Auto high ground clearance economical. All-wheel drive sedans with high ground clearance. Video “Increasing front suspension clearance”

First, a few words about the measurement technique itself. Each car passes this part of the tests without a driver or passengers, but with a full fuel tank. If the car is equipped with air suspension, the ground clearance is taken into account in all body positions: standard, maximum lowered and raised.

Columns “a”, “b” and “c” are three measurement points: under the engine compartment, in the middle of the car, and the lowest point at the rear of the car, respectively. Any test of crossovers or all-terrain vehicles contains this scheme.

Let's start with crossovers. Full-size and compact, premium and budget - it doesn’t matter. Today, based on the results of tests conducted over the past three years, we will find out whose ground clearance is higher. Important: some models are not in our table (for example, Mercedes-Benz GLS), which means that it simply did not participate in the tests.

		Distance under engine compartment(mm)	Distance under bottom center (mm)	Distance under lowest point at the back(mm)
Premium crossovers
	BMW X5 XDrive 40d
	BMW X5 XDrive 50i
	Mercedes-Benz ML500	190 (standard)
	Porsche Cayenne Turbo	255 (standard)
		230 (standard)
		245*(standard) 290* (max.)
9	Volkswagen Touareg	200 (standard)
Premium mid-size crossovers
	Land Rover Discovery Sport
	Land Rover Freelander 2
	Mercedes-Benz GLC 300
Premium compact crossovers
Full-size crossovers
	Ford Explorer Sport
	Nissan Pathfinder
Mid-size crossovers
	Chevrolet Captiva
	Hyundai Tucson (2.0 l, petrol)
	Hyundai Tucson (1.6 l, petrol)
	Geely Emgrand X7
	Great Wall Hover H6
	Kia Sportage old
	Kia Sportage new
	Mitsubishi Outlander
	SsangYong Actyon
	Toyota RAV4 (2.0 l, petrol)
	Toyota RAV4 (2.5 l, petrol)
	Volkswagen Tiguan
Compact crossovers
Budget crossovers
	Lada Kalina Cross

* For engine protection

Among premium crossovers, the Range Rover Sport 5.0L turned out to be the highest, but the Swedish new product of 2015, the Volvo XC90, is coming on its heels. By the way, the “Swede” has three body positions, while the Range and its German competitors have two. The victory among premium in the mid-size segment went to another “Swede” - the Volvo XC60 T5. The Porsche Macan S approaches it, but even in the raised Off-Road position it is slightly lower. Finally, the Range Rover Evoque, as expected, became the most all-terrain compact premium crossover. Still, the name obliges.

Toyota Highlander won the full-size crossover class. In the test, it was not only the highest, but also demonstrated excellent off-road qualities for a crossover.

Now the most numerous class is mid-size crossovers. The competition here is the toughest! Some cars, like the Luxgen 7 SUV and Chevrolet Captiva, have already officially left the Russian market. But since they took part in our tests, we included them in the table.

So, in this class there are two “Japanese” leaders at once. These are Subaru XV and Forester. The geometric cross-country ability parameters are similar, but the XV has engine protection, which brought it ahead. Renault Koleos and Mazda CX-5 showed good results.

In the class of compact crossovers, the winner is the Russian-assembled “American” - Ford EcoSport. It is without protection, but 200 mm of ground clearance is an excellent result. Finally, in the budget segment, the Renault Sandero Stepway celebrates its victory, just slightly ahead of the Lada Kalina Cross pseudo-crossover. Still, under the engine shield, Stepway’s distance to the ground is a little, but greater.

Crossovers with the highest ground clearance Crossovers with the highest ground clearance

A car is designed to travel on the road. But lately we have to do this off-road, and sometimes it’s difficult to determine where one ends and the other begins. Therefore, such a car characteristic as ground clearance is of increased interest among car owners. This article shows the dimensions in a comparative table of vehicle clearance, but first, of course, you should understand what it is and what functions it performs.

Clearance is explained by GOST as the distance between such parts of the car as the supporting surface and the lowest point of the central part of the entire structure. Simply put, this is the distance that separates the prospect of damaging the lowest part of the car and the road surface. More often, this concept can be heard in such a form as ground clearance - it is more understandable, easier to remember and therefore used with great pleasure.

The amount of ground clearance is a very important characteristic for any car, as it significantly affects stability at high speed, cross-country ability, and maneuverability. And these, without a doubt, are the indicators that can demonstrate the car in the best light. As for cross-country ability, it can be increased along with an increase in value. By the way, this can be done while driving – on some cars.

As a rule, ground clearance is indicated in millimeters, sometimes also in centimeters. It is also common practice to notify car owners about two values ​​- clearance under the front and rear axles. Sometimes they even indicate the clearance that is under the engine crankcase.

To make it easier to characterize clearance, in the future, using a table, a conditional classification of this characteristic should be given. In general, ground clearance can be divided into three categories: high (SUVs and SUVs), medium (crossovers and SUVs), small (passenger cars). And now regarding the specific values ​​of ground clearance under the front bumper:

1. 20-35 cm for SUVs.
2. Not less than 18 cm and not more than 25 cm for SUVs.
3. 14-20 cm for cars.

As for the oil pan, these are the following values:

• From 20 cm for SUVs;
• From 17 to 21 cm for SUVs;
• From 12 to 17 cm for passenger cars.

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).

A separate category of “passenger cars” whose ground clearance exceeds 20 cm includes: Renault Duster and SsangYong Kyron (21 cm), Ford Explorer (21.1 cm), Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (22.5 cm), and UAZ breaks all records -469 with a value of 30 cm.

Speaking about the highest ground clearance values, it should be noted such a serial vehicle as a row crop tractor. Their clearance can reach 50-70 cm, and for special ones even 200 cm.

This comparative analysis showed that ground clearance is an individual indicator for each car. Despite the fact that, depending on the purpose of the car, its dimensions and other features, ground clearance can be combined into three groups, this distribution is still conditional. Primarily due to the fact that, depending on the model, ground clearance, for example, in passenger cars can reach values ​​even higher than in crossovers. Therefore, before buying another new car, car enthusiasts are advised to check the clearance values ​​- this is in their own interests.

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).

Meanwhile, hatchbacks with high ground clearance are in particular demand, which is understandable: high ground clearance increases the vehicle's cross-country ability, allowing it to easily overcome all sorts of obstacles - and with our roads this skill is absolutely priceless! That is why today's article is devoted to hatchbacks with high ground clearance.

Ford Fusion

It would be reasonable to start our review with this model as one of the most famous among tall hatchbacks. It first began being produced in 2002 in Geneva, after which it quickly gained popularity far beyond its borders. And for good reason - this high-quality and affordable car seems to be created for trouble-free off-road driving!
The undoubted advantages of this model include a spacious, comfortable interior, a fairly low cost, an increased level of safety and high ground clearance - at least 185 millimeters!

Opel Mokka

In connection with the conversation about tall hatchbacks, this model cannot be ignored - for obvious reasons. The mini-crossover, whose debut took place again at the Geneva Motor Show in 2012, pleases the eye with its impressive design, on which more than one German auto artist has worked hard. In addition to its appearance, it boasts a lot of technical advantages - increased ground clearance (200 mm), a plastic body kit and fairly small overhangs.

Volkswagen GrossPolo

The presentation took place in the fall of 2005 at the German auto show, where Grosse Polo won universal recognition. The traditional hatchback version is distinguished by increased ground clearance (by 1.5 cm), a plastic body kit and roof rails. Among the innovations we can also highlight the modified appearance of the headlights, silver-plated mirrors and the presence of personalized stickers on the sides of the car. Fans of powerful and strong cars will also be attracted by the catchy sporty design of this model.

Chevrolet Aveo

The hatchback debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 2010. In terms of technical characteristics, this model is significantly superior to its predecessors - its road capability has significantly increased due to the high ground clearance (150 mm!), and the design has become brighter and more aggressive.

Toyota Corolla

It was even listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the best-selling car in the world. Compared to previous generations, this model has a taller body, a more refined appearance, and a higher seating position for passengers and drivers.

Cars with high ground clearance have significant advantages over cars with low ground clearance. The word itself came to us from the English language. Ground clearance is the distance from the lowest point in the vehicle structure to the supporting surface. The lowest point is located in the central area of ​​the car's bottom, many car owners get confused, and I consider the car's bumper to be the starting point. This is not true. Mudguards and wheels are not included in the control zone. Therefore, it is so important to take into account the central rectangle between the inner surfaces of the wheels as a reference point.

The significance and all the advantages of a car with high ground clearance can hardly be overestimated. Today, many Russian car enthusiasts dream of getting behind the wheel of a car that will not be afraid of snowdrifts and already annoying potholes on the highway. Cars with high ground clearance practically do not suffer from damage to the bumper, components and assemblies located under the bottom. But in times of crisis, many people cannot afford such cars. Let's try to find out which cars can rightfully consider themselves leaders in this segment, while combining high ground clearance and an affordable price.

High clearance sedans

Sedan cars are most widespread throughout Europe. Such cars have a presentable appearance and are convenient to move around a densely populated city. For many people, vacations outside the city fade into the background, but in everyday city life, a sedan with high ground clearance is becoming increasingly important for them. After all, sometimes you have to park along the curb, and the level of asphalt in big cities is not always of high quality.

Hyundai Solaris

The Hyundai Solaris sedan has a good ground clearance of 160 mm. For cars with this type of body, the ground clearance varies from 14 to 20 cm. Hyundai Solaris is loved by domestic car owners due to its attractive appearance, comfortable and spacious interior.

The car has excellent dynamic characteristics. Other benefits of Solaris include:

• Option to choose from a 1.6-liter or 1.4-liter engine. The first produces a power of 123 hp, and the second version of the engine has a power of 107 horsepower;
• Independent front suspension with McPherson struts;
• Low fuel consumption - 5 liters per 100 km on the highway, and 7.6 in city mode;
• Possibility of choosing a 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic transmission.

Of course, this car has taken a strong position in its segment, and it is likely that it will remain there for a long time.

The advantage of this car is its low price. You can always find great options on the secondary market. However, many are scared off by the design of the car, therefore, Chevrolet Lanos did not live up to expectations. But a sedan with a ground clearance of 160 mm definitely deserves a portion of attention.

Chevrolet Lanos boasts:

• 1.5 liter engine and 86 horsepower;
• Reliable 5-speed gearbox;
• Acceleration to 100 km in 12.5 s;
• Volumetric interior;
• Comfortable seating.

The car is not without its shortcomings. Many are unhappy with Chevrolet Lanos. You can find reviews online that say that Lanos consumes about 10 liters in city mode.

Japanese high-end car with high ground clearance. The Nissan Almera has a lot of advantages over its competitors, but the ground clearance is only 15 centimeters. But this is quite enough for a comfortable ride within the city.

It is worth noting the following advantages of Nissan Almera:

• Powerful 1.5-liter engine with 102 horsepower;
• Acceleration to hundreds with manual transmission in 10 seconds;
• Volume tank – 50 liters;
• Option to choose between a 5-speed manual transmission and a 4-speed automatic transmission;
• Executive design.

It is also worth considering that this is a Japanese car, which means reliability and durability. Nissan Almera copes well with the harsh Russian climate and low fuel quality.

SUVs with high ground clearance

Outside the city, an SUV copes best with off-road conditions. This is an excellent tool for overcoming obstacles in your path. But it’s very difficult to “feed” such a monster in a crisis. But you can’t argue with the fact that an SUV’s high ground clearance is an honor for the car and the owner.

Chevrolet TrailBlazer

A real giant on wheels. Ground clearance is as much as 255 mm. With such a car there are no obstacles to fear. Plus, the wheelbase is phenomenal – 2845 mm. The Chevrolet TrailBlazer combines all the properties of a true mountain conqueror.

A high-quality interior, a powerful engine and a striking appearance make the TrailBlazer one of the most sought-after representatives in its segment.

Chevrolet Niva

This is an excellent family car. Plus, the Chevrolet Niva is an excellent guide when going fishing or hunting.

Let's note the advantages of Niva:

• Availability. A car can be purchased for 510 thousand rubles;
• Ground clearance – 200 mm;
• Good handling, all-wheel drive;
• High-torque engine, presence of differential.

So to speak, the Chevrolet Niva is the best option for those who like to go out into nature with the whole family and visit the far north.

List of high clearance crossovers

Crossovers are putting up a worthy fight to SUVs. In themselves they are station wagons and have high ground clearance. A distinctive feature of the crossover can be considered its excellent handling in the winter season. A prestigious crossover with high ground clearance is worth its weight in gold today.

A true fashionista among crossovers. Land Rover E-Voque has a striking exterior design and a ground clearance of 22 centimeters. The car is perfect for men and women.

Other advantages:

• High-quality sound insulation;
• Efficiency – 10.5 liters in the city, which is a decent indicator for a car of this class;
• Practical interior, high-quality finishing, the presence of various functional features;
• Availability of a high-quality engine: 2.2 liters, 190 horsepower.

But there is also a significant drawback - the stiff suspension, which is quite noticeable on a car of this kind.

You can drive a Toyota RAV4 through any terrain, because the ground clearance is as much as 19.7 centimeters.

Yes, not too much, but what a wheelbase - as much as 2660 mm

Let's highlight the advantages of the machine:

• Front and rear disc brakes;
• Perfect handling;
• Huge salon;
• Engine 2.5 liters, automatic transmission.

Many Toyota RAV4 owners note the high consumption of the car. In urban conditions, in some cases, per 100 km, you will need as much as 12 liters of fuel.

Station wagons with high ground clearance

Universal cars speak for themselves - they are ready for any road surface. Such machines are perfect for those who do not sit in one place. An excellent option for those who like to travel with the whole family.

Opel Zafira

A comfortable car that can accommodate seven passengers. The “feature” of the model is the Flex7 system, with its help you can change the interior space of the car to any size within the body structure.

Let's note the following trump cards of the Opel Zafira:

• Spacious interior;
• Excellent cornering ability, acceptable sound insulation, minimal roll;
• Availability of a 1.8-liter engine paired with a manual transmission;
• Ease of repair and maintenance;
• Ground clearance - 16 centimeters.

We get a decent car for family car enthusiasts.

The elegant Volvo XC70 station wagon was liked by many when it was born. The high ground clearance in the new model is also pleasing – as much as 20 centimeters. In 2015, a version of the car with a turbodiesel engine appeared, which increased the number of car sales.

The owner of a Volvo XC70 will have at his disposal a practical, economical car with all the latest technological innovations.

List of minivans with high ground clearance

An exotic type of car for Russia, but passing by minivans, especially those with high ground clearance, is simply unacceptable. Interest in such cars is growing every year, so we have selected the best cars from this class.

The ground clearance of this vehicle is 120 mm. Renault Espace is a large and comfortable car that is not afraid of off-road conditions. Many people prefer the Renault Espace due to its spacious and comfortable interior. The 1.9 liter diesel engine has excellent power and speed characteristics.

Many people call Renault Espace nothing more than a “cruising yacht”. This is the best high ground clearance minivan available today.

This is a real traveler car. The car's ground clearance is 190 mm, which means you can drive such a car to visit relatives even in the far north. Many people fell in love with this French minivan due to its exterior. The inside of the cabin is cozy and spacious, it is possible to adjust the seats, move them, move them back.

The driving performance of the car is at a high level, good handling, in general, what else does a real traveler need?

Hatchbacks with high ground clearance

Hatchbacks are compact and visually attractive. These cars are in high demand among domestic car enthusiasts. But sometimes the ground clearance of such cars is not very good for our roads. But there are models with high ground clearance.

A compact and cozy hatchback with a ground clearance of 15 centimeters. With such a car, road potholes are not scary. The drive is only front-wheel drive, so driving into deep jungle with such a car is not recommended. The car is equipped with only one type of engine – 1.2 TSI, and the power is 105 horses. A distinctive feature can be considered a good body kit of the car; the bumper is made of durable plastic, it is very difficult to scratch it.

The engine is torquey, driving such a car you get only positive emotions, which is what most Scoda Fabia Scout owners note online. If there are more such cars, then we can say with confidence that hatchbacks with high ground clearance are capable of winning a huge army of fans.

Reliability is the middle name of the Suzuki SX4. For Russians, a car version with a 1.6-liter engine is available. The output is a power motor with a power of 112 horses. As for the transmission, the client holds all the cards. You can choose a configuration with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic transmission.

The car's ground clearance is 17.5 centimeters, which is quite decent for a vehicle as a representative of the hatchback class.

Small cars with high ground clearance

Small cars destroy all stereotypes. After all, many believe that high ground clearance is for the real giants of the road - SUVs. But, as practice has shown, small cars are capable of combining efficiency, practicality, reliability and high ground clearance. Let us highlight the main representatives from this segment.

The ground clearance of the Daewoo Matiz is about 150 mm, the wheelbase is 2340 mm, independent suspension and low consumption are a bonus for the car owner.

This cozy car is also different:

• Availability;
• Mechanical capability;
• Door lock.

Yes, there is no luxury to be found here. But at a very affordable price of 300 thousand rubles, this is a decent and pleasant set of functions.

A true legend from Fiat. This model is loved by many. Fiat 500 is a three-door hatchback with a ground clearance of 130 mm. Not too much, but enough for a miniature car. The car costs twice as much as the Daewoo Matiz, but it already comes with other functionality in various trim levels.

Fiat 500 is distinguished by the presence of:

• Air conditioning;
• Airbags;
• , B.A.S.

A small 1.2-liter gasoline engine consumes about 6.2 liters in urban conditions. Much less on the highway. You can purchase a Fiat 500 with a 1.4-liter engine, which has impressive speed performance.

Due to the fact that almost every family has a car, and some have more than one, there is less and less space for parking in our cities, while the quality of roads leaves much to be desired. Therefore, many city motorists, when choosing a new car, prefer hatchbacks with. Let's look at what cars in this segment the market offers us today.

Renault Sandero Stepway

In 2015, Renault released an updated version of the Sandero Stepway, significantly increasing ground clearance.

The highest ground clearance of a hatchback today is 195 cm. It belongs to Renault Sandero Stepway - this is a car with the makings of an SUV, it will not let you down either in the city or on a country road. Next comes Ford Fusion, with its 180 cm, but new ones are not on sale in our market. Third place was honorably taken by the Lada Priora, after all, it was made for our roads - the ground clearance is 165 cm. The ground clearance of the Nissan Tiida is slightly lower, it is 163 cm (also discontinued for our country). The top five sales leaders on the Russian market are the Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio with a ground clearance of 160 cm.

Availability

Domestic Lada-Priora

The most budget version of a high-clearance hatchback is the domestic Lada Priora.

The most inexpensive of the high-clearance hatchbacks, of course, is the domestic car Lada Priora - its price in the minimum configuration is about 440 thousand rubles.
Of the foreign-made cars, the most affordable hatchbacks with high ground clearance are the Kia Rio and Hyundai Solaris. They will cost more than the Priora by about 80 thousand rubles, but for this money you will get both air conditioning and music. The interior of the cabin cannot be compared at all. It’s not for nothing that these cars conquered the market of our country and became the favorites of Russians.
The Sandero Stepway will cost 200 thousand more than the Lada. But you will also get a mini-crossover for this money.

What other choice?

Seat Altea 4 Freetrack

The hatchback (and for some, a compact van) with the highest ground clearance that is supplied to Russia is the Seat Altea 4 Freetrack with its 176 millimeters under the bottom, unattainable for other representatives of the class. Our market comes in 5 modifications with gasoline (125 hp - 211 hp) or diesel (105 hp - 170 hp) engines with a manual or robotic gearbox and all-wheel drive.
Our list does not include such cars of this class as: Volkswagen Cross Polo, Volvo V40 Cross Country, Kia Soul, only because, alas, they are not popular in our country.
In conclusion, we would like to add that a hatchback with high ground clearance is a godsend in our country for residents of megacities, where it has become a problem to find a free parking space. And it’s very nice that such cars are represented quite widely in the low-price segment.