Cars with Highest Ground Clearance in India with Good Suspension. Best among Hatchback, Sedan and SUV Segment from Ground Clearance Perspective
Ground Clearance in a layman language is the shortest distance between the road surface and under body car part. Its taken as something so that car can cross bad roads, potholes at ease without scraping the underbody.
Car Buyers in present age seek cars with High Ground Clearance. However - comparing 2 Cars
Shocking Fact: Chances are that Car A with 170 mm Ground Clearance can scrape in Under-Body on Potholes. while Car B with 165 mm Ground Clearance may not and you will always complain with Car A and may never for Car B.
Reason: Its incorrect to take Ground Clearance as stand alone factor. Rather is always a combination of 3 Factors:
which always matters and plays significant role. If a car has soft suspension and even has higher ground clearance - expect underbody to scrape as against other car having balanced suspension but lesser ground clearance.
So, Before you get on to High Ground Clearance Car - pls read on Wheelbase and Suspension
Wheelbase: is like the distance between the center of front tyres to center of rear tyres. A car with longer wheelbase gives sufficient legroom space in the cabin along with better driving control and lesser fatigue. Comparing 2 Cars with Similar Ground Clearance - but with different wheelbase - can have much different handling characterstic - due to suspension and shockers.
Suspension System: Built up of Combination of Shockers, Link Rod, Lower Arm, Springs - that connects a vehicle to Wheel of The car and thus determines the Handling of the Vehicle. A Car with Soft Suspension despite of raised ground clearance although will deliver in slight plush ride but will likely scrape if driven on speed as the springs (shocker) which support the weight will compress more. Generally, has longer spring
Suspension: Suspension Plays a Critical Role. A Car with High Ground Clearance but with Soft Suspension can scrape in Under-Body on Potholes as against a car with relative stiff suspension but with slight lower ground clearance can better take on bad roads on higher speed with better cornering as against Car with Soft Suspension.
For Instance - Renault Kwid comes with Segment Best Ground Clearance at 184 mm. But this car comes with Soft Suspension, and if loaded with 4 People on board can possibly scrape underbody when driven on potholes.
While Soft Suspension provides plush driving in City, Stiff Suspension is considered for High Speed Dynamics. Car Companies tries to create equilibrium to provide the best of Handling Aspect by creating the best among too.
Wheel Base: Maruti Celerio comes with Ground Clearance of 165 mm and Honda City too has 165 mm Ground Clearance. Despite both Cars having same Ground Clearance - still Expect Celerio to perform better here in terms of clearing Potholes due to Wheelbase Difference.
Despite of same Ground Clearance, Celerio with Wheelbase of 2425 mm will perform better to prevent underbody to scrape against Honda City which comes with Wheelbase of 2600 mm.
A Car with Short wheelbase will not hump as much as what City can do and are easier to maneuver, but a Car with Long Wheelbase like Honda City will feel more Stable
Net All - Think of this way. There are 4 People sitting in the Car - the car due to its shockers and suspensions jumps a bit on speed-breaker and settle down with shocks and springs going down, if the car has longer wheelbase and slight soft suspension, the car center body can scrap with the speed breaker or patch - due to shocker going down.
In Net Off - It actually should go in proportion, if the car has longer wheel base then ground clearance again should be on higher side. Its not a straight forward comparison to just check Ground Clearance of 2 cars on relative basis. But - on general - 170 mm+ Ground Clearance is Ideal considering Indian Conditions - to take on all high speed breakers, potholes etc. on most of Indian roads
Considering Indian Roads with High Speed Breakers, Relative larger Potholes in Upcountry roads - a Ground clearance of 170 mm+ is considered apt for taking on roads at ease.
Still below are the Hatchback Cars and Entry Crossover with Segment Best Ground Clearance in 2023 on Indian Roads
Segment | Model | Ground Clearance |
Entry Hatchback / Entry Crossover | Renault Kwid | 184 mm |
Maruti S Presso | 180 mm | |
Mid Hatchback | Tata Tiago NRG | 181 mm |
Maruti Ignis | 180 mm | |
Tata Tiago (Regular Models) | 170 mm | |
Premium Hatchback | Maruti Baleno | 170 mm |
Toyota Glanza | 170 mm | |
Crossover | Maruti Fronx | 190 mm |
Tata Punch | 187 mm | |
Hyundai Exter | 185 mm |
Disclaimer: These are UnLaden Ground clearance numbers (Laden Ground clearance will be lower by almost 20% depending on suspension tuneup)
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Below are Sedan cars with Comparison of Ground Clearance Factor
Sedan Cars | Model | Ground Clearance |
Sedan | Skoda Slavia & VW Virtus | 180 mm |
Tata Tigor | 170 mm | |
Maruti Ciaz | 170 mm | |
Hyundai Aura | 165 mm | |
Honda City | 165 mm | |
Hyundai Verna | 165 mm | |
Maruti Dzire | 163 mm |
Below are SUV cars with Highest Ground Clearance as reported in India having ground clearance above 190 mm in India.
Disclaimer: These are UnLaden Ground clearance numbers (Laden Ground clearance will be lower by almost 20% depending on suspension tuneup)
Segment | Model | Ground Clearance |
Adventure SUV - Real SUV | Toyota Hilux | 240 mm (Estimated as official figures not available) |
Mahindra Thar | 226 mm | |
Isuzu V Cross | 225 mm | |
Maruti Jimny | 210 mm | |
Force Gurkha | 205 mm | |
Compact SUV & Cross | Kia Sonet | 211 mm |
Tata Nexon | 209 mm | |
Mahindra XUV300 | 200 mm | |
Maruti Brezza | 198 mm | |
Hyundai Venue | 190 mm | |
Maruti Fronx | 190 mm | |
Honda WRV | 188 mm | |
Mid SUV & Cross | Honda Elevate | 220 mm |
Toyota Hyryder | 208 mm | |
Maruti Grand Vitara | 208 mm | |
Tata Harrier | 205 mm | |
Mahindra XUV700 | 200 mm | |
MG Hector | 192 mm | |
Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos | 190 mm | |
Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun | 188 mm | |
Mahindra Scorpio N | 187 mm | |
MG Astor | 180 mm | |
Maruti S Cross | 180 mm | |
MPV | Mahindra Marazzo | 190 mm |
Toyota Innova Hycross | 185 mm | |
Renault Triber | 182 mm | |
Maruti Ertiga, XL6 | 180 mm | |
Premium SUV | Citroen C5 Aircross | 230 mm |
Isuzu Mux | 220 mm | |
Toyota Fortuner | 220 mm | |
Hyundai Tucson | 192 mm | |
Volkswagen Tiguan | 189 mm | |
Jeep Compass | 178 mm |
One of the ways to Increase Ground Clearance of a car is through Tyre Upsize
and Calculate Easily is the Tyre Fit for Upsize with Proposed Gain in Ground Clearance of Car
Calculate Tyre Size with Best Upsize | ![]() |
But Still Why do Car Companies have Models with Low Ground Clearance ?
Reason - 1: Cars with High Ground Clearance can at sometimes gives a feel of Body Roll. While - Low Ground Clearance helps in lowering down the center of gravity of car with relative shorter springs. This aids in better handling of car.
As you might have noticed - all International and High End Luxury Cars - have lower ground clearance - this is due to giving optimum focus on drive and handling part of car.
Car Manufacturers tries to keep an optimum Proportion of Ground Clearance with Wheelbase
Reason - 2: Because GST is higher in SUV Cars having Length > 4 Meter, Engine > 1.5 Litre and Raised Ground Clearance of 170 mm+. Some Models like:-
But its Unladen Ground Clearance. If you put on Laden Ground clearance (which is like fully loaded) will come under 170 mm. as some bars are underneath / stone Guard so as to prevent higher tax. Although these Models can well cross on almost any Indian Road
Reason - 3: Unrelated to Car Manufacturer, its the change in way Ground Clearance is now computed by ARAI. Earlier it used to be in Unladen Condition, now with Laden Condition
Comments 32
Kaise hai aap sir g.
any plans of coming to mumbai. i do not know if you have done any shoot in mumbai. please do come,check out the road conditions. pls do a test drive on the main roads of mumbai and suggest which car. all presenters do test drive on good clean roads. hope to see you one day in mumbai. god bless you for the good show and information. god bless you abundantly.
Nissan magnite -205mm ?
Jeep compass Diesel ground clearance
Hi, can you please suggest me a premium sedan with higher ground clearance? My budget is 20-30L. Location: Mumbai and prefer a petrol automatic
is it necessary to take RTO sanction if you want to attach step to board the car, particularly required in case of SUV like Nexon or Brezza?
I want a car for hilly roads upto 15 lakhs. Pl suggest.
I want a car for hilly roads upto 15 lakhs. Please suggest.
Go for Thar , Or Nexon
I want to buy used Honda city diesel.y monthly running near 1000km. Plz suggest is it worth buying option or go with another.
Go with Petrol option only , Low Maintenance , Better resale , 15year validity
Tax proportion to Length of car makes sense. To me tax on Axle weight, ground clearance, height, colour, cast, religion, full pant-Half pant (non convertible VS convertible) makes no sense. People will argue why not axle weight for Tax. My answer no car axle load more than trucks and buses and roads are designed for it. Strictly it should be applicable only for Commercial vehicle who load in excess of axle load and destroy roads making our Police- Local politicians -IPS All happy and Truck driver unhappy
Can you suggest a good ground clearance automatic car range between 15 to 20 lakhs
I Want A Car That Replace Polo Because Of Clearance I Am Thinking Of Buying Ertiga Top Model.
Top thinking.. even i have same in Red color
Am in confused state which one to choose..
Decided to buy Swift or Altroz mid varient. Not able to finalize because of ---
#Swift- low built quality/unsafe. 165mm ground clearance with wheelbase is 2450mm
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#Altroz- 165mm ground clearance with wheelbase 2501mm. Resale value is less. But car safety is good.
It's a no brainer, go for Altroz. Tata has recently developed and improved a lot in quality.
I'm planny to buy SUV @10 L..PLZ SUGGEST BEST CAR
For Indian road conditions and better performance Ford ecosport is the only suitable choice for common people.
I want replace my Hyundai Xcent Car to buy best ground clearance and mileage petrol xuv or sedan BS 6 car under the price up-to 7 lakhs. please suggest.
Go with Renault Triber , it'll meet your expectations,in terms of ground clearance , adjustable boot space, comfort, energy engine, milage, audio system, display unit, car length etc. See specifications with price which will be helpful to you to get your desired varient.