2009 Ford Escape Gas Tank Size and Capacity

SUV 11 trims listed ← 2008 2010 →

Fuel tank capacity

16.5gal · 62 L

The 2009 Ford Escape has a fuel tank capacity of 16.5 gallons (62 liters) on every trim.

A full tank is good for roughly 396–462 highway miles or 281–363 miles around town, going by the EPA ratings.

16.5 gal · Smaller than 78% of 2009 models we list.

Listed separately: 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid (15.1 gal).

Highway range
396–462 mi
City range
281–363 mi
Fuel
Regular unleaded
EPA combined
20–24 MPG
EPA size class
Sport Utility Vehicle

2009 Ford Escape fuel tank capacity by trim

What changes the tank sizeTap an option to filter the table

Drive
no difference
Engine
no difference

All 11 trims

MPG and range are city / highway.

TrimEngineDrive Tank MPG city / hwy Range city / hwy
Limited 4dr SUV 2.5L 4cyl 6A · FWD MPG 20 / 28Range 330 / 462 mi 2.5L 4cyl 6A FWD 16.5 gal62 L 20 / 28 330 / 462 mi
Limited 4dr SUV 3.0L 6cyl 6A · FWD MPG 18 / 26Range 297 / 429 mi 3.0L 6cyl 6A FWD 16.5 gal62 L 18 / 26 297 / 429 mi
Limited 4dr SUV AWD 2.5L 4cyl 6A · AWD MPG 19 / 25Range 314 / 413 mi 2.5L 4cyl 6A AWD 16.5 gal62 L 19 / 25 314 / 413 mi
Limited 4dr SUV AWD 3.0L 6cyl 6A · AWD MPG 17 / 24Range 281 / 396 mi 3.0L 6cyl 6A AWD 16.5 gal62 L 17 / 24 281 / 396 mi
XLS 4dr SUV 2.5L 4cyl 5M · FWD MPG 22 / 28Range 363 / 462 mi 2.5L 4cyl 5M FWD 16.5 gal62 L 22 / 28 363 / 462 mi
XLS 4dr SUV 2.5L 4cyl 6A · FWD MPG 20 / 28Range 330 / 462 mi 2.5L 4cyl 6A FWD 16.5 gal62 L 20 / 28 330 / 462 mi
XLS 4dr SUV AWD 2.5L 4cyl 6A · AWD MPG 19 / 25Range 314 / 413 mi 2.5L 4cyl 6A AWD 16.5 gal62 L 19 / 25 314 / 413 mi
XLT 4dr SUV 2.5L 4cyl 6A · FWD MPG 20 / 28Range 330 / 462 mi 2.5L 4cyl 6A FWD 16.5 gal62 L 20 / 28 330 / 462 mi
XLT 4dr SUV 3.0L 6cyl 6A · FWD MPG 18 / 26Range 297 / 429 mi 3.0L 6cyl 6A FWD 16.5 gal62 L 18 / 26 297 / 429 mi
XLT 4dr SUV AWD 2.5L 4cyl 6A · AWD MPG 19 / 25Range 314 / 413 mi 2.5L 4cyl 6A AWD 16.5 gal62 L 19 / 25 314 / 413 mi
XLT 4dr SUV AWD 3.0L 6cyl 6A · AWD MPG 17 / 24Range 281 / 396 mi 3.0L 6cyl 6A AWD 16.5 gal62 L 17 / 24 281 / 396 mi

Tank figures are the manufacturer's rated capacity, sorted smallest tank first. Range is tank size times EPA city or highway MPG.

How far a 2009 Ford Escape goes on a tank

Gallons left and the distance they cover at each mark on the fuel gauge, at EPA city and highway mileage. At the combined rating of 23 MPG, a full 16.5-gallon tank covers about 380 miles.

GaugeGallonsHighway milesCity miles
Full16.5462330
3/412.4347248
1/28.3231165
1/44.111683
1/82.15841

Over 15,000 miles a year (the EPA's yearly estimate) this configuration uses about 652 gallons, roughly 40 full tanks.

In real driving: owners who log fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 22.7 MPG in the Escape (20 drivers), about 375 miles on a full 16.5-gallon tank.

Fuel gauges aren't perfectly linear and the low-fuel light comes on with a few gallons still in the tank, so plan your stop before the last eighth.

EPA combined
20–24 MPG
Tailpipe CO2
370–444 g/mi
Source
EPA ratings ↗

What it costs to fill up a 2009 Ford Escape

$70.45 to fill the 16.5-gallon tank from empty with regular, at this week's US average of $4.27 a gallon.

TankFuelUS avg / galFrom emptyFrom 1/4 tank
16.5 galRegular$4.27$70.45$52.84

By region, 16.5-gallon tank

RegionRegular / galFill from empty
East Coast$4.02$66.33
Midwest$4.27$70.45
Gulf CoastLowest$3.70$61.05
Rocky Mountain$4.46$73.59
West Coast$5.42$89.43
CaliforniaHighest$5.89$97.18

Prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration retail averages for the week of October 26, 2026. This week's prices by state and city.

Your own price

  • 16.5-gallon tank$70.45
  • A year of driving (15,000 mi)$2,785

Starts at the US average for regular; type in what your station charges. For other tank sizes, use the fill-up calculator.

Escape tank size in other years

The 2009 Escape uses the same 16.5 gal tank as every Escape since 2006.

Model yearTankLongest highway range
2014 Escape 15.1 gal 483 mi
2013 Escape 15.1 gal 498 mi
2012 Escape 15.1–17.5 gal 490 mi
2011 Escape 17.5 gal 490 mi
2010 Escape 16.5 gal 462 mi
2009 Escape 16.5 gal 462 mi
2008 Escape 16.5 gal 462 mi
2007 Escape 16.5 gal 446 mi
2006 Escape 16.5 gal 446 mi
2005 Escape 15.0–16.5 gal 446 mi
2004 Escape 16.0 gal 400 mi
Ford Escape fuel tank by model yearSmallest tank Larger tank options

2009 Ford Escape vs similar 2009 SUVs

At 16.5 gallons, the Escape's largest tank ranks fourth of the seven 2009 SUVs compared here. The Kia Sportage carries the most (17.2 gal) and the Honda CR-V the least (15.3 gal).

2009 modelTankLongest highway range
Kia Sportage 15.3–17.2 gal 396 mi
Hyundai Tucson 15.3–17.2 gal 413 mi
Volkswagen Tiguan 16.8 gal 437 mi
Ford Escape 16.5 gal 462 mi
Mazda Tribute 16.5 gal 462 mi
Mercury Mariner 16.5 gal 462 mi
Honda CR-V 15.3 gal 413 mi

Picked by body style and size: other 2009 SUVs within about 5% of the Escape's length and 15% of its curb weight, one model per brand.

2009 Ford Escape fuel system recalls

None of the 1 recall NHTSA lists for the 2009 Ford Escape involve the fuel system.

Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ Look up your tank by VIN

2009 Ford Escape fuel pump and gauge parts

NHTSA lists no fuel-system recall for the 2009 Ford Escape, so a failed pump or gauge is a normal repair. These are the part numbers the makers list for it.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 2009 Ford Escape?

The 2009 Ford Escape holds 16.5 gallons (62 liters) on every trim we list.

How many gallons and liters does the 2009 Ford Escape gas tank hold?

The 2009 Ford Escape tank holds 62 liters, or 16.5 gallons in US gallons.

Does AWD change the 2009 Ford Escape gas tank?

No. FWD and AWD versions of the 2009 Ford Escape use the same 16.5 gal tank.

How far can a 2009 Ford Escape go on a full tank?

About 396–462 miles on the highway and 281–363 miles in town, going from full to empty at its EPA ratings. Expect less in practice, since nobody runs the tank dry.

How many miles can a 2009 Ford Escape go on a quarter tank?

About 116 highway miles or 83 in town from the 16.5-gallon tank, which has roughly 4.1 gallons left at the quarter mark. Gauges aren't exact, so treat that as a guide.

How many miles does a 2009 Ford Escape really get on a tank?

Drivers who log their fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 22.7 MPG in the 2009 Ford Escape (20 drivers), which works out to about 375 miles on a full 16.5-gallon tank.

What gas does the 2009 Ford Escape take?

Regular unleaded. The label inside the fuel door confirms it for your car.

How much does it cost to fill up a 2009 Ford Escape?

At the US average of $4.27 a gallon for regular (EIA, week of October 26, 2026), filling the 16.5-gallon tank from empty costs $70.45. It ranges from $61.05 in the Gulf Coast to $97.18 in California.

How much does a full tank of gas weigh in a 2009 Ford Escape?

About 102 pounds for the 16.5-gallon tank. Gasoline weighs roughly 6.2 pounds a gallon.

Does the 2009 Ford Escape have a bigger gas tank than the Volkswagen Tiguan?

No. The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan holds up to 16.8 gallons; the 2009 Ford Escape holds up to 16.5.

Has the 2009 Ford Escape had a fuel pump or fuel system recall?

No. None of the 1 recall NHTSA lists for the 2009 Ford Escape involve the fuel system.

Sources

  • Tank sizes: manufacturer-rated capacities from US-market specifications, cross-checked against a second spec database. Updated October 2026.
  • MPG and range: EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov). Range is tank size times EPA MPG.
  • Fuel prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, week of October 26, 2026.
  • Recalls: NHTSA recall database.
  • Real-world MPG: driver-reported fill-ups shared at fueleconomy.gov (My MPG).

Does your owner's manual say something different? Let us know and we'll fix it. More on how we check the numbers.

Other 2009 Ford models