Ground clearance explained

Question

Ground clearance, or ride height, is a crucial vehicle dimension. It's the minimum distance between the bottom of the vehicle and the road, indicating how high or low the vehicle sits.

Manufacturers typically specify this dimension when the vehicle is empty, so when you add passengers and cargo, the ride height decreases due to the extra weight. This impacts vehicle performance and clearance over obstacles.

Vehicle hierarchy

Higher ground clearance is preferable on rough roads to avoid vehicle underbelly damage. Vehicle types follow a hierarchy: sedans and sports cars have low clearance, hatchbacks are a bit higher, and SUVs lead with the highest ride height for rough terrain.

Impact on handling

Ground clearance is a critical dimension as it significantly impacts vehicle handling. Higher ground clearance raises the vehicle's Center of Gravity (COG), increasing the risk of rollovers.

This affects handling, making vehicles with higher clearance more prone to rollovers, while those with lower ride height deliver better handling performance due to a lower COG.

Vehicle ride height is often increased by adjusting the suspension, frequently done by aftermarket agencies. In regions with rough road conditions, like many developing nations, customers prefer higher ride heights when choosing vehicles.

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