What is the difference in ground clearance between sedans and SUVs?
4 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.
With 15 years of experience in car repair, I frequently measure the chassis data of these two types of vehicles. The average minimum ground clearance for regular family sedans is around 130mm, with the classic Corolla model at 132mm. Mainstream urban SUVs generally exceed 190mm, with the Honda CR-V advertised at 198mm. This 6cm difference is equivalent to the height of a smartphone. The key lies in the design of the approach and departure angles, with SUVs averaging 5-7 degrees more than sedans. Once, a client got their sedan stuck at a construction site, and upon towing it out, we found chassis scrape marks—switching to an SUV would have avoided this. However, I advise against blindly pursuing high ground clearance, as the comfort of body-on-frame SUVs can be compromised.
Last weekend, I accompanied a friend to buy a car and specifically compared the data of four models. Sedan group: Sagitar 145mm, Accord 150mm; SUV group: Tucson 190mm, RAV4 195mm. SUVs are generally about 5cm higher. Don’t underestimate this difference—my friend’s hometown is in the mountains, and last year, his sedan scraped the bottom three times on the way there. The salesperson also showed us the chassis structure: SUVs have longer suspension travel and larger tire sizes. However, for city commuting, the higher ground clearance increases wind noise and adds 1-2 more points to fuel consumption. Nowadays, some crossover SUVs have lowered their ground clearance, such as the CX-4 with only 180mm, which could be a good option for those seeking comfort.
