Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,500
Ford Escape This page Best: gas	26 mpg	26 mpg	$2,500

2016 Escape recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 1,123 owner complaints for the 2016 Escape.What they cover, and crash test ratings

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2016 Ford Escape's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, AWD lowers the combined rating by 1 mpg: the 1.6L turbo 4-cyl gets 26 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 25 with AWD.

Does the 2016 Ford Escape need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2016 Ford Escape version on regular gasoline.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.32, midgrade $4.93, premium $5.32, diesel $6.29 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and complaint file dated Sep 26, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.