What is the ground clearance of the Elantra?
3 Answers
The minimum ground clearance of the Elantra is 160 millimeters. The minimum ground clearance of the Elantra refers to the distance between the lowest point (excluding the wheels) and the supporting surface, which indicates the vehicle's ability to pass over obstacles such as rocks and tree stumps without collision. A higher ground clearance improves the Elantra's off-road capability, but if the ground clearance is too high, the stability at high speeds may decrease. The Elantra is a typical South Korean car. Its dimensions are 4680 mm in length, 1810 mm in width, and 1415 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2720 mm. Generally, the ground clearance of sedans ranges between 110 mm and 150 mm, while SUVs have a ground clearance between 200 mm and 250 mm. However, the Elantra's ground clearance is not static—it also depends on the load condition. Therefore, changes in ground clearance should be considered based on the Elantra'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 road conditions. For urban driving with well-paved roads, a vehicle with lower ground clearance can enhance stability and comfort. If the vehicle is frequently driven in rural areas or on poor road conditions, a higher ground clearance may be preferable to avoid scraping or damaging the undercarriage.
As a seasoned driver of the Elantra, my seventh-generation model has a ground clearance of about 15 cm. I measured the lowest point of the front bumper when unloaded, and it was exactly 150 mm, but it probably drops to 140 mm when carrying passengers. It handles city driving with no issues and can easily climb ordinary curbs. However, I must remind you that sedans are not SUVs—you definitely need to slow down on rural dirt roads or deep potholes. Once, I scraped the underbody guard and felt bad about it for a long time. The clearance design is quite reasonable, ensuring both high-speed stability and decent passability. I’ve never gotten stuck navigating Beijing’s hutongs either.
Before buying the car, I specifically researched its ground clearance parameters. The official data states a 150mm ground clearance. For a family sedan, this height is actually just right, as the lower center of gravity ensures stable driving. It's slightly higher than the 135mm of the Sylphy but a bit lower than the 160mm of the Civic. When traveling with the whole family, steep slopes on highway ramps are no problem at all, but you need to slow down when encountering tricky underground garage slopes. Once, while driving on a gravel road near a construction site, I only heard small stones hitting the undercarriage. Remember, when fully loaded, the chassis will lower by about 1 cm. If carrying too much luggage, it's best to install an engine guard to prevent scratches.
