Which has higher ground clearance, Corolla or Levin?
3 Answers
Corolla has higher ground clearance. Here are the relevant details: 1. Specific ground clearance: The Corolla has a ground clearance of 145mm when unloaded and 105mm when fully loaded. The Levin's minimum ground clearance is 105mm. The height of ground clearance does not have an absolute meaning of good or bad. 2. General situation: Typically, the chassis height of sedans ranges between 11cm to 15cm. The greater the minimum ground clearance, the stronger the vehicle's ability to pass over obstacles or uneven terrain. From the characteristics of sedans, if the chassis height exceeds 130mm, the passing performance is relatively better, but stability decreases when driving at higher speeds.
I specifically checked the chassis data of the current Corolla and Levin, and in fact, the unladen ground clearance of both models is exactly the same at 152mm. After all, they are siblings under Toyota's TNGA-C platform, like twins born to the same mother, with almost identical chassis structures copied and pasted. However, there might be subtle differences when driving: Levin's sport-tuned suspension makes cornering more stable, while the Corolla's softer suspension may cause the rear wheels to sag a bit more when fully loaded. My suggestion is to bring a tape measure to the dealership and measure the distance from the tire to the wheel arch on the display car for the most accurate assessment. If you're concerned about ground clearance, you could opt for 17-inch wheels—thinner tire walls can actually increase the real ground clearance by about 3mm.
Last week, I accompanied a friend to pick up his Leiling Hybrid and specifically compared it with the Corolla in the showroom. We used a phone to take photos and measure the ground clearance under the chassis, and both had front bumper ground clearances just over 15 cm—no visible difference to the naked eye. However, the salesperson quietly mentioned that the Leiling's underbody panels are flatter, making it less likely for stones to get stuck when driving on rough roads. If you frequently drive on bumpy roads, it's recommended to install underbody armor. You can find aluminum alloy panels on Taobao for just over 300 RMB, which not only protect against scratches but also boost psychological peace of mind. Oh, and don’t fill the tank too full—extra fuel weight can strain the suspension. Tests show that every additional 100 kg of load lowers the chassis by about 8 mm.