What is the difference in ground clearance between sedans and SUVs?
2 Answers
Minimum ground clearance of ordinary SUVs: Most range from 160-200mm, but some SUVs have a minimum ground clearance similar to that of ordinary sedans, such as the CR-V at 135-137mm. Minimum ground clearance of ordinary sedans: Most range from 90-140mm. 1. SUV chassis design: It features a unibody construction design without a separate frame, where the entire vehicle is mounted directly onto the wheels via suspension. Due to advancements in vehicle technology, this type of chassis design can also meet daily off-road needs while offering significantly better comfort than body-on-frame designs, hence its widespread adoption. Currently, 99% of daily-use sedans on the market employ unibody construction, as do 80% of SUVs such as the X5, Q7, and ML350. 2. Comparison: Many sedans experience "bottoming out" due to their low ground clearance, a phenomenon that generally does not occur with SUVs unless road conditions are extremely poor. However, the lower chassis of sedans provides better handling. If you frequently engage in self-drive tourism, road conditions are not as smooth as urban roads, with bumpy roads being common, where SUVs can truly demonstrate their value.
As a veteran driver with ten years of experience, I can tell you there's indeed a significant difference in ground clearance between sedans and SUVs. A typical sedan has only about 13 cm of ground clearance - with my old Accord, I had to be extra careful going over speed bumps. But SUVs generally have around 20 cm clearance, and my RAV4 purchased last year handles the same roads much more easily. That 7 cm difference makes a huge impact, especially during rainy seasons when dealing with flooded roads. During the last heavy rain, my SUV easily crossed a 25 cm deep waterlogged section that would have stalled any sedan. However, SUVs' higher center of gravity also has drawbacks - they sway noticeably more than sedans when taking sharp turns at high speed. Vehicle selection should depend on road conditions: both work fine for city driving, but for frequent rough terrain travel, higher ground clearance is essential.
