The new Ford Explorer powered by 2.0-liter EcoBoost has been rated by EPA at 28 mpg highway.

That might not sound great compared to sedans and hatchbacks, but the fact is, in its class the Explorer beats Honda Pilot and Jeep Grand Cherokee by 5 mpg, Chevrolet Traverse by 4 mpg and Toyota Highlander by 3 mpg. The V6 version of the car delivers 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg.

And it’s not like the four-cylinder has shabby performance either. It generates 240 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and a generous 270 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm which is very good for a four-pot, and seems to be enough for eco-minded Explorer drivers. Obviously it’s not going to be fast, but it does have enough pulling power to make it up the hill should you decide to go there!

The EcoBoost’s fuel economy can be attributed to direct gasoline injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT). Efficiency is further enhanced through employment of low-friction 5W-GF5 motor oil, a variable-displacement air conditioning compressor, electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) and a unique 6F35 six-speed automatic transmission developed to reduce friction and increase efficiency.