What is the minimum ground clearance of the Mazda CX-4?
3 Answers
The minimum ground clearance of the Mazda CX-4 is 197mm. Below is some related knowledge about ground clearance: Advantages of larger ground clearance: Good passability and convenient parking. A higher ground clearance not only improves passability on gravel or mountain roads but also prevents water from entering the exhaust pipe when driving through flooded areas. It also makes it easier to park on curbs or other uneven parking spots. Disadvantages of smaller ground clearance: With smaller ground clearance, the center of gravity is lower, leading to extremely poor passability. It becomes difficult to drive on gravel or dirt roads. Ground clearance of ordinary sedans: As long as there are no steep slopes, deep pits, or obstacles on the road, excessively large ground clearance is generally not required. It is sufficient to ensure the comfort and stability of the vehicle. Ground clearance of sports cars: Sports cars usually have a ground clearance of around 100mm. However, the low ground clearance of sports cars is designed to improve tire grip, enhance speed, and stability during high-speed cornering. High-speed cornering stability refers to the absence of skidding or rollovers.
Last time I went to the Mazda 4S store for a test drive of the CX-4, I specifically asked the salesperson about this issue. The car's minimum ground clearance when unloaded is 196mm, which is above average among SUVs. I've driven my friend's car a few times on rough rural roads, and I feel this height is just sufficient—no need to worry about scraping the undercarriage like with a sedan, but you still need to be cautious with particularly deep ruts. Compared to the CR-V in the same class, it's slightly lower, but Mazda's Skyactiv chassis has a lower center of gravity, making turns more stable, and it feels more agile in the city. When buying a car, you need to consider what kind of roads you'll be driving on most. If you're frequently driving on construction sites, a hardcore off-roader might be more suitable.
I've been driving my CX-4 on road trips for over three years, and the ground clearance parameter is particularly important in real-world experience. The official specification is 196mm, which reduces to around 180mm when fully loaded with five passengers. This height is sufficient for standard speed bumps, but you'll need to drive slowly on rough terrain like the artillery shell crater roads in Xinjiang. Once during rainy weather, I got stuck in a mud pit precisely because the ground clearance wasn't high enough for recovery. I'd recommend installing a set of underbody protection plates, as Mazda's low chassis is prone to hitting the transmission on rough roads. If you frequently drive mountain roads, suspension modifications could improve clearance by another 1-2 cm.
