Dodge Durango Command Vehicle by Lee Cannon — CC BY-SA 2.0 The Durango is a beast on traditional roads, the track, and trails and off-road environments. It might not be the first vehicle that comes to mind when thinking of driving up the mountains or river-like conditions, but the Durango is well equipped to handle the elements. There are currently three different models (up from just two last year) and while the Durango’s ground clearance has varied slightly over recent years, it has been consistently over 8 inches and all three of the 2021 models sit at 8.

2018 Subaru WRX by EurovisionNim — CC BY-SA 4.0 Subaru has a loyal following, great safety features and technology, and a natural connection to wilderness and outdoor venturing. The WRX’s ground clearance is a surprisingly low 4.9 inches, and less than many of its competitors. While it may have the recognition to easily drive through tough weather conditions, some car buyers may look twice at that number for wintery and off-road conditions.

2019 Toyota Corolla by Vauxford — CC BY-SA 4.0 Sports cars and sedans sometimes struggle due to their low ground clearance. If you’re going up a driveway or coasting over a speed bump, it’s not uncommon to scrape the bottom of your car. This is something best avoided, which is why we’re highlighting the Toyota Corolla ground clearance. Thanks to its above-average height, the kind of scenarios mentioned above won’t be a hindrance.

Nissan Murano 350XV by TTTNIS — CC0 1.0 The Murano is one of six total SUV models that Nissan currently manufactures alongside the Kicks, Rogue and Rogue sport, Pathfinder, and Armada and fits in the midsize crossover class. The Murano’s ground clearance is just under 7 inches at 6.9, and is right in the middle of the pack for midsize SUVs. While the Murano is a great option to handle urban areas and offers a smooth and comfortable ride, you shouldn’t try to get too crazy with it off the beaten path.

2015 Audi Q3 - First Drive by The NRMA — CC BY 2.0 When you’re in the market for a new car, one of the things you may read about in a vehicle’s specs is its ground clearance. Whether you plan to take your new car camping, or just need to know if you can park on your steep driveway, researching ground clearance is an important part of the car buying process.

2017 Kia Niro by Vauxford — CC BY-SA 4.0 There are many reasons you might be in the market for an SUV. They’re big, powerful people-carriers that can haul your entire family AND all of their belongings up the side of a mountain. Plus, you’ll look good doing it. Far from being the specialty vehicles they once were, sports utility vehicles can be rough-and-tumble trail blazers, or luxurious highway cruisers.

Honda Element by Rudolf Stricker — CC BY-SA 3.0 Ground clearance is an extremely important part of the car buying process that many new or less experienced buyers can often overlook. It can be the different between maintaining your cars for years or having unexpected damage and repair issues pop up unexpectedly. Seasoned car buyers know the importance of this, and the Honda Element’s ground clearance is right on average with other mid-size SUVs.

2020 Ford Explorer XLT by Kevauto — CC BY-SA 4.0 When drivers are in the market for a new vehicle with plenty of ground clearance, they’re not always looking for an adventure car. Plenty of people need the ride in order to overcome obstacles you can find in and around developed areas. Maybe they have a steeper-than-average driveway and are tired of scraping their bumper every time they pull in.

2017 Nissan Rogue Sport by Kevauto — CC BY-SA 4.0 The Nissan Rogue Sport is a tried-and-tested compact crossover SUV that’s carried passengers on safe travels since 2014. Originally known as the Nissan Qashqai, it was renamed the Rogue Sport in the U.S. in its second generation. A car like this is known for its reliability, making it all the more important that you wind up with a model that treats you well.

2016 BMW X5 by Vauxford — CC BY-SA 4.0 BMW’s mid-size luxury crossover SUV, the X5, was actually the company’s first SUV and still one of the most reliable on the market. The X5’s on-road capabilities are so robust that BMW actually refers to this vehicle as a Sports Activity Vehicle rather than an SUV. In order to ensure you get to enjoy these features to their fullest, it’s important that you keep aware of the following problems that CoPilot has found certain models suffer from!