Ground Clearance
Ground clearance is the distance between the ground and the lowest point of the car's underbody.
What is Ground Clearance?
It matters for kerbs, speed bumps, snow and off-road driving. Manufacturers measure it under defined load conditions, which may differ. Air suspension can change ground clearance. Off-road vehicles are also described by approach, departure and breakover angles, which together with ground clearance show what obstacles can be crossed. Underbody shields protect the engine and gearbox but also reduce the clearance figure slightly.
How it works
The lowest point may be the exhaust, a suspension part or the underbody protection.
Why it matters for your car
Lowering a car reduces ground clearance and can damage the underbody. Fully loaded cars sit lower than the published figure.
Other terms
- Anti-roll Bar Link (Drop Link)
- Blower Resistor (Fan Speed Resistor)
- Car Loan
- Chrome Plating
- Door Hinge
- Footwell
- Front Grille
- Fuel Filler Neck
- High-pressure Fuel Pump
- Oil Level Sensor
- Oscilloscope
- Pending Code
- Permanent Code
- Power-to-weight Ratio
- Propeller Shaft Centre Bearing
- Range Estimate (Guess-o-Meter)
- Seatbelt Height Adjuster
- Toll Vignette
- Vehicle-to-Load (V2L)
- Xenon Headlight (HID)