Ground clearances of cars of all brands

Measuring vehicle clearance

There are two ways to measure vehicle clearance.

The first method involves the use of special aluminum, plastic and polyurethane spacers. They are fixed between the vehicle body and part of the rack. There are also rubber spacers - they are installed between the coils of the spring. Spacers made from this material increase ground clearance slightly, but at the same time the swaying of the car is reduced. Unfortunately, using this method reduces ride comfort because the car becomes stiffer. Polyurethane spacers are considered the most optimal - they are more resistant to deformation and, unlike aluminum, do not corrode in winter.

The second way to increase ground clearance is to use wheels with a radius larger than those of currently existing wheels. However, friction may occur between large wheels, wheel arches and mud flaps. Therefore, before using this method, see if all proportions will be met.

To measure the ground clearance, use a regular ruler or tape measure.

To obtain the most accurate data, you need to measure in several places (lower points). Strat points can be places under the axles and under the engine crankcase.

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How to increase car clearance

The most win-win and at the same time safest option is to go to the car market or car dealership and choose a car with high ground clearance. We are talking about safety for a reason. Low ground clearance gives the car a low center of gravity, which means higher stability, as well as better aerodynamics. In addition, at high speeds, stability is highly dependent on aerodynamics. When the manufacturer designed a vehicle with a certain ground clearance, its design was optimally designed taking into account these parameters and their relationship in order to safely drive it.

By changing the ground clearance in one way or another, adjustments are made to these characteristics, which can lead to critical values ​​of stability under certain standard operating conditions of a given vehicle and lead to its rollover. For example, if a machine was designed to move with a maximum lateral angle of 15° when operating on its wheels with standard wheels and tires, then after increasing the diameter of the latter, under the same conditions, it may tip over. And design changes to the suspension can lead to even more dire consequences when driving at speed on the highway, as they can cause partial or complete destruction of its elements and a subsequent inevitable accident. Therefore, when changing the clearance, one must remember the possible negative consequences and approach this issue carefully and carefully.

There are the following ways to increase clearance:

• Installing a wheel and/or tires of a different diameter is a gain of several centimeters (usually 1–2 cm), if at the same time you do not make structural changes to the suspension. May lead to errors in the operation of the speedometer and other instruments.
• Installing higher racks, reinforced springs, placing various inserts or spacers under the springs.
• Structural - alteration of suspension elements, replacement of its components with parts from other cars.

The second most popular method is to install special spacers. It is possible to increase the ground clearance, but making changes to the design of the chassis does not bode well. Vibrations appear, rolls are observed in turns, and the car becomes “rolling.”

You can install springs with a large number of turns. But in this case, you will have to fork out for new shock absorbers with a long stroke and a wheel alignment procedure. If the car is not originally designed for high ground clearance, then installing new shock absorber struts will bring the same problems as spacers. In addition, if the car is new and under warranty, manipulations with increasing the ground clearance will lead to official dealers refusing to repair the car under warranty if such a need arises. Whether 3 extra centimeters of ground clearance are worth such problems and financial investments, everyone decides for themselves. Perhaps, if you really want more ground clearance, you should think about buying a crossover.

Installation

There is nothing difficult in installing houses; you just need to have the necessary tools and a little skill in car repair. The work will take no more than 40 minutes on both sides of the car.

Required tool:

• Set of keys or sockets;
• Penetrating lubricant WD-40 or similar;
• Two jacks
• Hammer and goatee;

Work process

The easiest way to install it is from an inspection hole, but if you don’t have one, you can do without it.

We lift the car on jacks on both sides and remove the wheels, do not forget to fix the front wheels of the car using a rollback.

We treat the bolt securing the strut to the beam with WD-40 penetrating lubricant and wait for 5 minutes. Then unscrew it.

Remove the bolt from the silent block of the rear shock absorber

We install the houses by first screwing them to the beam, and then insert the shock absorber into the house mount and fix it with a bolt.

TIP: It is recommended to install the stand in the middle hole on the house, this will allow you to achieve the optimal height and center of gravity of the car.

We carry out similar work on the opposite side of the car.

The process of installing spacers for the rear shock absorbers of the Priora is completed, do not forget to adjust the headlights.

Installation of springs of different lengths and stiffness

The amount of ground clearance of a car directly depends on the installed spring. The body rests on it, and not only how much the car will rise above the road, but also the operation of the entire suspension depends on its rigidity and length. There are several options for springs on the Lada Priora. These are classes “A” and “B”, the first one is considered the more severe. In addition, there are several types of springs that were installed directly at the factory at different times.

When choosing springs, you should always look for a reasonable compromise, since installing an overly stiff part and using it on an unloaded car will not allow the suspension to work smoothly, and the car will bounce on every bump.

One of the options for increasing ground clearance is to install intercoil spacers on the spring. These elements do not allow the spring to compress completely, and the stiffness of the suspension increases. However, at the same time, the compression of the shock absorber is limited, which reduces the smoothness and comfort of the vehicle's suspension.

Another simple way to increase ground clearance is to install a spacer under the spring between the body and the spring. This part, made of high-strength rubber, easily copes with the pressure of the vehicle's weight on it, while the suspension settings practically do not change. You need to understand that if the spring sag, installing such a spacer will not be able to increase the rigidity of the part. Therefore, the spring must be changed.

Another way to increase the ground clearance of the Priora is to install larger tires. Of course, you cannot simply change the wheel size from R 13 (14) to R 15, but installing a tire with a higher profile is quite acceptable. Instead of 175/55 R 14, you can use 175/70 R 14. But the driver should not forget that a higher wheel profile behaves slightly worse when cornering, and take this fact into account when choosing a speed.

The dimensions of the restyled Lada Priora have not changed significantly. Although, due to the new front and rear bumpers, the length of the Lada Priora has changed by several millimeters.

As before, the restyled Lada Priora sedan has the longest length, which in the new version is 4,350 mm. The length of the station wagon is 1 centimeter shorter, but the Priora hatchback is even smaller, the length of this version of the body is 4210 mm. The width of the entire family is 1,680 mm and the wheelbase is the same for all 2,492 mm.

As for the ground clearance or ground clearance of the Lada Priora, the manufacturer indicates a figure of 165 mm for the sedan and hatchback, while the ground clearance for the Lada Priora station wagon is 170 mm. However, in fact, the ground clearance is greater; just pick up a tape measure and make sure of this. But the manufacturer is not mistaken; he simply indicates the vehicle’s ground clearance when fully loaded.

New Lada: Car diagram - Lada Priora

The luggage compartment volumes of the new version of Lada Priora in all three bodies have changed little. The sedan's trunk volume is 430 liters. The luggage compartment volume of the Priora hatchback is smaller, only 306 liters, but if you fold the rear seats (which cannot be done in a sedan), the volume increases to 705 liters.

Further detailed data on the dimensions of the Lada Priora are in the table below.

As for the tire size of the Lada Priora, the manufacturer recommends installing 14-inch wheels. The tire size can be 175/65 R14 or 185/60 R14 or 185/65 R14. The most interesting thing is that today, even on Lada Granta or Kalina in well-packaged trim levels, AvtoVAZ offers 15-inch wheels as standard.

I stand tall. What ground clearance is needed for a passenger car?

A car with high ground clearance is a blessing, especially in the outback, where there are few good asphalt roads. This suspension allows you to easily pass large holes on broken sections of dirt roads, where passenger cars often damage thresholds and hit the engine crankcase against protruding stones. High ground clearance also helps during snowfalls. Sometimes the courtyards of houses are so covered with snowstorms that driving through the snowdrifts becomes problematic. Low cars fall into snowdrifts along the bottom and helplessly rotate their drive wheels, unable to escape from the winter trap. A couple of extra centimeters to the ground clearance in such a situation can be very useful.

“The ground clearance of a car for living in the city must be at least 160 mm,” says Vyacheslav Subbotin, engineer and captain of the GazReid Sport racing team. “It is this that allows you to painlessly roll the front end up to concrete curbs near sidewalks without the risk of scratching the bottom or crushing the bumper. The height of the curb is exactly 160 mm. True, sometimes they are not buried according to the standard, with height exceeding the standard.”

Rating of high clearance sedans

Lada Vesta

A car with beautiful X-shaped styling and balanced driving characteristics. It has a 2635 mm wheelbase, front-wheel drive and a 480-liter trunk. The ground clearance of the 4-door Vesta sedan is 178 mm, which is more than enough to drive through broken roads with potholes and other defects.

The car comes with 2 gasoline engines of 1.6 and 1.8 liters with a power of 106 and 122 hp. respectively. The power units are paired with a 5-speed manual transmission or an AMT robot with the same number of stages.

Datsun on-Do

A car created on the Lada Granta platform and similar to the Russian budget sedan. The main advantage over the domestic passenger car is the presence of a 4-band automatic transmission, offered in the Trust and Dream trim levels.

The updated Granta with a nameplate from another manufacturer is a compact, practical and inexpensive car, characterized by unpretentious operation, adapted to Russian road conditions due to a reliable and repairable suspension, high ground clearance of 174 mm.

It is worth noting that On-DO sedans with automatic transmission are 10-20 mm lower than versions with manual transmission.

VW Polo

One of the best representatives of cars in this class. The Volkswagen Polo sedan is an easy-to-drive car, adapted for Russian roads. Meets in Kaluga. Compared to its classmates, it has a rich engine range and a 6-speed automatic transmission. However, the ground clearance is less than that of AvtoVAZ’s flagship, Vesta. It is 163 mm.

Under the hood of the 4-door sedan there is a junior 90-horsepower engine, its powerful version with output of 110 “horses,” or a turbocharged TSI gasoline unit developing 125 hp.

SUVs with high ground clearance

As a rule, if they are looking for high ground clearance, then they pay attention to SUVs (in this case, preference should be given to all-wheel drive models). In the conditions of the domestic off-road conditions that are familiar to all of us, you won’t find a better option

In the conditions of the domestic off-road conditions that are familiar to all of us, you won’t find a better option.

Next is a video about cars with high ground clearance:

Chevrolet TrailBlazer

When discussing cars with high ground clearance, we should start with this model. The ground clearance here reaches 25.5 cm, and this is also accompanied by good wheelbase characteristics - 28.45 cm. As a result, this car can easily conquer peaks.

This is complemented by high-quality interior design, a powerful engine, as well as an original and memorable appearance, which makes the model one of the most popular in its segment.

Mercedes-Benz GL

Next in our rating of cars with high ground clearance is a representative of the German automobile industry with a clearance of 28.5 cm. The presence of all-wheel drive, rich equipment and stylish interior design are included. In addition, the model pleases with excellent filling - the Mercedes is equipped with modern equipment.

At the same time, if you are looking for an inexpensive crossover with high ground clearance, then the Mercedes-Benz GL will not suit you - this vehicle belongs to the premium segment. At the same time, this affects not only the cost, but also the excellent parameters in which the car outperforms most competitors.

Infiniti QX80

It is the largest Japanese SUV in the premium segment. Naturally, such elite models are not designed to drive through a swamp, but if Infiniti gets off-road, it will be able to overcome almost any obstacle.

A high ground clearance of 26.3 cm, a powerful engine, excellent suspension, large wheels, and electronic all-wheel drive control systems help achieve this. As a result, the car guarantees a comfortable and safe ride in any conditions.

The most affordable high-clearance passenger cars on the Russian market

Home page / Articles / The most affordable passenger cars with high ground clearance on the Russian market
We decided to compile the top 5 passenger cars, not crossovers, that have the highest ground clearance. Let’s immediately make a reservation that domestically produced cars are not included in the rating; we considered only foreign cars, the cost of basic equipment of which does not exceed 500,000 rubles. All-wheel drive for these cars is not available as a class; the sedan body type is the most common in this segment.

So, the first place in the ranking of high-clearance passenger cars is occupied by the Volkswagen PoloSedan 1.6. The sedan, designed specifically for our conditions, has a ground clearance of 17 centimeters, while Polo is one of the most affordable budget sedans with high ground clearance, even if it is not very richly equipped, but it is still a product of the VAG concern, which means high build quality, reliability and an acceptable level comfort guaranteed. The cost in the basic configuration is 449,000 rubles.

In second place in the list of high-clearance passenger cars is the Nissan Almera 1.6 MT. The new product, which recently debuted on our market, immediately attracted attention with its sophisticated design, high level of comfort, spacious interior, large trunk, and including the standard engine protection between which and the asphalt there are as many as 16 centimeters of ground clearance. In the basic configuration, and quite a rich one, the car is equipped with a high-torque, economical and reliable 1.6-liter engine familiar from RenaultLogan and all this at a price of 429,000 rubles.

In third/fourth place were single-platform Koreans with a ground clearance of 160 mm. The higher price did not allow HyundaiSolaris 1.4 MT and KiaRio 1.4 MT to take second position. The price list for the first one starts from 459,000 rubles, KIA, due to the fact that it does not have its own production in Russia, is slightly more expensive than 489,000 rubles. Both cars have, perhaps, one of the most stylish designs and good equipment. Moreover, unlike the same Citroen C-Elysee, they have stylish interiors. They are good on the move, but they are still inferior to the Polo in handling, and to the Almera in terms of smoothness and capacity. By the way, if you are interested in repairing Citroen generators. then visit the website astarter.ru.

Fifth place was taken by the already legendary RenaultLogan 1.6 MT with a ground clearance of 155 mm, which is half a centimeter less than its relative Almera, to which it transferred the line of engines and suspension. At a price of 349,000 rubles, you get, albeit not very beautiful, empty (if we are talking about the basic configuration), but an incredibly durable car. Indestructibility, unpretentiousness, low cost of service and smooth running with a huge trunk of the Frenchman have already become a habit, which is confirmed by high sales despite the emergence of numerous and strong competitors.

Lada Priora tank how many liters

The popular domestic Lada Priora borrowed the tank volume from its predecessor. And many potential owners are interested in the question, how many liters are in the tank? We will definitely answer this pressing question in this material, and also tell you a lot of useful information about the Lada Priora tank, including what troubles to expect, how much it costs and most importantly, what is the capacity of the gas tank.

A short excursion into history, the legendary VAZ-2108 was equipped with a tank, the volume of which was absolutely the same as that of the VAZ-2110 later. The “Ten” has long been discontinued, and the Priora is being produced, but the capacity of the gas tank has not changed since the days of the “Eight”. At the same time, Lada Priora has its own personal article number (that is, catalog number) for the tank. The number is identical for each body: sedan, exactly the same for a station wagon and, accordingly, for a hatchback. According to numerous owners of the car we are considering, its tank volume is the most optimal, and all because Priora is a 100 percent city car with average fuel consumption in urban conditions and low fuel consumption on the highway. According to information from the car manufacturer, the tank volume is 43 liters, however, Lada Priora owners have found through experience that the tank capacity is actually up to 49 liters.

"Lifting" the machine

In principle, as we have already noted, this is enough for a more or less comfortable ride. But, of course, many people want to “raise” the VAZ 2110 a little more, based on their realities.

“Raised” VAZ 2110

We will tell you how you can actually do this. But let us warn you right away: “raising” the car above the asphalt level entails a number of unpleasant consequences:

1. Clamping the springs, firstly, will lead to a decrease in comfort while driving, and secondly, the shock absorbers will suffer as a result, which will not be able to cope with their responsibilities;
2. The suspension also suffers from too stiff springs, as this leads to increased loads on it;
3. Corrosion is inevitable when using aluminum spacers;
4. By increasing the ground clearance of the VAZ 2110, car owners risk the stability of the car while driving. The fact is that the center of gravity shifts, the car can rock, and in some cases it can even roll over. Therefore, experts strongly recommend not increasing the ground clearance by more than 5 cm. That is, the maximum limit should be no more than 170 mm!

We find something and lose something...

Ground clearance of the Nissan Almera car: ground clearance of the Nissan Almera car and trim levels The trunk volume is not the most impressive - only 450 liters. But a special mesh is provided for securing the load.

Due to unsuccessfully selected suspension settings, the handling of the Lada Priora station wagon is far from ideal.

Generation I Test Drives 1 Generation I Test Drives

Daewoo Gentra (4-door sedan)

Generation I Test Drives THERE is a fairly common misconception that a station wagon can carry heavy loads that a sedan or hatchback cannot. In fact, the gain is only in the volume of cargo, and the difference in carrying capacity, if we talk about the compact class, as a rule, does not exceed a couple of tens of kilograms. The Priora station wagon has a carrying capacity at the level of its Western counterparts - 505 kg. But compared to its brothers - the sedan and hatchback - it increased by only 15 kg.

However, even because of this small difference, the designers had to slightly change the suspension settings. And as a result... the car's driving performance has become worse.

...Roads in the Kaliningrad region, as in any other part of Russia, are far from ideal. However, the station wagon's suspension copes with potholes more or less tolerably. But a series of gentle “waves” on the asphalt made our car sway so much that it was time to stock up on seasickness pills. Actually, this is a long-standing disease of models of the “tenth” family, but the “Priora” sedans and hatchbacks have already recovered from it. And here’s a surprise – on the station wagon, the chronic illness made itself known again. The reason is the unsuccessfully selected characteristics of the springs and shock absorbers. Therefore, in more or less serious turns, the Priora does not perform well and reluctantly reacts to the rotation of the steering wheel - first it almost completely selects the suspension travel, and only then with a strong trim on board it goes into a turn.

Representatives of AvtoVAZ did not argue with this opinion about the driving performance of the station wagon. We agreed that it is necessary to improve the behavior of the car on the road, to more carefully select the characteristics of springs and shock absorbers - according to engineers, this work is already underway.

Aerodynamic test VAZ 2110, 2111, 2112

To answer this question, tests were carried out in the wind tunnel of the Dmitrov test site, in which three cars participated: the VAZ 2110 sedan, the VAZ 2111 station wagon and the VAZ 2112 hatchback.

In order for the test results to be as accurate as possible, it was decided to compare different types of car bodies of the same “tenth” family (the design is made in the same style). In addition, all tested cars had the same equipment (stamped steel wheels, mud flaps, etc.).

One of the important parameters of a wind tunnel is the aerodynamic drag coefficient Cx. This is a dimensionless quantity that reflects the ratio of the force of air resistance to the movement of the car to the force of resistance to the movement of the cylinder. The lower the Cx, the better the aerodynamics of the car. For modern cars Cx < 0.3.

Streamlining of the sedan

Aerodynamic test of the sedan showed

that its drag coefficient Cx is between a hatchback and a station wagon. It loses to the hatchback due to the small vacuum zone that appears above the trunk lid, and beats the station wagon due to the smaller low pressure zone in the rear of the body.

The turning moment Mz of the VAZ 2110 sedan is the largest, which suggests that its road stability will be worse than that of its rivals.

Aerodynamic parameters can be changed by installing various aerodynamic body kits.

Streamlining station wagon

Aerodynamic test of the station wagon showed

that its streamlining is noticeably worse than that of a sedan. (Cx 0.347 vs. 0.381). Why is that ? When driving behind a car, a vacuum zone occurs, which depends on the vertical rear of the car. The larger this part, the larger the area of ​​​​low pressure and the more the car is pulled back and increases Cx.

Interestingly, at the time of designing the station wagon, AvtoVAZ designers could have chosen a more successful version of the rear spoiler in the form of a deflector that cuts off some of the air from the roof to the trunk door. This deflector reduced the vacuum zone, and the rear window became less dirty. Almost the same deflector can be seen on the Volvo V70. Why their choice fell on the spoiler option, which was more inferior in terms of parameters, remains a mystery.

Thanks to the greater “windage” of the sidewalls, the station wagon “holds the road” better at high speeds than the sedan and hatchback. This is clearly visible from the low value of the turning moment Mz in the VAZ-2111.

Streamlining hatchback

The aerodynamic test of the hatchback showed

good results. Cx VAZ 2112 turned out to be equal to 0.335, which is slightly less than that of the sedan. The secret to success is the tilt of the hatchback rear window. It is installed at a much greater angle, so the air flows out of the machine evenly and without interruption. It is worth noting that if you set the hatchback rear wiper to a vertical position, the Cx value will be slightly reduced.

The turning torque of a hatchback is largely dependent on the angle of the rear window. If the rear window has an angle close to that of a station wagon, then the drag of such a car will be greater than that of a sedan. An example is the VW Golf IV. And if the glass of the hatchback's fifth door is installed at an angle, like that of the VAZ 2112, then the streamlining will be the same as that of a sedan, or better.

Interior

After the restyling, the interior of the Lada Priora became much more expressive and modern. A new dashboard, a large display in the middle of the dashboard, an updated center console - all this has ennobled the interior of the sedan. But the same features of the panel, the same gear lever, steering wheel, seat upholstery, flaws in the assembly and other points remind of the previous interior of the car.

The interior of the LADA Priora is generally not bad, but not impressive.

Vesta's salon is fundamentally different. A completely different design, created in the style of modern foreign cars, a large display that fits harmoniously into the interior, and does not break out of it, as in the Priora, an impressive dashboard, high-quality operation of the climate system, well-profiled seats with good lateral support, space, etc.

Vesta's salon looks much more interesting.

In general, the interior of the LADA Priora is acceptable, but after Vesta it leaves a clear feeling of unfinished and lack of harmony.

Options and cost

Lada Priora has half as many versions as Vesta - 3 versus 6. In addition, the described advantages of the new sedan over its predecessor can largely be explained by the difference in cost. The starting price of LADA Priora is 389,000 rubles, while for LADA Vesta it is 514,000 rubles. For class B cars the difference is 125,000 rubles. very weighty. Top versions are priced at 464,000 rubles. and 633,000 rub. (RUB 658,000 for modification with AMT). Consequently, at the top the difference grows to 169,000 (RUB 194,000).

Lada Priora: cost of new models

Various car modifications

The price for the main version of the new Lada Priora, released in 2011, is 11,500 thousand dollars. This version can be safely called “empty”, but still, a certain minimum of equipment is present in it, namely: electric windows, an airbag for the driver, an alarm system and central locking.

The average option will cost 13,000 thousand dollars. And the most “stuffed” package costs about 14,500 thousand dollars.

This modification is equipped with a 16-valve engine with a capacity of 98 horsepower, airbags, an ABS system, fog lights, parking sensors, climate control, an on-board computer, power windows, heated seats and mirrors and 14-inch alloy wheels.

In 2006, AvtoVAZ OJSC began the first cycle of preparation for the release of the new Lada Priora model. The car, which received the index 2170, was created on the basis of the Lada-110 model, adopting the platform and engine from it. In fact, the Priora was an in-depth restyling of the Ten. About a thousand changes were noted in the design, both superficial and fundamental. Priora received an extensive range of interior and luggage compartment parts. The exterior of the Lada Priora, ground clearance and many other parameters of the chassis differed from those of the 110th model. The doors became 5 mm wider, which forced the stamping shop of the Tolyatti plant to rebuild several punches and dies. Thus, the identity of the Lada 110 and the Lada Priora was reduced to a minimum. AvtoVAZ engineers counted over a thousand parts that distinguished the old Lada from the new one, and radically changed the design of the “tens”. External attributes, moldings, alloy wheels, external door handles, front optics, rear lights, hood, trunk, tail and the entire exterior as a whole exuded novelty. The final touch of the update is Kama Euro tires size 185/65 R14.

VAZ-2110 ground clearance

VAZ-2110 is a Russian sedan car, one of the most popular models of the 1990s-2000s in Russia. The car was developed in 1994 and is an independent project of AvtoVAZ. The car was equipped with front-wheel drive, and was considered one of the best-selling modifications of the “ten” family, which also includes a five-door hatchback and station wagon.

The Volzhsky Automobile Plant car was produced from 1995 to 2007. Despite this, the VAZ-2110 was still produced in Ukraine, under the Bogdan brand. Production of the model was finally completed in 2014.

The VAZ-2110 on the Russian market was available with 1.5 and 1.6 liter gasoline engines. Their power ranges from 73-90 horsepower, depending on boost. In addition, AvtoVAZ also produced a small-scale version with a volume of 1.8 liters and a capacity of 98 horsepower. And finally, it was possible to order a VAZ-2110 with a two-liter 150-horsepower engine.

Comparative table of vehicle clearance

Maxim Markov

Hi all! In the modern realities of Mother Russia, most motorists travel by car both on asphalt roads and on dirt roads. I won’t say anything about the qualities of our autobahns here, I’ll just say that such a trip is often quite simple to describe – an off-road rally! Therefore, when every now and then you scrape the bottom of your car along the roadway, whether you like it or not, you will have to not only get acquainted with the concept of ground clearance, but also learn how to increase the car’s ground clearance. The latter, of course, worries those who are used to doing everything on their own. Today, we’ll talk about this value, and the comparative table of vehicle clearance, which can be seen below, will help you install a vehicle with optimal ground clearance for your area.

Types of clearance

Due to the fact that each car has a different ground clearance, we will divide it into three categories:

1. Small – passenger cars.
2. Medium – SUVs and crossovers.
3. The big one is SUVs.

If you haven't yet understood why this is so, now you will. Since there is no single established point for measuring ground clearance, I will show you the difference in readings between these three options based on the most popular lowest elements of the car, the front bumper and the sump housing.

The ground clearance for the above types of cars looks like this:

• Passenger cars - 14-20 cm from the bumper and 12-17 cm from the pan.
• Crossovers and SUVs – 18-25 cm, 17-21 cm.
• SUVs – 20-35 cm, from 20 cm and above.

The highest clearance value is found in specialized equipment. For example, for a conventional row-crop tractor this figure can reach up to 50-70 cm, and in the case of construction equipment, up to 200 cm.

Be that as it may, ground clearance has been and remains an individual characteristic of each vehicle. And although many experts worked to classify cars on this basis, they were not able to do this completely. Therefore, all these three groups should be taken somewhat conditionally, because there are often cases when the ground clearance of an ordinary passenger car is several times higher than the value of a crossover or the same SUV.

Interior

Ground clearance (clearance) of Lada Largus in various bodies: van, 5 seats

The high level of ergonomics also did not cause any complaints. Finishing materials, relatively inexpensive, but of sufficient quality, are combined according to color scheme and make the interior of the car cozy and relaxing. Italian designers used the finishing tone in a double, layered version. The upper tier of the cabin is decorated with light-colored materials, while the lower tier is decorated with darker materials. There is no contrasting transition between these two levels; one color replaces the other smoothly, in halftones. In fact, the entire interior trim is done in a two-tone version, which creates the impression of integrity. The driver's door armrest is equipped with semi-automatic power window control buttons, and there is also a joystick for adjusting the exterior rear-view mirrors. All buttons are designed in an anti-press format; accidental touches will not turn them on.

Options and prices | Auto is the official dealer of LADA in Khmelnitsky

vaz.km.ua

High clearance sedans: the most popular models

Compactness and affordable cost have made such cars one of the most popular in our country. In addition, the models stand out for their attractive appearance, representativeness and ease of maintenance.

Now we will discuss models that will delight us with their ground clearance.

Volkswagen Polo

The ground clearance of this model reaches 17 cm. Combined with high-quality assembly and excellent dynamics, this makes the car an excellent option for driving both on the streets and off-road. Among the main characteristics of the model it is worth highlighting:

• engine with a volume of 1.6 liters and a power of 105 horsepower;
• manual five-speed gearbox (or 6-speed robot);
• good dynamics (with a manual you can take a hundred in 10.5 seconds).

Chevrolet Lanos

First of all, it is worth emphasizing the affordable cost of the model, especially if you look closely at the secondary market. Many people don’t like the design of the car, but this is a matter of taste and preference. In any case, a sedan with a ground clearance of 16 cm deserves your attention. In addition, the model pleases us:

• 1.5 liter engine and 86 horses;
• high-quality five-speed transmission;
• good dynamics (acceleration to 100 km/h will take 12.5 seconds);
• quite comfortable fit.

At the same time, the car takes quite a lot of fuel - in city conditions, some models require about 10 l/100 km.

Toyota Camry

This high-clearance sedan has become an incomparable world leader in many respects. The machine pleases with its performance and excellent functionality. The design is classic, but this is only for the benefit of the car. It especially stands out for its high-quality assembly.

Of the main parameters, it is necessary to say about:

• ground clearance of 16 cm;
• convenient disembarkation and embarkation;
• wide selection of high-quality motors;
• excellent gearboxes that are designed to save fuel;
• presentable appearance;
• relatively low cost (about 998 thousand rubles).

An increased level of comfort allows you to enjoy traveling in a premium car even when purchasing the basic version.

Nissan Almera

To be honest, the ground clearance here is not that great - only 15 cm. At the same time, this is quite enough to feel comfortable in the city. On the other hand, the model has a lot of other positive qualities:

• powerful 1.5-liter engine and 102 horses;
• excellent dynamics (with mechanics, 100 km is taken in 10 seconds);
• spacious fuel tank (50 l);
• the ability to choose a model with automatic transmission or manual gearbox);
• stylish appearance.

In addition, you need to take into account that this vehicle is a Japanese car, which indicates its quality and reliability. In addition, you can feel good in this Nissan even while driving with not very high-quality fuel

What's good about high ground clearance?

High ground clearance has always been valued by true car enthusiasts; its high value definitely increases the status of the car, both visually and functionally. You don’t need to go far here, take for example any Lada car and double its ground clearance. I’m sure the car will appear before you in a completely different form, like an SUV. And you, as a driver, will receive a lot of advantages:

• The visibility around the car will increase significantly;
• Getting into the car will become much easier and more convenient;
• The cross-country ability will also please you; the likelihood of “sitting on your belly” in snow or mud will be significantly reduced;
• The front and rear overhang angles will also increase accordingly, which will keep bumpers and body kit elements from colliding with the road surface or curb.
• Increasing the pitch and roll angle will give you some advantage when overcoming road obstacles.

What can we perform there?

The first thing that will suffer when encountering a deep pothole or an open sewer hatch is, of course, the front bumper. As soon as the car dives into such a hole (look at the photo), you are guaranteed a split bumper. Let's not talk about dented wheels and sills now.

There are no general standards, but there are average values ​​for cars, family cars, and SUVs that reflect the ground clearance (distance from the front bumper to the asphalt):

• for SUVs from 18 to 35 cm;
• for passenger cars from 13 to 20 cm.

Next in line for the “breakdown”, and in the direction of travel, we have the oil pan. That's who gets it to the fullest. No, no, you’ll hear from a friend that he broke through the pan. And this is already a very expensive repair. The pan itself, changing the oil, or even worse, if you didn’t immediately notice the breakdown and drove for some significant distance without oil. Quite often, the clearance between the pan and the ground is even less than from the bumper. To be precise, it is not the pallet itself that sticks out, but its protection. But it’s better to let the ground clearance decrease slightly, by a few centimeters due to protection, than to drive at the risk of damaging the pan.

Here the values ​​are almost the same:

1. for an SUV on average from 17 cm;
2. for a passenger car from 12 cm.

Elements of the front suspension of some cars (levers, rods) can also significantly reduce ground clearance. Don’t forget about the muffler with a resonator, which, although recessed into the bottom, can easily get caught on the road on some car models.

At one time, as the owner of a VAZ 2112 car, during a year of operation, I managed to puncture the gas tank three times. This is all to blame, of course, for the disgusting directions and also weak rear springs, because of which the ground clearance in the middle part of my car was indecently small, and at any opportunity I clung to obstacles with this element. After the third time, I was already seriously concerned about this issue (I still think, why not after the second), and I changed the springs along with the tank. I installed new ones from model 11, since it is half a turn longer. I really don’t know if this solved the problem, because I sold the car almost immediately.

We compare the ground clearance of different cars in the table

Clearance is explained by GOST as the distance between such parts of the car as the supporting surface and the lowest point of the central part of the entire structure. Simply put, this is the distance that separates the prospect of damaging the lowest part of the car and the road surface. More often, this concept can be heard in such a form as ground clearance - it is more understandable, easier to remember and therefore used with great pleasure.

The amount of ground clearance is a very important characteristic for any car, as it significantly affects stability at high speed, cross-country ability, and maneuverability. And these, without a doubt, are the indicators that can demonstrate the car in the best light. As for cross-country ability, it can be increased along with an increase in value. By the way, this can be done while driving – on some cars.

As a rule, ground clearance is indicated in millimeters, sometimes also in centimeters. It is also common practice to notify car owners about two values ​​- clearance under the front and rear axles. Sometimes they even indicate the clearance that is under the engine crankcase.

To make it easier to characterize clearance, in the future, using a table, a conditional classification of this characteristic should be given. In general, ground clearance can be divided into three categories: high (SUVs and SUVs), medium (crossovers and SUVs), small (passenger cars). And now regarding the specific values ​​of ground clearance under the front bumper:

1. 20-35 cm for SUVs.
2. Not less than 18 cm and not more than 25 cm for SUVs.
3. 14-20 cm for cars.

As for the oil pan, these are the following values:

• From 20 cm for SUVs;
• From 17 to 21 cm for SUVs;
• From 12 to 17 cm for passenger cars.

Vesta factory tires and wheels

If you decide to replace the standard wheels and tires on a Lada Vesta, then rely on the full diameter of the wheel. How to do this, using 185/60 R14 as an example:

• A disk with a diameter of 14″ is equal to 14 * 25.4 (1 inch = 2.54 cm) = 355.6 mm.
• The height of the tire profile is calculated as follows: 185*60/100=111 mm. Add up the rim diameter and the two tire profile heights: 355.6 111 * 2 = 577.6 mm.

The green color indicates the minimum deviation of the wheel diameter (up to 3 mm); Orange indicates a diameter deviation from 3 to 6 mm.

When installing tires or wheels that differ in parameters from those recommended by the factory, you can:

• be refused warranty repair of the chassis;
• be stopped by a traffic police inspector, who has the right to draw up a report on the car’s non-compliance with the requirements of the Technical Regulations;
• fail to pass technical inspection.

If you are going to buy winter tires for your Lada Vesta, then try to choose narrower tires. These tires will create more pressure on the road surface and improve traction. Remember that wide tires are more sensitive to ruts in winter. And low-profile tires make the ride less comfortable, because... transfer even the smallest holes to the body.

The smaller the unsprung mass (this includes the mass of tires and wheels), the better the car will hold the road and accelerate faster. For example, if you put wheels on a car that are 2 kg lighter each, then acceleration to 100 km/h will be reduced by 0.2 seconds.

What wheels and tires did you choose for the Lada Vesta? What are the pros and cons of such a replacement? Participate in the survey, leave feedback and ask questions. Let us remind you that in this article we determine the real fuel consumption of this car.

General characteristics of the car

Standard wheel clearance

Few passenger cars can match SUVs in terms of ground clearance, but high ground clearance is only important in combination with other vehicle characteristics. If we consider the Priora’s ground clearance, then, on the one hand, everything is very clear here: this figure for this model is 165 mm. But in order to assess its sufficiency, it is necessary to additionally consider the following characteristics:

• total length of the vehicle;
• front and rear overhang length;
• wheelbase;
• vehicle track width;
• the presence of protruding elements under the bottom of the car;
• change in ground clearance for a fully loaded car.

Specifications

So, if we consider the factory design characteristics, then on all types of VAZ 2110 (and they were produced with sedan, hatchback and station wagon bodies), the ground clearance should be at least 165 mm - from the road to the oil pan, 140 mm - to the lowest point of the muffler. For 1.5 liter engines there is another indicator - the clearance to the catalyst must be at least 130 mm.

Dimensions of VAZ 2110

Lowering the car: why and how to do it

Lowering the suspension is usually done to style the car and give it a more daring look. Such tuning makes the car tougher, but nevertheless remains popular. You can lower the VAZ 2170 in the following ways:

1. Installing air suspension (the most expensive method). Complete reworking of the chassis. The result is a lowered car that can be raised if desired.
2. Chassis with adjustable clearance (also expensive). Here, the degree of compression of the springs is adjusted automatically.
3. Installation of low profile tires. Low-profile tires are definitely not suitable for bumps, but you won’t have to modify the chassis.
4. Shortening (sawing off) springs. This is a budget method - you only need to saw off 1.5 turns in the front, 2 turns in the back.

When purchasing a car, the future owner evaluates a number of indicators that must primarily meet the characteristics of the upcoming operation or the conditions of the region in which the car will be used. Considering the poor quality of roads in certain parts of Russia, such a parameter as vehicle clearance plays a fairly important role.