Which has a larger ground clearance, the BMW 5 Series or the A6?

[McMiles]

The BMW 5 Series has a larger ground clearance. The minimum ground clearance of the Audi A6L is 117mm, while the BMW 5 Series has a ground clearance of 149mm: The minimum ground clearance of sedans generally ranges between 110mm and 150mm, whereas SUVs typically have a ground clearance between 200mm and 250mm. For SUVs, a smaller ground clearance (less than 200mm) indicates poorer off-road performance and a greater focus on on-road capabilities, making them more city-oriented SUVs. Conversely, a larger ground clearance (greater than 250mm) signifies better off-road performance and a stronger emphasis on outdoor capabilities, classifying them as more rugged, off-road-oriented SUVs. Ground Clearance: Ground clearance refers to the distance between the ground and the lowest rigid part of the vehicle. The ground clearance of a vehicle varies depending on whether it is unloaded or loaded. It is also related to the vehicle's load—the heavier the load, the smaller the ground clearance becomes.

[DiAriana]

I own a BMW 525i, while my colleague drives an Audi A6. Last time when we went camping and drove through a gravel road, I clearly felt his car had higher ground clearance. After checking the manuals, I found the unladen ground clearance of the domestic BMW 5 Series is between 120-130mm, whereas the standard Audi A6 has about 132mm. However, this data also depends on tire size—both our cars have 19-inch wheels, but his car definitely handled potholes more easily. To be honest, the difference is negligible for daily driving, but if you frequently drive on construction sites or rural paths, the A6's 10mm advantage becomes crucial. When buying a car, you should consider the road conditions you often encounter. Nowadays, urban roads are mostly paved, so this slight difference hardly matters.

[GrantLee]

Having driven the older models of the BMW 530 and Audi A6L, I specifically measured their ground clearance. The front bumper of the 5 Series is about 12 cm off the ground, while the A6 can reach just over 13 cm. Although it's only a 1 cm difference, when encountering steep underground garage ramps or waterlogged sections, the A6 is indeed less likely to scrape its undercarriage. This design difference is quite interesting—Audi emphasizes better passability, while BMW prioritizes a lower center of gravity for enhanced handling. If you frequently take family road trips, the extra height of the A6 can save you a lot of scraping worries. Of course, specifics depend on the model year, as top-tier versions with air suspension can adjust their height automatically.

[JuniperRose]

After studying the chassis data of these two models, the ground clearance of the BMW 5 Series standard wheelbase version is approximately 125mm, while the Audi A6 standard version measures 132mm. The few millimeters difference mainly come from the rear suspension area, as Audi uses more aluminum alloy components to reduce weight and increase space. In actual driving, the A6 exhibits less bounce over speed bumps, while the 5 Series feels more stable during cornering. Once, when driving a friend's A6 on a mountain road after heavy rain, the slightly higher ground clearance helped navigate through a collapsed section smoothly. It's recommended to bring a tape measure for on-site measurements when choosing a car, paying special attention to the lowest point of the front lip—different versions can vary by as much as two finger widths.