Highest Ground Clearance SUVs In India

The bumpy Indian roads call for cars that provide a high ground clearance to ensure that they provide a smooth and comfortable ride. SUVs are definitely massive vehicles that come with amazing ground clearance and features that complement a perfect drive on Indian roads. There are mid to high-end SUVs that are amazing in terms of appeal, riding experience, and performance. 

 

The rugged optimizations of an SUV make it the perfect choice for driving on long stretches of bumpy and rough roads. They have a high ground clearance as compared to sedans and hatchbacks, and this increased height is one of the biggest reasons SUVs don’t get accidentally damaged from below on bumpy roads.

 

This article will highlight the top 10 highest ground clearance SUVs in India. It will focus on their primary features and why they are the best to drive on Indian roads. 

 

Top 10 SUVs With Highest Ground Clearance

Here’s the list of the top 10 SUVs with the highest ground clearance for a smoother drive in India:

 

 

• Ford Ecosport

The compact SUV by Ford, Ecosport comes with an impressive ground clearance of 200mm. It was one of the best selling cars with a BS-VI compliant engine in both petrol and diesel variants. The car is best known among long-distance drivers who need a rough and tough ride on India’s difficult roads.

Since Ecosport is a four-wheel drive with a 5-speed gearbox, the car performs above and beyond the expectations of drivers. It has a 1.5-litre diesel engine with 99.23bhp@3750 rpm of max. power, enabling drivers to ride on off-road terrains as well.

 

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• Mahindra XUV700

The latest addition to Mahindra’s XUV series, the all-new XUV700 is one of the best SUVs with a ground clearance of 200mm. It is the 10th best selling SUV in November 2021 and is increasing in demand every day.

The powerful car comes with a 2.2-litre Turbo Diesel engine with max. power of 182.38bh@3500 rpm. The car has a 6-speed automatic transmission, simplifying driving on rough terrains and off-road conditions.

 

• Renault Duster

The best selling car by Renault and a tough competitor to every other car in the segment, Renault Duster offers a stunning 205mm of ground clearance. It was the first compact SUV in India, which came back in 2021, opening doors for others to enter the segment.

Renault Duster is available in a 1.2-litre and 1.3-litre engine. With an astonishing 7-speed gearbox, the duster is one of the fastest compact SUVs on Indian roads. It has a wheelbase of 2673mm, which compliments the ground clearance to provide a smoother ride.

• Tata Nexon

One of the best cars available in the compact SUV segment, Tata Nexon offers an astonishing ground clearance of 209mm. It is much higher than the standard 170-180mm required to drive smoothly on Indian roads.

Nexon comes with 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol and a 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine – both of which are available with a 6-speed manual and automatic transmission. The car has ABS with EBD and ESP, making it desirable to drive freely without any chance of mishaps on rough roads.

 

• Nissan Kicks

With a ground clearance of 210mm, Nissan Kicks comes as a great addition to the list of the highest ground clearance SUVs in India this year. It has a 1.3 L HR13DDT Turbo Petrol engine with max. power of 153.87bhp@5500rpm. The car is slowly becoming a popular choice in the SUV segment.

Nissan Kicks has a 6-speed automatic transmission with a BS-VI compliant engine. With a wheelbase of 2673mm, the car has great steering control and capabilities even on rough terrains. It offers a cornering radius of 5.2 metres, which is perfect for a vehicle with such high ground clearance.

 

• Kia Sonnet

An amazing offering from Kia, Sonnet offers a ground clearance of 211mm. Based on Hyundai’s K-2 platform, the car is capable of tackling all the obstacles on bumpy and tricky roads. The car comes with three engines and five transmission alternatives.

Kia Sonnet has a 6-speed gearbox. Being a four-wheel-drive vehicle and equipped with McPherson Strut with Coil Spring for the front suspension and Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA) with Coil Spring for the rear suspension, which enables proper braking on all types of roads.

 

• Mitsubishi Pajero

A classic car in the SUV segment, Mitsubishi Pajero has a ground clearance of 215mm. It is one of the best cars with ground clearances in the sector, ensuring that Indian drivers don’t face any problems while driving on rough roads.

Pajero comes with a 2.5-litre MIVEC engine with 178bhp power. The car has a BS-VI compliance engine. It has both petrol and diesel variants with a 6-speed automatic transmission in the newer models of 2020.

 

• Toyota Fortuner

A high-end SUV and one of the most powerful vehicles in the SUV segment, Toyota Fortuner has a ground clearance of 225mm. This makes it highly preferable for drivers who frequent off-road terrains and are looking to tackle difficult road conditions during their adventures.

Fortuner is equipped with a 2.8-litre diesel engine, which delivers a max. power of 201.15bhp@3000-3400 rpm. It has a 6-speed automatic transmission with a sequential shift. Fortuner has a wheelbase of 2745mm and a turning radius of 5.8 metres, so even when driving and cornering on rough roads, the car performs substantially better.

 

• Mahindra Thar

Another entry from Mahindra, Thar is the go-to SUV for off-road driving. The car has a ground clearance of 226mm, one of the best in the Industry. Because of this, many drivers prefer the Thar as their first option while considering buying an SUV because of its power and smooth drive on bumpy roads.

The all-new Mahindra Thar has a mHawk130 engine with a displacement of 2184 cc. It is a 4×4 drive vehicle with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It has ​​Independent Double Wishbone Front Suspension with Coil-Over Damper & Stabiliser Bar and Multilink Solid Rear Axle with Coil-Over Damper & Stabiliser Bar for the rear suspension, making it possible for drivers to have a comfy drive on rough roads.

 

• Mahindra Alturas G4

Mahindra Alturas G4 is the SUV with a ground clearance of 244mm – the highest in the segment. It has both 2WD and 4WD, which provides drivers with the options to choose the best car in their budget range but with almost the same power. The car is equipped with a D22DTR engine that offers a displacement of 2157 cc.

Alturas has a Mercedes Benz 7-speed automatic gearbox and a wheelbase of 2865mm. It is a powerful car that is perfect for off-roading and adventure driving on rough roads. It has a Double Wishbone with Coil spring front suspension and a 5 Link Rear Suspension with Coil Spring for better braking and driving. 

 

 

Wrapping Up

Off-roading has become a popular activity in this day and age. Therefore, having a good SUV with high ground clearance is a necessity to ensure that the vehicle is safe and provides a hassle-free ride. The above list is a complete list of the best SUVs with the highest ground clearance that you can go through to decide which one best suits your requirements.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

• Why is a high ground clearance important?
  When drivers are off-roading or driving on rough roads, they need to make sure that the bottom of the vehicle’s body doesn’t come in contact with any gravel, stones, rocks, or anything that could potentially damage it. High ground clearance means that there is more space between the road and the bottom of the vehicle’s body leading to better safety.

• Which car has the best ground clearance in India?
  Mahindra Alturas G4 is the best car with the highest ground clearance in India of 244mm. No other car comes in the same range. The second best is the Mahindra Thar that offers a ground clearance of 225mm.

• Which is the cheapest SUV with high ground clearance?
  Tata Nexon is one of the cheapest SUVs with a ground clearance of 209mm. It comes in the price range of Rs. 8 lakh to Rs. 13 lakh. 

Also Read –  Best Indian Cars With Maximum Ground Clearance