Ford Cost to Own
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Across 4 Ford models, 5-year depreciation, fuel and national-average insurance run from about $35,452 for the Escape to $57,166 for the F-150 (75,000 miles). Depreciation is the biggest line for every one, and the Escape is cheapest to fuel at $11,124.
Ford models compared
5 years, 75,000 miles, bought new. Total = depreciation + fuel + national-average insurance ($6,410).
| Model | Depreciation | Fuel / energy | 5-yr total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escape | $17,918 | $11,124 | $35,452 |
| Bronco | $21,534 | $17,304 | $45,248 |
| Explorer | $30,533 | $14,832 | $51,775 |
| F-150 | $34,363 | $16,393 | $57,166 |
— = no citable figure. Insurance varies by driver, location and coverage; see car insurance cost by state.
Ford maintenance schedule
Ford's published oil-change interval: condition-based: Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor shows a message when an oil change is due; do it within two weeks or 500 mi of the message. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Ford doesn't publish service prices.
Oil changes
Normal: Condition-based: Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor shows a message when an oil change is due; do it within two weeks or 500 mi of the message. Never exceed 1 year or 10,000 mi between oil changes. If the monitor resets early or fails, change at 6 months or 5,000 mi.
Severe or special conditions: Same monitor; it shortens the interval with severe use (short trips under 5–10 mi, extreme temperatures, dust, extended idling, heavy loads/towing). Ford gives no separate fixed severe mileage for oil.
Source: Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance
| Interval | Items | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Every oil change (per Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor, max 1 yr/10,000 mi) |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| Every 3 years |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| Every 20,000 miles |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| Every 30,000 miles |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| Every 60,000 miles (severe service) |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| Every 100,000 miles |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| Every 150,000 miles |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| At 200,000 miles or 10 years |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
| No scheduled interval |
| Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance |
More Ford research
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to own a Ford?
Across 4 Ford models, 5-year depreciation, fuel and national-average insurance run from about $35,452 for the Escape to $57,166 for the F-150 (75,000 miles). Depreciation is the biggest line for every one, and the Escape is cheapest to fuel at $11,124.
Is Ford maintenance expensive?
Ford's published oil-change interval: condition-based: Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor shows a message when an oil change is due; do it within two weeks or 500 mi of the message. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Ford doesn't publish service prices.
Sources and method
Each model line follows the same formula as the model pages: depreciation from CarWhere’s used-market study, fuel from EPA ratings × EIA national prices, insurance from NAIC’s national average. Maintenance comes from the manufacturer’s own schedule.
- CarWhere car depreciation by model study — CarWhere Research (data as of 2026-10-25)
- Fuel economy data (vehicles.csv) — U.S. EPA / DOE, fueleconomy.gov
- Weekly U.S. retail gasoline and diesel prices — U.S. Energy Information Administration (week of November 2, 2026)
- Auto Insurance Database Report (average expenditure) — NAIC, via CarWhere state study (2023 data)
- Ford Explorer Owner's Manual (edition July 2025, file labeled 2026) — Scheduled Maintenance — Ford
- Ford — What is the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor System? — Ford
- Ford Protect — FAQ (paid maintenance plans) — Ford