Ground clearance is a critical factor in several important characteristics of a vehicle. For all vehicles, especially cars, variations in clearance represent a trade-off between handling and practicality. A higher ground clearance means that the centre of mass of the car is higher, which makes for less precise and more dangerous handling characteristics as the chance of rollover is higher.
However, it also means that the car is more capable of being driven on roads that are not level, without the road scraping against and likely damaging the chassis and underbody. Higher ride heights will typically adversely affect aerodynamic properties. This is why sports cars typically have very low clearances, while off-road vehicles and SUVs have higher ones. Two well-known extremes of each are the Ferrari F40 and the Hummer. Following are the Average Ground Clearances of Different Segments.
| Average Ground Clearance Of Indian Cars | GC (mm) |
|---|---|
| Hatchbacks | 168 mm |
| Compact Sedans | 170 mm |
| Sedans | 165 mm |
| Compact SUVs | 190 to 200 mm |
| SUVs | 225 mm |
| Sports Coupes | 135 to 140 mm |
Ground Clearance Required in India :
Driving a low ground clearance car on rough driving conditions can damage the underbody of the vehicle and invite unwanted maintenance expenses. Also, you cannot drive your car through each and every obstacle, whatever be the clearance. Moreover, there’s less possibility of overcoming the large obstacles unless you live in a hilly terrain. Hence, a minimum of 170-180mm of ground clearance is required on the Indian roads.
If the roads are paved and follow the proper guidelines, even the 125mm of ground clearance on Sports Coupes will be enough. Also, for the roads with potholes and uneven speed breakers, you will need a better ground clearance and a good height. No situations are same, no roads are same, no trips are same, better be safe than sorry get a car with highest possible GC & also with good stability.
