✅ Car clearance comparison table

What can we perform there?

The first thing that will suffer when encountering a deep pothole or an open sewer hatch is, of course, the front bumper. As soon as the car dives into such a hole (look at the photo), you are guaranteed a split bumper. Let's not talk about dented wheels and sills now.

There are no general standards, but there are average values for cars, family cars, and SUVs that reflect the ground clearance (distance from the front bumper to the asphalt):

for SUVs from 18 to 35 cm;
for passenger cars from 13 to 20 cm.

Next in line for the “breakdown”, and in the direction of travel, we have the oil pan. That's who gets it to the fullest. No, no, you’ll hear from a friend that he broke through the pan. And this is already a very expensive repair. The pan itself, changing the oil, or even worse, if you didn’t immediately notice the breakdown and drove for some significant distance without oil. Quite often, the clearance between the pan and the ground is even less than from the bumper. To be precise, it is not the pallet itself that sticks out, but its protection. But it’s better to let the ground clearance decrease slightly, by a few centimeters due to protection, than to drive at the risk of damaging the pan.

Here the values are almost the same:

for an SUV on average from 17 cm;
for a passenger car from 12 cm.

Elements of the front suspension of some cars (levers, rods) can also significantly reduce ground clearance. Don’t forget about the muffler with a resonator, which, although recessed into the bottom, can easily get caught on the road on some car models.

At one time, as the owner of a VAZ 2112 car, during a year of operation, I managed to puncture the gas tank three times. This is all to blame, of course, for the disgusting directions and also weak rear springs, because of which the ground clearance in the middle part of my car was indecently small, and at any opportunity I clung to obstacles with this element. After the third time, I was already seriously concerned about this issue (I still think, why not after the second), and I changed the springs along with the tank. I installed new ones from model 11, since it is half a turn longer. I really don’t know if this solved the problem, because I sold the car almost immediately.

Car clearance comparison table

Let's get back to talking about clearance. The comparison table below shows the difference between the ground clearance of passenger cars and large SUVs with increased clearance. These values are declared by the manufacturers in accordance with GOST, which defines ground clearance as the distance from the supporting surface to the lowest point in the central part of the car. With its help, you can easily compare the ground clearance of cars.

Passenger cars with the highest ground clearance are highlighted in bold.

How to change car clearance

The most win-win option was and remains to go to a car dealership, to the car market, and choose a vehicle with high ground clearance. And this is best timed to coincide with the spring melting of asphalt in our country, when high ground clearance will come in handy.

But seriously, there are several ways.

You can install wheels with a larger diameter. You might win an inch or two. True, this may affect the accuracy of instrument readings, such as the speedometer, but you still have to sacrifice something. It’s common practice for us to increase the diameter of the wheels until they fit in the arches. Don't fit? It’s not a sin to cut down the arches. One hunter I know, when “lifting” a cornfield, first sawed out and welded the arches, then changed the gearbox to a 4-mortar, since the standard one cannot withstand such radical changes. Even if it now howls at high speeds, even if it cannot reach the speed that it could before. The main thing is that she copes perfectly with the task that the owner entrusted to her (driving through forests and fields in search of game).

I have already mentioned the second method above. You can install reinforced springs, a higher strut, and various spacers, which can increase the clearance to one degree or another. This may affect the car's cornering stability, but it's not so critical that you don't want to try it. » alt=»»> Cars with variable ground clearance are now far from uncommon, but the cost of these cars is by no means for the middle class. Therefore, craftsmen come up with various mechanisms and designs. Here you have air suspensions of your own production, and screw struts with manual adjustment.

In a word, you just have to want, spend a little (a lot) of time and money, and solve the issue with the clearance of your car.

High vehicle clearance is a fairly significant advantage that sets such vehicles apart from cars with low ground clearance . After all, it is this indicator that largely affects the vehicle’s cross-country ability, which is especially important for those. who likes to drive not only on the highway and in the city, but also off-road. The very concept of clearance migrated to us from English.

This term refers to the distance from the lowest point in the car’s structure to its supporting surface. If you analyze the car clearance table, it becomes obvious that SUVs have the highest ground clearance (up to 35 centimeters), followed by crossovers (up to 27 cm), and passenger cars complete the list (up to 20 cm). Now in more detail about the machines themselves.

The best crossovers with high ground clearance

Crossovers are an excellent alternative to SUVs when you are looking for an economical car with high ground clearance.

In fact, they represent station wagons with increased ground clearance and all-wheel drive. With such a car, not only can you overcome any obstacle, in addition, it has excellent handling, especially in the cold season.

Volkswagen Touareg

The ground clearance of this German is 26.2 cm (previously it was 26.5 cm). At the same time, despite the reduction in ground clearance, the model demonstrates simply excellent cross-country ability. In addition, we are pleased with the rich equipment, as well as a large number of auxiliary options, thanks to which the driving process becomes even easier and more convenient. The advantages of the model include:

ease of control;
high driver position;
excellent assembly;
good engine dynamics;
innovative seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The model will cope perfectly with any suburban routes, which makes trips outside the city a pleasant experience. At the same time, such a car is well suited for daily use around the city.

Toyota RAV4

If you are looking for cars with a ground clearance above 170 mm, then you should take a closer look at the Toyota RAV4. The ground clearance here reaches as much as 197 millimeters. Perhaps not the largest figure in our rating, but the wheelbase is 266 cm. Other advantages of the model include:

the presence of front and rear disc brakes;
perfect handling;
huge salon;
2.5 liter engine, which is paired with automatic transmission.

Among the minuses, it is worth highlighting the high fuel consumption of the model (in the city it takes about 12 liters). There are no other significant shortcomings.

Audi Q7

The roomy and presentable crossover is distinguished by its huge dimensions. Externally, such a vehicle looks very impressive and menacing, so it bears little resemblance to a passenger car. The ground clearance only further enhances the impression - it reaches as much as 27 cm. Other advantages worth emphasizing:

all-wheel drive transmission with built-in Quattro system;
availability of all modern equipment;
high build quality.

There is nothing scary for the model in any road obstacles. Its quality is confirmed by the high sales of the car - in Europe it is the most popular model in its class.

Land Rover EVoque

But if you are looking for a stylish and fashionable car, then the Land Rover EVoque crossover will delight you with its eye-catching exterior, which will be remembered by everyone. In addition to the external design, it also has good ground clearance, which reaches 22 cm. The car is universal, perfect for both men and women. Other advantages include:

high-quality sound insulation;
fairly low fuel consumption (about 10.5 liters in the city, which is not so much for a crossover of this size);
comfortable and practical interior (inside you will find many useful functional options);
high-quality engine with a volume of 2.2 liters and a power of 190 horses.

At the same time, it is worth noting that the suspension is quite stiff, which is strongly felt while driving the car.

Video “Increasing front suspension clearance”

The recording shows how repair work is being carried out to raise the front suspension of the Renault Duster (20 mm).

To help a friend, work was done to select a new crossover, maybe it will come in handy for someone. What are the main requirements for this class of cars? 1. Automatic transmission 2. Engine power up to 200 hp 3. Ground clearance from 20 cm 4. All-wheel drive naturally 5. Trunk capacity 6. Cost of service and reviews 7. Well, accordingly the price is 1,000,000 rubles (+- 100,000 rubles ) 8. Fuel consumption 9. Fundamentally NEW.

Let's start analyzing. Let's look at a few examples and go through the alphabet: Audi Q3 - 1,460,000 - not suitable BMW X1 - 1,573,000 - not suitable Chevrolet Captiva - 1,192,000 - almost, but still not Citroen C-Crosser - 1,134,000 - almost, but There is no trust in the French. Citroen C4 Aircross - 1,019,000 - same answer, no trust

Ford Ecosport - 899,000 - a very interesting option, but now all-wheel drive is only manual (Ford Kuga - 1,230,000 - not suitable Honda CR-V - 1,269,000 - not suitable

Hyundai ix35 - 1,029,900 - 1,124,900 is already something.

Let's take a closer look 1. Automatic 6 speed is + 2. Power 150 hp is +, but a little more is possible 3. Ground clearance 17 cm is - 4. Fully pluggable, turns off automatically after 40 mph - this is more + than - 5 Trunk capacity 591 l 6. Cost of maintenance is average, quality is 4 out of 5. 7. 1,029,900 rubles - will remain for comprehensive insurance. 8. fuel consumption city / highway / mixed - 10.6 / 6.8 / 8.2 - these are, in theory, standard indicators.

KIA Sportage - 1,159,000 - can only be considered because of the diesel engine, the indicators are identical with the exception of 1. fuel consumption city / highway / mixed - 8.6 / 5.8 / 6.8 2. power - 136 hp.

Mazda CX-5 - 1,165,000 - rather no than yes

Mitsubishi ASX- 1,049,990 - 1,079,990 another candidate

Read more: Replacing the subframe of the Opel Vectra b

1. CVT 2. Power 150 hp is +, but a little more is possible 3. Ground clearance 19.5 cm is + 4. front with connected rear 5. Trunk 415 l 6. Cost of maintenance is above average, quality is 4 out of 5. 7. 1,079,990 rubles - back to back, you may have to pay extra for options. 8. fuel consumption city / highway / mixed - 10.5 / 6.8 / 8.1 - these are, in theory, standard indicators.

Mitsubishi Outlander - 1,149,990 - rather no than yes

Nissan Juke - 1,002,000-1,089,000 (the “smallest” of competitors)

- , not suitable for a family man. 6. The cost of service is above average, the quality is 4. 7. 1,089,000 rubles - for the maximum configuration this is + 8. fuel consumption city / highway / mixed - 10.2 / 6 / 7.6 - these are, in theory, standard indicators.

Nissan Qashqai - 1,116,000 - almost can be considered in the absence of other models in showrooms.

1. Power 144 hp 2. Ground clearance 20 cm 3. Trunk 430 l 4. fuel consumption city / highway / mixed - 9.6 / 6 / 7.3

Nissan X-Trail - 1,143,000 for the basic version, probably not

Opel Mokka - 1,010,000 - 1,080,000 not a bad option

1. Automatic 6 speed 2. Power 140 hp 3. Ground clearance 18 cm 4. front with connected rear 5. trunk 362 l - average 6. Cost of service above average, quality 3 (based on my own experience of communicating with Opel officials) 7 1,080,000 rubles - for the maximum configuration this is + 8. fuel consumption city / highway / mixed - no data

Peugeot 4008 - 1,109,000 was born in the wrong country.

Renault Duster - 692,000 - 804,000

1. Automatic 4 speed - this is - 2. Power 135 hp - not enough 3. Ground clearance 20.5 cm - this is + 4. front with connected rear 5. trunk 408 l - average 6. Maintenance cost is average, quality is 4 7 804,000 rubles - for the maximum configuration this is +, but the design and workmanship are -, safety is lower than that of rivals by 1-2 stars. 8. Fuel consumption city / highway / mixed - 11.3 / 7.2 / 8.7 - in practice it will be even higher, this is all an outdated engine and gearbox.

Skoda Yeti - 1,029,000

1. robotic (6 stages) 2. Power 152 hp, 9 seconds to hundreds - thanks to modern technologies 3. Ground clearance 18 cm 4. front with connected rear 5. trunk 405 l - average 6. Maintenance cost is high, quality is 4, 5 7. 1,037,000 rubles - for the average configuration, high quality workmanship. 8. fuel consumption city / highway / mixed - 10.6 / 6.8 / 8

SsangYong Actyon - 969 990 - 1 329 990

1. automatic (6 speeds) 2. Power 149 hp, no tax, choice of petrol and diesel 3. Ground clearance 18 cm 4. front with connected rear 5. trunk 486 l - average 6. Service cost is average, quality is poor 4 7. 969,990 rubles - for the average configuration, workmanship is above average. 8. fuel consumption city / highway / mixed - 10.9 / 7.2 / 8.5 Gasoline and 9.6 / 6.3 / 7.5 diesel

Read more: Connecting the cooling fan relay VAZ 2106

Subaru XV - 1,049,000

1. variator 2. Power 114 hp, not a bad tax, the weakest of competitors 3. Ground clearance 22 cm - leader in ground clearance 4. constant full 5. trunk 310 l - average 6. Maintenance cost is average, quality is 4 7 1,049,000 rubles - for the initial configuration, workmanship for solid 4. 8. fuel consumption city / highway / mixed - 9.7 / 5.9 / 7.3 (according to personal experience in the city no more than 10 liters)

Suzuki Grand Vitara 5d - 1,095,000

1. automatic (4 stages) 2. Power 140 hp, not a bad tax 3. Ground clearance 20 cm 4. front with connected rear 5. trunk 398 l - average 6. Cost of service above average, quality by 4 7. 1,095 000 rubles - for the initial configuration, workmanship for solid 4. 8. fuel consumption city / highway / mixed - 12.1 / 7.9 / 9.4 high consumption due to an outdated gearbox

Suzuki › SX4 - 969,000 - 1,059,000 (looks more like a regular hatchback)

1. variator 2. Power 117 hp, not a bad tax 3. Ground clearance 18 cm 4. front with connected rear 5. trunk 430 l - average 6. Cost of service above average, quality by 4 7. 1,059,000 rubles - for maximum configuration, workmanship is a solid 4. 8. fuel consumption city / highway / mixed - no data, I think at least 10 liters in the city

Toyota RAV4 - 1,143,000 almost but not.

Thus, let’s summarize briefly: There is a choice, with different characteristics, content and quality. Of course, the Subaru XV has the most off-road qualities, the fastest Nissan Juke, the cheapest Renault Duster, but soon Ford will compete with everyone, the rest of the models showed average. I give my preference to the SsangYong Actyon. What will you choose?

The external dimensions of an automobile are important, especially in urban environments, where you have to squeeze into narrow parking spaces between cars and maneuver through courtyards. In order to understand which size of car is compact and which is large, we have made a table with the sizes of crossovers.

The table of crossover dimensions continues the topic of choosing a crossover based on parameters and efficiency.

Some of the crossover length comparison results were a little surprising. For example, the seven-seater Skoda Kodiak was only 9 cm longer than the Toyota Rav4, but 21 cm longer than the Hyundai Tucson.

Hyundai Tucson 4480 mm

Volkswagen Tiguan 4486 mm

Ford Kuga 4524 mm

Toyota RAV4 4605 mm

Skoda Kodiaq 4697 mm

At the same time, the internal space in the cabin is not necessarily proportional to the external dimensions. There are many examples where the interior is more spacious in smaller cars. So, when studying the dimensions of a car, you need to understand that these are external dimensions that allow you to understand how much longer and wider your future car is than your current one and how much more difficult it will be to squeeze between other people’s cars left in the yard or to parallel park. It’s impossible to squeeze an Audi Q8 into a place where a Hyundai Creta just barely fit.

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Station wagons with high ground clearance

Such vehicles are suitable for people who prefer comfort and convenience when driving a car. And it doesn’t matter whether you are now moving around the city or off-road. The car will be an ideal option for any trip, including trips with the whole family.

Opel Zafira

A comfortable seven-seater car will be an indispensable choice for the whole family. A distinctive feature of the model is the presence of the Flex7 system, thanks to which you can change the interior space of the car at will. The ground clearance here reaches 16 cm. Other parameters can be emphasized:

good cornering ability;
spacious interior;
1.8-liter engine, which is paired with a manual gearbox;
Easy to maintain.

As a result, in the Opel Zafira we see an excellent car for the whole family.

Audi A4 allroad Quattro

This high-clearance station wagon is another good representative of the class. The ground clearance here is 18 cm. The presence of full permanent drive, as well as air suspension, further increases the vehicle's maneuverability.

There are several petrol and diesel engines available to choose from, reaching power from 170 to 240 horsepower. They can be paired with either a manual gearbox or a robotic gearbox.

Volvo XC70

The elegant and stylish station wagon received wide recognition from the public almost immediately after its release. Ground clearance reaches 20 cm, which is very respectable for station wagons.

At the same time, the car is quite comfortable, convenient and roomy. I am also pleased with the efficiency of the model.

Vehicles with high ground clearance

All tall cars can be divided into several categories, which will be distributed depending on the size of the car and its cost:
1. Small hatchbacks, which are equipped with a “package for bad roads”. They are universal and have a relatively low cost.

2. Crossovers. These cars have a fairly comfortable and spacious interior. Good to use, but their cost is slightly higher than that of hatchbacks.

3. "SUVs". Numerous vehicles, which in most cases have all-wheel drive. Their price is significantly higher than that of previous types.

4. SUVs. These are equipped with low gears and at the same time all-wheel drive. They often have a large volume, a respectable overall size, and a similar cost.

The first two categories correspond to the definition of a "tall car". This is due to the fact that developers usually do not include the function of driving a car off-road. That is why the price for this kind of cars is an order of magnitude lower than the price of the above vehicles, and they themselves are in quite high demand. Among this kind of “high cars” in all corners of the world, class B cars are very often found as sales leaders.

The best all-wheel drive minivan with high ground clearance

If we talk about minivans with high ground clearance, it is quite difficult to find a new car - most likely, you need to look on the secondary market. Despite this, there is quite a lot of interest in such vehicles, so some very good models can be found.

Citroen C8

One of the best options for regular travel. The ground clearance of the model reaches 19 cm, so you can drive it anywhere. Many also speak highly of the Citroen C8 due to its elegant exterior.

The inside of the cabin is quite spacious; if desired, you can conveniently adjust and move the seats back. The car also performs well on the move, while delighting with excellent handling. In principle, there is nothing more you could want from a car of this class.

Toyota Sienna

In our country, such a car is quite expensive, so there is not that much interest in the model. At the same time, if we talk about the characteristics of the vehicle, they are quite good. There is a wide range of power units to choose from, all of which demonstrate high reliability and quality.

There are both all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive models. The engines are paired with only an automatic gearbox, which many consider as a minus, but there are no complaints about the controls.

Renault Espace

The model's ground clearance reaches 12 cm. This large and comfortable car copes well with off-road conditions. It is also worth highlighting the spacious and comfortable interior, as well as the presence of a 1.9 liter diesel engine, which shows good power and dynamism.

High clearance sedans: the most popular models

Compactness and affordable cost have made such cars one of the most popular in our country. In addition, the models stand out for their attractive appearance, representativeness and ease of maintenance.

In addition, all-wheel drive sedans with high ground clearance demonstrate excellent cross-country ability.

Now we will discuss models that will delight us with their ground clearance.

Volkswagen Polo

The ground clearance of this model reaches 17 cm. Combined with high-quality assembly and excellent dynamics, this makes the car an excellent option for driving both on the streets and off-road. Among the main characteristics of the model it is worth highlighting:

engine with a volume of 1.6 liters and a power of 105 horsepower;
manual five-speed gearbox (or 6-speed robot);
good dynamics (with a manual you can take a hundred in 10.5 seconds).

Chevrolet Lanos

First of all, it is worth emphasizing the affordable cost of the model, especially if you look closely at the secondary market. Many people don’t like the design of the car, but this is a matter of taste and preference. In any case, a sedan with a ground clearance of 16 cm deserves your attention. In addition, the model pleases us:

1.5 liter engine and 86 horses;
high-quality five-speed transmission;
good dynamics (acceleration to 100 km/h will take 12.5 seconds);
quite comfortable fit.

At the same time, the car takes quite a lot of fuel - in city conditions, some models require about 10 l/100 km.

Toyota Camry

This high-clearance sedan has become an incomparable world leader in many respects. The machine pleases with its performance and excellent functionality. The design is classic, but this is only for the benefit of the car. It especially stands out for its high-quality assembly.

Of the main parameters, it is necessary to say about:

ground clearance of 16 cm;
convenient disembarkation and embarkation;
wide selection of high-quality motors;
excellent gearboxes that are designed to save fuel;
presentable appearance;
relatively low cost (about 998 thousand rubles).

An increased level of comfort allows you to enjoy traveling in a premium car even when purchasing the basic version.

Nissan Almera

To be honest, the ground clearance here is not that great - only 15 cm. At the same time, this is quite enough to feel comfortable in the city. On the other hand, the model has a lot of other positive qualities:

powerful 1.5-liter engine and 102 horses;
excellent dynamics (with mechanics, 100 km is taken in 10 seconds);
spacious fuel tank (50 l);
the ability to choose a model with automatic transmission or manual gearbox);
stylish appearance.

In addition, you need to take into account that this vehicle is a Japanese car, which indicates its quality and reliability. In addition, you can feel good in this Nissan even while driving with not very high-quality fuel.

Fiat Punto

This compact Italian car has a ground clearance of 16 cm and an economical engine. Main parameters:

1.3 liter engine and 85 horses;
five-speed manual transmission;
acceleration to hundreds in 13.1 seconds;
excellent efficiency (in the city it takes 4.4 liters, outside the city - 2.9 liters).

High clearance hatchbacks

Such vehicles are in great demand in our car market. First of all, they are distinguished by additional engine crankcase protection, as well as a body kit and attractive appearance. Now about models with the highest ground clearance .

Skoda Fabia Scout

A compact and cozy model, the ground clearance of which reaches 15 cm. This allows you to feel comfortable even when driving on roads with large holes. But since there is only front-wheel drive, you shouldn’t overuse travel through the wilds.

The 1.2 liter engine has a power of 105 horsepower. Good body kit pleases. The plastic bumper is practically scratch-resistant. The motor has good traction, so the driver can get a lot of positive emotions.

Opel Mokka

If you want to pick up a hatchback with high ground clearance, then take a closer look at the Opel Mokka. The ground clearance here reaches 17.5 cm. There are 3 gasoline engines to choose from, and all-wheel drive is also pleasing, even in the basic configuration.

In addition, it is worth highlighting quite good functionality and modern equipment. The cost is also relatively low - from 775 thousand rubles.

Suzuki SX4

This model also has a ground clearance of 17.5 cm. This is quite a decent figure for a hatchback. Our country is supplied with cars with a 1.6-liter engine and 112 horses.

Transmission options include either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. In general, a fairly good representative of the class.

Comparative table of car clearance

A comparative analysis of the ground clearance of various cars allows us to enclose all these values in a table, which is given in this material. The table will show the lowest and highest ground clearance values of all three groups of cars given earlier.

The list of SUVs characterized by the highest value should undoubtedly include the following: Land Rover Defender (25 cm under the front bumper, 43 cm under the fuel tank), UAZ Hunter (20.5/40 cm), Nissan Patrol Y62 ( 28.5/30.5 cm), Mercedes-Benz GL500 (28.5/29.7 cm), Volkswagen Touareg (26.5/30 cm).

As for SUVs and crossovers, the table can be explained by two criteria: cars with ground clearance less than 18 cm and more than the same value.

The first group includes the following models: Infiniti EX (14.7 cm), Honda CR-V and Nissan Juke (17 cm), Kia Sportage (17.2 cm), Lifan X60 (17.9 cm), Skoda Yeti and SsangYong Actyon (18 cm).

Second group: Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento (18.5 cm), Chery Tiggo and Suzuki SX4 (19 cm), Mitsubishi ASX (19.5 cm), Toyota RAV4 (19.7 cm), Suzuki Grand Vitara, Volkswagen Tiguan and Nissan Qashqai (20 cm), Renault Koleos (20.6 cm), Mazda CX-5, Nissan X-Trail and Renault Duster (21 cm), Range Rover Evoque (21.2 cm), Subaru Forester and Mitsubishi Outlander ( 21.5 cm), Subaru XV and Land Rover Freelander (22 cm).

The group of average passenger cars, the indicator of which is within 14-20 cm, includes the following: Chevrolet Cruze and Daewoo Matiz (15 cm), Kia Spectra (15.5 cm), Lada Kalina (15.8 cm), Chevrolet Lanos and Hyundai Solaris (16 cm), Volga GAZ-24 (17.4 cm), Hyundai ix35 (17.5 cm), VAZ-2110 (18 cm), Renault Sandero Stepway (19.5 cm).

The best small cars with high ground clearance

It is generally accepted that excellent cross-country ability and high ground clearance are the destiny of powerful SUVs. At the same time, there are also some small cars that can boast of their good characteristics.

Daewoo Matiz

The ground clearance here reaches 15 cm, and the wheelbase is 234 cm. In addition, we are pleased with the efficiency of the model, as well as the presence of an independent suspension. Other advantages can be emphasized:

presence of rear window heating function;
the ability to change the position of the headlights;
door lock function.

Perhaps not the most luxurious model, but for 300 thousand rubles. you are unlikely to find anything better.

Fiat 500

Everyone loved this legendary car. The three-door model with a ground clearance of 13 cm has become popular all over the world. The ground clearance is not too high, but for such a miniature vehicle it is quite enough. It will cost almost 2 times more than the Daewoo Matiz, but the functionality is much more solid. Including, the model has:

air conditioner;
airbags;
ABS and BAS.

The 1.2-liter engine delivers 6.2 liters in the city and demonstrates even greater efficiency on the highway. There is also a 1.4 liter power unit, which has improved dynamics.

The best crossovers with high ground clearance

High ground clearances of crossovers allow them to easily overcome curbs in the city, not be afraid of shallow holes and feel confident on light off-road conditions. In turn, low clearances of crossovers improve their handling at high speeds. The ideal solution is an adjustable ride height, which allows you to make the car completely universal. However, such an approach is technically complex and significantly increases the final cost of the machine.

Volvo XC90

Of the models on the market, the tallest crossover is, of course, the new generation mid-size Volvo XC90 (end 2014; RUB 3.27 million). Even with the basic spring suspension, its ground clearance is a respectable 237 mm. And in the version with air suspension in the “Off Road” mode (activated up to 40 km/h), its ground clearance increases to 267 mm.

The company claims that the new Volvo XC90 will be the safest crossover in the world. In particular, the developers equipped it with the following systems: City Safety (collision prevention at speeds up to 50 km/h), protection of passengers in the event of an unexpected departure from the road, lane control, collision avoidance while passing through an intersection, monitoring of “dead” zones, assistance parking, traffic sign recognition, rollover prevention, driver fatigue monitoring, rear collision protection, slow-traffic assist (or traffic jam cruise control), pedestrian, animal and cyclist detection (with automatic braking).

Volvo XC60

It is followed by another representative of the Scandinavians - the Volvo XC60. Both the first generation (2008-2013) of these mid-size crossovers and the second (2013; 2.29 million rubles) have a ground clearance of 230 mm. The car is equipped with the following systems:

City Safety, adaptive cruise control;
driver fatigue monitoring;
safe distance control;
parking assistance;
automatic dimming of the high beams when cars, cyclists or pedestrians appear;
assistance when reversing;
blind spot monitoring;
cyclist and pedestrian detection with automatic braking;
collision warning when driving on the highway;
lane control;
rollover protection;
pedestrian protection.

Subaru Forester

The ground clearance of the Subaru Forester (4th generation; 2013; RUB 1.41 million) is 220 mm. To the standard ABS and ESP, the company added collision avoidance systems, lane control and brake force redistribution, and cruise control.

Porsche Cayenne

The top five is completed by the mid-size Porsche Cayenne (2nd generation; RUB 3.51 million) with a ground clearance of 215 mm. Driving safety is ensured by a proprietary electronic stability control system (PSM), blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, traditional ABS, ESP and TCS.

At the end of this review, I would like to add that when choosing a car, the ground clearance should be taken into account comprehensively, along with other characteristics. After all, the cross-country ability of a car is affected not only by the ground clearance, but also by the dimensions of the wheelbase (the shorter the better), approach and departure angles (depending on the length of the overhangs), dimensions of the body and its elements (full-size crossovers with high ground clearance can sit on the “belly” where regular small cars will pass). Taking the ground clearance of SUVs and crossovers as a cornerstone indicator of cross-country ability, you can be severely disappointed in the purchased car on your first out-of-town trip.

Summing up

Good ground clearance means that the vehicle's maneuverability increases significantly. As a result, you can drive on any off-road without fear, without fear that the muffler or other elements located on the bottom of the vehicle will be damaged.

We have presented you with a list of models that are distinguished by good ground clearance, functionality and attractive appearance. All of them are perfect for driving around the city and for trips into nature.

Video review about high-clearance sedans:

Premium sedans

If we evaluate sedan cars based on their ride height, the following stand out:

Renault Latitude;
Toyota Camry;
Nissan Teana;
Opel Insignia.

All presented all-wheel drive sedans with high ground clearance belong to business class cars. They are presentable, have fully equipped interiors, and are also safe to travel.

Renault Latitude

Car made by French manufacturers. It is the leader among presentable cars in terms of ground clearance. In all other respects, the Latitude is average.

Ground clearance in some models reaches up to 160 mm, which indicates a high level of cross-country ability. The engine capacity is 2-2.5 liters, which allows it to produce up to 177 horsepower.

The transmission is automatic 6-speed. Some models have the CVT option. The manufacturer guarantees a long service life and a high level of wear resistance of each component of the unit.

Car price offer from 1,000,000 rubles. When fully equipped, the cost of a car can reach up to 1,500,000 rubles.

Toyota Camry

Consider a sedan with all-wheel drive and high ground clearance. All technical characteristics of the unit are excellent, thanks to which the car can become a competitor to almost every reputable vehicle.