What is the ground clearance of the A4L?
4 Answers
The minimum ground clearance of the A4L is 107mm, and the maximum ground clearance is 175mm. The minimum ground clearance of the A4L refers to the distance between the lowest point (excluding the wheels) and the supporting plane, which is used to characterize the vehicle's ability to pass over obstacles such as rocks and stumps without collision. The higher the ground clearance of the A4L, the better the passability. However, if the ground clearance is too high, the stability at high speeds will decrease. While maintaining the overall design of the current model, the A4L has discontinued the Liujin Orange color option and added Tanggula White as an optional color. The dimensions of the A4L are: length 4858mm, width 1847mm, height 1439mm, with a wheelbase of 2908mm. Generally, the ground clearance of sedans ranges between 110mm and 150mm, while SUVs have a ground clearance between 200mm and 250mm. However, the ground clearance of the A4L is not static; it also depends on the load condition. Therefore, changes in ground clearance should be considered based on the A4L's load variations. When selecting a vehicle, ground clearance can be one of the reference factors. The choice should depend on the vehicle's intended use and the road conditions. For well-paved urban roads, a vehicle with lower ground clearance can enhance stability and comfort. For long-distance travel or driving in areas with poor road conditions, a vehicle with higher ground clearance may be preferred to avoid scraping or damaging the undercarriage, considering the vehicle's off-road capability.
I drove an A4L for two years, mainly commuting on city roads. The ground clearance is about 11 cm. While it's not as high as an SUV, it's perfectly fine for daily commuting. As long as you control your speed when going over speed bumps, you won’t scrape the undercarriage, and it handles garage ramps with ease. The only thing to watch out for is rural dirt roads—last time I drove back to my hometown, I scraped the underbody protection on a bumpy stretch, which was heartbreaking. The car is designed with a sporty bias, offering low-center-of-gravity stability in corners, but this sacrifices some off-road capability. Also, when fully loaded with four or five people, the ground clearance decreases slightly, so I’d advise against taking risks on rough roads.
Recently while car shopping, I specifically compared the ground clearance of several sedans. The official figure for the Audi A4L is around 110mm, but actual measurement shows about 118mm when unloaded. It's perfectly adequate for city driving, though generally 1-2cm lower than comparable Japanese models. The salesperson explained this relates to suspension tuning - the A4L prioritizes sporty performance hence the lower stance. During the test drive, I deliberately went over several speed bumps and noticed it feels firmer than my friend's Camry, but the body roll control during cornering is exceptional. For areas with frequent rain and rough roads, considering a higher-clearance vehicle might be wiser to avoid expensive undercarriage damage repairs.
Speaking of the ground clearance of the Audi A4L, I recall seeing the measurement data when I was repairing cars at the 4S dealership. The standard wheelbase version has a minimum unladen ground clearance of 118 mm, while the L extended version, due to its longer rear suspension, has about 107 mm when fully loaded. This height is average among sedans—higher than sports sedans but lower than crossover vehicles. The front MacPherson and rear multi-link suspension structure determines this height, designed to balance both sportiness and daily drivability. In practical use, as long as you avoid deep potholes and high bumps, it's fine. Of course, installing underbody protection panels is a safe choice. Some owners mistakenly modify their cars with shorter springs, lowering the clearance to below 10 cm, which is too risky.
