Going around a hurdle is the easiest way to get past it. However, this isn’t always possible. You may need to go through it again at times.
Not all of North America’s highways are gleaming slabs of flat, smooth asphalt. Some are run-down, collapsing nightmares with craters, and we’ve only covered the interstates thus far.
There are also the winding dirt roads that lead to a hidden fishing hole, a cottage, or a hunting hut in the woods. Washboard surfaces, exposed rocks, fallen trees, and rain washouts abound on these routes. Highest Ground Clearance SUV Cars.
A bit more drivetrain-saving ground clearance is helpful when traversing such a surface. Despite the fact that the term SUV is used more than class-leading in the automobile sector, not all SUVs are created equal.
Some are built for off-road activities, while others are suited to explore the Forest Lake Trail to its full extent.
The latter are the ones we’re interested in, particularly those with the lowest ground clearance.
To assist shoppers, we looked at eleven crossover and SUV classes and identified the vehicles with the highest minimum ground clearance.
So keep reading to find out which utility vehicles can overcome the most difficult difficulties.
Top 11 highest ground clearance SUV
1. Jeep Renegade Trailhawk – 8.7 inches
Jeep is famed for its off-road capabilities, so it’s no surprise that the company’s smallest model boasts the highest available ground clearance. Surprisingly, it just narrowly outperforms the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport’s 8.5-inch ground clearance. In actuality, only the Renegade Trailhawk has the extra height to reach 8.7 inches, while the rest of the model’s variations are only 8.0 inches or less.
2. Subaru Crosstrek – 8.7 inches
Moving up a class, we have another brand known for producing off-road capable vehicles. Although the Subaru Crosstrek has the same 8.7-inch ground clearance as the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk, unlike the Jeep, every Crosstrek trim level has the same basic ride height. Although the Compass, Subaru’s primary Jeep competitor in this market, offers a Trailhawk variant, it is just 8.6 inches long. Another surprisingly high-riding Mitsubishi, the Eclipse Cross AWD, comes in third with an 8.5-inch ride height.
3. Subaru Forester Wilderness – 9.2 inches
Off-road special editions abound in the tiny crossover’s more typical dimensions. These trim levels are designed to capitalize on the current trend of consumers favoring tough SUVs. Ford has even gone one step further by introducing the Ford Bronco Sport, an entirely new off-road-focused model to the sector. The Bronco Sport has 8.8 inches of ground clearance in Badlands specification, which is slightly more than the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk’s 8.7 inches and the Toyota Rav4 TRD’s 8.6 inches. It also outperforms the standard Subaru Forester, which sits at 8.7 inches, although Subaru developed a special raised-up Wilderness model this year that can travel over things as high as 9.2 inches.
4. Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk – 11.3 inches
We’ve now reached the fourth consecutive segment in which Jeep is mentioned, and believe it or not, we’re not done with the brand yet. The Jeep Grand Cherokee may disconnect the vehicle’s front sway bar and gain up to 11.3 inches of ground clearance by using an adjustable air suspension. That easily outclasses the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro’s 9.6-inch ground clearance and the Subaru Outback Wilderness’s 9.5-inch ground clearance. Only the Trailhawk, like other Jeeps, can traverse over objects nearly a foot high. Regular variants have a ground clearance of 8.6 inches.
5. Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve – 10.9 inches
The Jeep Grand Cherokee L, which was released this year, is an extended version of the Grand Cherokee that is meant to carry more people and goods. There is no Trailhawk variant of the SUV, unlike most other Jeep vehicles. Instead, thanks to an air suspension that can lift the vehicle up to 10.9 inches, the Summit Reserve has the highest ground clearance. At 10.0 inches, the GMC Yukon AT4 is the next highest off the ground. All Toyota Sequoia models have a wheelbase of 9.9 to 10.0 inches, followed by the Ford Expedition with a wheelbase of 9.8 inches.
6. Ford Bronco Wildtrak 2-Door – 11.6 inches
Aside from the Bronco Sport, Ford also unveiled a new SUV this year named the Bronco. Ford has given the Bronco all of the necessary off-road credentials, including an amazing 11.6 inches of fixed ground clearance in Wildtrak trim levels, to take on the Jeep Wrangler head-on. That’s about an inch higher than the Rubicon, the highest-riding Jeep Wrangler, which has 10.8 inches of ground clearance. The Bronco’s non-adjustable, rigid suspension is the highest of any vehicle on this list.
7. Volvo XC40 – 8.3 inches
Small luxury crossovers aren’t designed for severe off-roading, so it’s no surprise that most models have low ground clearance. The Volvo XC40, on the other hand, defies tradition by being the only car in this segment with more than eight inches of ground clearance. It measures 8.3 inches in conventional hybrid vehicles, while it measures 8.1 inches in fully electric recharge models. The BMW X1 and X2, both with 7.2 inches of ground clearance, are the next closest competitors.
8. Infiniti QX 50 – 8.6 inches
The luxury SUV surprises continue, as we fully expected the Land Rover Discovery Sport to dominate the market in ground clearance. Its clearance, however, is only 8.3 inches higher than that of its sibling, the Range Rover Evoque. In fact, that isn’t even good enough for second place in the segment, since another Volvo, the XC60, has a lower ride height of 8.5 inches when not equipped with air suspension. The Infiniti QX 50, which comes standard with 8.6 inches of ground clearance, is the segment leader.
9. Land Rover Discovery S P300 – 11.1 inches
This is the point at which premium SUVs become serious about navigating rutted roads. The air suspension on the Land Rover Discovery can raise the ground clearance to 11.1 inches, which is more than the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. It’s also bigger than the R.R. Sport, which is limited to 10.9 inches, and the R.R. Velar, which is limited to 9.9 inches. The Porsche Cayenne Platinum, with 9.6 inches of ground clearance, is the next highest SUV off the ground outside of the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) stable.
10. Rivian R1S – 14.9 inches
It’s here. It’s not even close to being the SUV with the most ground clearance. The Rivian R1S is an all-electric vehicle with an adjustable suspension that can reach nearly 15 inches of ground clearance. In fact, even at its lowest position, which is supposed to make loading the car easier, the vehicle is still 8.8 inches off the ground. The next highest ground clearance among large luxury SUVs is 11.6 inches, followed by 10.0 inches for the new Jeep Wagoneer and 9.6 inches for the Bentley Bentayga.
11. Land Rover Defender – 11.5 inches
The Land Rover Defender, another entry from the JLR brand, rounds up our list. The Defender 90 and Defender 110 can achieve a minimum ground clearance height of 11.6 inches thanks to their adjustable suspension. The Mercedes-Benz G 550, the Defender’s main competitor, is rated at 9.5 inches, thus this easily outclasses it. But the Defender’s reign will be short-lived, as the Hummer EV is on its way, boasting a whopping 16 inches of ground clearance in Extract Mode and 12 inches in standard Terrain Mode.
FAQ’s About Highest Ground Clearance SUV
What SUV is easiest to get in and out of?
According to reports, the Subaru Forester, Lexus RX, and Toyota Rav 4 are the three SUVs with the fewest complaints: the Subaru Forester, Lexus RX, and Toyota Rav 4. These cars make it simple to get in and out of the automobile while still providing peace of mind and a pleasant driving experience.
Is 8.7 inches of ground clearance good?
Gravel tracks have a minimum ground clearance of between 6.6 and 8.7 inches. Your ground clearance for over-landing should be between 8.8 and 9.4 inches. For severely graded 4×4 tracks and rock crawling, a minimum height of 10.8 inches is required.
Is Nissan Rogue high clearance?
If you use it as a daily driver, the newly redesigned Rogue should be able to handle all of the roads you’ll encounter. Although it doesn’t have the biggest clearance in its class, the 8.2 inches between the pavement and the bottom of your exhaust pipes and fuel tank is adequate.
Do bigger tires increase ground clearance?
Higher road clearance
The most visible impact of larger tires is that they raise the height of your car. You can improve ground clearance — the distance between the road surface and the lowest component of the car – by raising it several inches off the ground.
Is 9 inches ground clearance good?
AWD is usually required, as is locating a vehicle with enough ground clearance to drive over obstacles such as hills, boulders, mud, and creeks without sustaining damage. As a general guideline, a vehicle with 8.5 inches of ground clearance or higher should be fine. Normal driving is four-high.
