Few will argue with the fact that in Russia, when choosing a new car, one of the most important aspects (if not the most important) is the amount of ground clearance. And such attention to this parameter appeared, unfortunately, not from a good life.
Traveling by car across the boundless expanses of our Motherland, no one will be surprised if the road suddenly turns into a “direction”. In the outback there are still places where people saw asphalt only on TV. Even in modern megacities, where some streets are more like an obstacle course, and winter comes unexpectedly every year, the sight of a man who went to work with a briefcase in one hand and a shovel in the other has become absolutely familiar. And very often, having bought a brand new car, newly-made owners, discussing the purchase with friends or acquaintances, hear disapproving words about their car: “Low!”.
Let's try to figure out whether the ride height is really so important, what else you should pay attention to and what to do for those motorists who are not satisfied with the height of their car.
To begin with, it is necessary to determine what is ground clearance or clearance. GOST defines this concept as the distance between the supporting surface and the lowest point of the central part of the car. Where, in turn, the central part is the part enclosed between two planes parallel to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the car and equally spaced from the inner surface of the wheels.
Of course, being in a car dealership, no one will calculate a certain central part of the car, therefore, translating from Russian into Russian, ground clearance is the distance from the ground to the lowest point of the car. Only to find this lowest point is not easy. After all, the space under the bottom of the car is a whole heap of various structures: hanging parts from engine compartment, suspension elements, exhaust system, a tank located under the bottom of the "reserve" - all this increases the chances of catching when driving through bumps. Therefore, it is most correct to find several such lower points.
The first element to suffer is most often the front bumper. It is he who “checks” the height of city curbs and winter snowdrifts, polishes the snow rolled between the ruts. And it is the distance from the surface to the edge of the front bumper that should be measured in the first place, especially since this is the easiest to do. As a rule, the distance from the surface to the edge of the front bumper is noticeably higher than the minimum ground clearance declared in the TTX and averages:
Ground clearance of cars under the front bumper
For cars– from 14 to 20 cm
For SUVs - from 18 to 25 cm
For SUVs - from 20 to 35 cm
On many modern passenger cars around the entire perimeter of the bumper you can find a "skirt" made of flexible unpainted plastic. This protective element is a kind of sound signaling device when hitting an obstacle. You don’t really need to be afraid of the unpleasant rattle of plastic, since the “skirt” is designed to warn the owner about the possibility of damage to the bumper or paintwork. Even if the “skirt” becomes completely unusable, it will not be difficult to replace it yourself, especially since the cost of this part is usually a penny. Some owners immediately remove this part of the bumper, thereby increasing the distance from the ground to the front edge of the car by 2-3 or even more centimeters. But keep in mind, at the next contact, the bumper will have to suffer directly with all the ensuing consequences.
Recommendation: the best way to save yourself from worries and keep the front of the car in its original form is to install a switchable parking sensors. Moreover, if possible, place a pair of sensors as low as possible. It is better to hear the sound from the speaker once again than the rattle of the bumper.
Moving deep into the bottom, the next important point to which it is worth measuring the distance from the ground is the engine oil pan. It is he who will most often be the lowest point engine compartment car. It does not make much sense to take into account the elements of the front suspension or steering, since the total area of \u200b\u200btheir surfaces is too small. Even in the event of damage, the cost of repairing or replacing individual suspension parts cannot be compared with possible consequences breakdown of the oil pan. On average, the clearance varies:
Ground clearance of cars under the oil pan
For cars - from 12 to 17 cm
For SUVs - from 17 to 21 cm
For SUVs - from 20 cm and above
Recommendation: be sure to install engine protection. Plastic pads, which are regularly present on some cars, at best protect against dirt, performing, in fact, the role of anthers. But a piece of metal or carbon fiber, "eating" a few centimeters of ground clearance, will be able to save most of the elements of the engine compartment from a stone flying under the car or a boulder hiding in a snowdrift or snow rut. Carbon protection is more durable, but some manufacturers refuse to use it for safety reasons: in a head-on collision, the engine, having met a strong “obstacle” from below, can squeeze out into the passenger compartment. Despite the obvious benefits of crankcase protection, many still neglect the installation of this equipment.
Having successfully overcome the obstacle of the first third of the car, you should not relax. Elements exhaust system located along the entire underside of the vehicle may become objects of attention for protruding parts of a rough road. You can get hooked fuel tank or an absorber, often located next to it. The design of the rear suspension (especially dependent) also reduces the ride height at the rear of the vehicle. On rear- or all-wheel drive vehicles, the impact may fall on cardan shaft or rear differential housing.
Recommendation: study your car from below by driving it onto a flyover or lift. Knowledge design features elements located under the bottom, will make it possible to pass obstacles between the wheels from the right side, without fear of catching or tearing something.
When describing a particular vehicle in the automotive press, the term "geometric cross-country ability" is often encountered. But not everyone pays due attention to the values of this characteristic. But in vain! Cars with good geometric cross-country ability can sometimes easily pass where cars with high ground clearance do not always pass.
This is primarily due to the angles of entry and exit, the values of which directly depend on the length of the front and rear overhangs, as well as the shape of the bumpers. For cars with a long “nose”, even getting into a tow truck is sometimes a problem. Moreover, not only cars, but also large all-wheel drive SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade. Hanging under rear bumper a full-size spare tire or a "bank" of heavy-duty muffler adds no off-road advantage.
The second important value is the angle of longitudinal patency, which is determined by the maximum degree at which the car can move from the slope to the horizontal part of the surface without touching the bottom. Directly depends on the length of the wheelbase. Even with a high clearance and approach/departure angles for a long-wheelbase vehicle, a banal exit from the curb can be an insurmountable obstacle. In close megacities, there are often vehicles whose drivers, not sparing the thresholds, park on the sidewalk.
But cars with a small distance from the center of the front to the center rear wheels can amaze with their abilities. For example, the urban rogue Peugeot 107, which, it would seem, is not at all suitable for driving off asphalt, having short overhangs, a minimum ground clearance of 15 cm and a base of only 2.34 meters, easily overcomes steep road slopes and deep pits simply along the contour, without the slightest hint of something to grab on to.
But an example of the loss of off-road performance due to a stretched body is the VAZ-2131. the classic Niva, which worked miracles on impassable roads, having lengthened by half a meter, began to regularly cling to the “belly”.
Recommendation: When choosing a car, pay attention to the design features of the body and its individual elements. A large all-wheel drive "SUV" or even an SUV can catch on where an ordinary passenger car will pass.
As a result, we can say that it is necessary to consider the amount of ground clearance only in combination with the rest of the cross-country characteristics. When choosing a car, you need to clearly understand where and how often it will be used. In the end, the lion's share of the Russian car fleet is far from occupied by Niva, UAZ, Hummer and Land Rovers. And careful driving, a good “sense of dimensions” and knowledge of the design features of your car will make up a good compensation for the missing centimeters of clearance.
But, if, nevertheless, the desire to increase the clearance of your car does not leave you alone, you can do the following:
- Increase wheel size. The easiest and most inexpensive way to make a car taller, however, it has its own nuances. If selected new car, in the list of options of which there are wheels of a larger radius, then you will not have to count on an increase in clearance. By increasing the radius of the disks, the manufacturer reduces the profile of the rubber: wheels with dimensions 195/65R15, 205/55R16, 225/45R17, 225/40R18 have almost the same outer radius. It is the rubber profile that needs to be increased, but also the increase in ground clearance will be provided by replacing the wheels from 195/65R15 to 205/65R16, that is, with the same profile, but with a larger radius. But in this case, not everything is so simple. The fact is that the increased outer radius of the wheels, at best, will affect the accuracy of the speedometer readings, at worst, it will disable the speed sensor, the malfunction of which will affect the performance ABS systems and ESP (if they are in the car). So you need to think hard before you go to the tire store.
- A more radical way is to replace the shock absorbers and springs with higher ones. Now the offer of tuning centers, especially in large cities, allows you to easily select suspension elements for almost any car. But, replacing any regular components of the car is an instant loss of the factory warranty (if it has not ended yet). The increased ground clearance will also increase the center of gravity of the car, as a result, the car will noticeably lose stability, especially when cornering.
- As can be seen from the first two points, the increase in clearance turns into noticeable disadvantages. And, if the landing of the car is categorically not satisfied, then the best way to make the car higher is ... buying a “higher” car. And here it all depends on the requirements and possibilities.
Good luck on the roads and directions!
Ground clearance or ground clearance is one of the terms that not all novice motorists are familiar with. Therefore, today we decided to prepare an article in which we will talk about what a car's clearance is.
The clearance of the car is the distance from the lowest point of the central part of the car to the supporting surface. The central part of the vehicle is the part that is located between the longitudinal parallel plane and equidistant from the inner part of the automobile wheels.
In simple terms ground clearance or ground clearance is the distance between the road and the bottom of the car. This is the highest height of an obstacle, when hitting it, it will not come into contact with the bottom of the car.
Why even know what the clearance of a car is? First of all, the stability of the car when driving at high speed, its maneuverability and, of course, its cross-country ability depend on this parameter. Not high ground clearance- one of the main features of sports cars, but high ground clearance is a characteristic feature of SUVs. Finding out where the lowest point of the car is located can be quite difficult.
In some machines, this point will be one of the parts exhaust system car, others have a spare tire, and still others have suspension parts, an oil pan or a front bumper. It is for this reason that it is not always easy to determine the amount of clearance.
Clearance measurement
In order to determine the ground clearance of a car, a ruler is used, as well as a viewing hole with even ramps. First you need to make sure that it meets the recommendations of the car manufacturer. In addition, you need to get rid of everything superfluous. The ground clearance of the car is measured in millimeters. It is advisable to take measurements under the crankcase and under the axles. These indicators will be different, depending on the type of vehicle and its class.
Approximate clearance values when measured from the bottom of the front bumper to the supporting surface for the following vehicle categories:
- passenger cars - 1,400 - 2,000 mm;
- crossovers - 1,800 - 2,500 mm;
The clearance in this place is determined, first of all, since it is the lower part of the front bumper that is most often damaged during movement outside good roads and when parking a car. In order to protect the bumper, a special "skirt" made of soft plastic is often installed.
If you often operate the machine on rough terrain, the likelihood of damage to the oil pan increases significantly, and therefore it is strongly recommended to use engine protection. For example, we will give the ground clearance of cars under the crankcase:
- passenger cars - 1,200 - 1,700 mm;
- crossovers - 1,700 - 2,100 mm;
- off-road cars - 2,000 - 3,500 mm.
In addition, one must understand that the question of what is the clearance of a car should be of interest not only to those who want to buy a new car. Practice shows that ground clearance decreases over time as a result of wear and tear of various suspension elements and tires of the car. In this regard, from time to time it is necessary to measure the clearance, and in some cases increase it. By the way, we already wrote recently. Be sure to check out our tips.
I would also like to say that the ability of the car to overcome serious obstacles depends not only on its ground clearance, but also on the length of the overhangs, the size of the wheelbase and the front bumper. Therefore, this issue needs to be approached comprehensively. Sometimes it happens that a crossover cannot pass in those places where an inconspicuous passenger car “slipped” with ease.
Now you know what ground clearance is, how to increase ground clearance (by the way, you can do this using), so you can prepare the car for driving on our "ideal" roads!
What is the clearance of a car? The ground clearance of a car is its ground clearance. It is measured in millimeters and shows the distance from the lowest point of the car along its middle line to the supporting surface, i.e. roads. It is visually estimated by an estimate by eye, how much the car is raised above the road.
Clearance is a geometric value that affects the car's cross-country ability - the larger it is, the more confident the driver conquers a bad road, or even off-road. For example, the clearance of the UAZ 469 is 300 mm, the clearance will be a kind of antipode KIA Spectra equal to 155 mm.
To understand how the clearance of a car is measured, you can make a schematic representation of your car in its cross section. Find its lowest point, located near the conditional center line of the car. The distance between this point and the road surface will show the amount of clearance. Measurements are taken closer to the center due to the ruts inherent in bad roads - the bottom of the car in the middle will be dangerously close to the road.
Ground clearance or ground clearance of UAZ-469 and a sports car
But an increase in ground clearance, in turn, reduces the stability of the car on the road - a raised center of gravity and air turbulence under the bottom at high speed will worsen the car's handling. Not by chance sports cars, designed for racing on the highway, "pressed" to the roadway. But those that participate in the rally, on the contrary, are raised as much as possible.
An increase in ground clearance reduces stability and impairs vehicle handling.
Mudguards, of course, should not be considered the lowest point of the car, but such suspension elements as the rear beam on the Volga with a protruding gearbox housing rear axle, already significantly reduce the clearance. The most striking example of a clearance lowered in this way is the rear suspension device on the Moskvich 2141. If you still come across one on the road - look under the car from behind - the beam hangs so low that it can be torn off by decisively driving over an overly protruding sewer hatch.
| car model | Clearance in mm |
|---|---|
| Sedan | |
| Lada Priora | 165 |
| Ravon Gentra | 160 |
| Nissan Almera | 160 |
| Toyota Camry | 160 |
| Renault Logan | 155 |
| hatchback | |
| Renault Sandero Stepway | 195 |
| Seat Altea 4 Freetrack | 176 |
| Lada Priora | 165 |
| Hyundai Solaris | 160 |
| Kia Rio | 160 |
| Skoda Rapid | 160 |
| station wagon | |
| Volvo XC70 | 210 |
| Kia cee'd | 160 |
| Ford Focus | 160 |
| Hyundai i30 | 150 |
| Lada Largus | 145 |
| Skoda Superb | 139 |
| Minivan | |
| Lada largus cross | 210 |
| Hyundai Starex H-1 | 190 |
| Volkswagen Multivan | 186 |
| Toyota Alphard | 168 |
| Toyota Sienna | 168 |
| Volkswagen Touran | 150 |
| SUV | |
| Renault Duster | 205 |
| Lada 4x4 | 205 |
| Chevrolet Niva | 200 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 197 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 195 |
| Nissan Qashqai | 192 |
A motorist who often drives on bad roads often asks himself the question - how to increase the clearance and raise the car above the road? The same question is of interest to someone who usually travels with a loaded car "to the eyeballs". Consider several ways to change the ride height and note the advantages and disadvantages of each method to increase (raise) the vehicle's clearance.
Installation of enlarged rubber gaskets under the springs
Larger rubber pads for springs
In car dealerships, you can buy sets of rubber gaskets for springs. Such a gasket is installed between the body and the spring and, as it were, lengthens the latter. As a result, after the work, the car visually rises, especially its usually lighter rear part.
With a dependent suspension in a car, rubber pads under the springs are not suitable to increase the clearance.
But not always the use of such spacers increases the clearance. If the suspension of the car is independent, the clearance, no doubt, increases. But if the wheels are connected by a beam (dependent suspension), then when spacers are installed under the springs, the beam is pressed down, and if it was too close to the road surface before the work, then the situation will not change with the spacers. Although, of course, the bottom of the car and what is attached to it will rise. In addition, when driving with a load, the wheels will no longer touch the fender liner, and the mudguards will no longer rub off on the asphalt.
But sometimes the application of this method leads to unexpected results. For example, the installation of such rubber bands, increased by 30 mm compared to the standard ones, will press down the upper front levers on the classic Zhiguli. And when the front wheels hit an obstacle, the springs will touch the inner edges of these levers. This is accompanied by such a roar that the driver will be sure that there was a disaster with the suspension of his "swallow".
Installation of spacers under the racks
Spacers for front and rear racks
This method of increasing ground clearance has become the most widespread as it is relatively inexpensive. Polymer and metal spacers are used to increase the vehicle's ground clearance. This method consists in increasing the linear size of the rack with a spring put on it.
To raise the rear of the machine, it is enough to disconnect the rack from the lever (or beam) and install a special bracket on the lugs designed for the rack, which is already attached to the bracket. The distance from the holes for installing the spacer to the holes for the rack will determine how much the rear of the car will rise.
But again, in the case of dependent suspension the distance from the rear beam to the road surface will not change.
Installing spacers under the front or rear racks increases the load on the CV joints.
The front of the machine, in which the spring is put on the rack, is raised by installing remote polymer (or metal) spacers between the support bearing housing and the body cup. Complete with them, as a rule, elongated studs are sold, which replace the standard ones. Given that the front suspension is independent, in this case we can talk about a full increase in ground clearance.
The main disadvantage of increasing the clearance of a car in this way is that the axles of the drive shafts will be at an angle to the gearbox, which will cause an increase in the load on the CV joints.
This is not a far-fetched fear - many car owners who have raised their cars in this way have noted the appearance of a characteristic crunch of the hinges, even when driving in a straight line.
The same is true for the independent rear suspension on rear- or all-wheel drive vehicles - CV joints rear drives also experience overload with this method to raise the car, increasing its clearance.
If you want to increase the clearance of the car with your own hands, then both of the above methods allow anyone who has repaired the suspension to do this.
Air suspension on front wheel car
This variant of changing the clearance is devoid of the disadvantages inherent in the methods described above. First of all, modern pneumatic systems allow you to change the ground clearance without leaving the driver's seat - a control unit with a display is installed in the passenger compartment.
Modern pneumatic systems are expensive and require space in the car to accommodate them.
Modern air suspension- this is a complex system, with many adjustments, which allows not only to increase or, conversely, reduce ground clearance, but also to change the stiffness of the suspension as required by the condition of the road.
But, unfortunately, the cost of the pneumatic system is high and, in addition, it will require space to place it in the car. Its most voluminous elements are the receiver and the compressor.
Some motorists are trying to increase the clearance of the car by putting on it or high rubber, but this does not always live up to expectations.
In conclusion, before you decide how you will increase the clearance of your car, consult with those who have already “lifted” a car of the same model as yours. Maybe a breakdown of the drives will negate your desire to increase the cross-country ability of your car.
Now you know what it is - the clearance in the car and how to increase it different ways. Good luck on the roads!
Ground clearance (also known as ground clearance) is one of the most basic and important parameters any car. Many of us, when choosing a car, often pay special attention to this parameter. Ground clearance is especially important in winter conditions, when traditionally winter catches public utilities by surprise and roads even in large Russian cities turn into winter rally tracks. Unfortunately, what automakers indicate in specifications Ah, often not true. For example, few people think about the fact that, in fact, the clearance of cars in reality is much less than what is claimed by car companies.
So if you buy a car with a ground clearance of 140 or even 150 mm, do not be surprised later in the winter that your car literally scrapes "high-quality" snow-covered Russian roads due to the fact that in reality the ground clearance of the car is similar to some sports cars.
Our online publication decided to select for you ten cars that, due to their ground clearance, are actually not intended for operation on Russian highways. Especially in winter time. We would like to note that we did not include in our rating some exclusive rare sports cars that have low ground clearance due to their specifics. We chose among ordinary cars that can be officially purchased in Russia and intended for operation in the city. To begin with, let's still find out what is the clearance (clearance) of a car?
What is ground clearance?
The clearance of any car is the minimum distance between the road and the vehicle body (or frame). In other words, ground clearance is the height of the bottom of the car in relation to the ground. As a rule, most manufacturers indicate the amount of ground clearance, which is measured in an empty car, in which there is no driver and passengers, as well as a spare tire and luggage. That is why any car with a load, a driver and passengers has a lower ground clearance than the automaker claims.
On uneven, bumpy or snow covered road ground clearance is important, because if the car has a small clearance, there is a risk of getting stuck and even damaging the car. As a rule, sports cars have the smallest ground clearance. Due to the low clearance, manufacturers seek to minimize the aerodynamic air resistance of the car in order to increase dynamic characteristics sports car.
Sedans also do not have very high ground clearance due to their specific design, while some hatchbacks often have slightly increased ground clearance. But crossovers and SUVs, of course, have the highest ground clearance, which are ideal for operation in areas with bad roads and on any roads in winter. That is why crossover sales are breaking records in our country.
Pros and cons of high ground clearance
But, unfortunately, high ground clearance also has disadvantages. Main disadvantage crossovers and SUVs are prone to rollover. Indeed, due to the high ground clearance, the center of gravity of the car is too high. As a result, vehicles with higher ground clearance are more likely to roll over than vehicles with low ground clearance. Also, cars with low ground clearance are more manageable and comfortable due to the lower center of gravity of the body.
So when choosing a car, you should always consider that high ground clearance is not ideal. For example, if you want the car to have excellent handling, then you should buy a sports car or sedan, as even the most expensive crossover or SUV will not be able to provide you with the perfect level of steering.
Does the vehicle clearance declared by the manufacturer correspond to reality?
But the truth is, you must remember that the ground clearance declared by the manufacturers does not correspond to the real data. As we have already said, the clearance is measured by car companies in an empty car not loaded with luggage. So in real conditions, the ground clearance is always less than indicated in the technical specifications.
But the worst thing is that the ground clearance indicated in the specification for the car, as a rule, does not take into account the engine crankcase protection that is installed by the manufacturer or car buyer. As a result, in fact, virtually any car has less ground clearance by 10-30 mm. As a result, many passenger cars for sale on Russian market, literally turn into a “grinder” for rolling snow on the road.
For example, if your car, according to the manufacturer, has a good ground clearance of 160 mm, then even if you install plastic protection, the car will lose 10-15 mm of ground clearance. So in the best case, the car will have 150 mm of ground clearance.
Plus, do not forget that the official ground clearance data does not take into account the load on the body. Therefore, if a driver and three passengers with luggage get into the car, then you can safely say goodbye to at least 3-5 mm of ground clearance. As a result, ideally, only 147 mm will remain from 160 mm of clearance. AT worst case all 140 mm. And note this is not the same as 160 mm. This is especially disappointing when, when buying a car, ground clearance for you was the main selection criterion.
Yes, of course, when buying a car with low ground clearance, you can of course not install engine protection. But then you risk damaging the crankcase power unit. This is especially true for Russian roads who like to give drivers unexpected surprises.
So the lower the clearance of the car, the more reliable the engine crankcase protection from below should be installed. But, unfortunately, reliable and high-quality engine crankcase protection in any case will eat up sufficient ground clearance from any car. As a result, owning the same sedan in the winter can be a huge problem for the owner.
Let's find out, taking into account the above information, which cars for sale in our country are poorly suited for Russian harsh roads for operation in winter. We have selected for you the Top 10 cars with the lowest ground clearance, the operation of which is problematic in winter.
10) Mercedes-Benz E-class (W212)
150 mm (with AMG body kit 135 mm)
Real ground clearance: 130 mm (with AMG body kit 115 mm)
Popular in Russia mercedes-benz sedan The E-class in the back of the W212 gives its owners an unforgettable level of comfort and handling. This car was to the taste of many Russian car owners. Many since the introduction of the W212 body have even started talking about the fact that the E-Class has regained the spirit of the legendary 124-body. But, unfortunately, the modern E-Class cannot be compared with the old legend. For example, in terms of ground clearance. So the E-class in the back of the W212 has a ground clearance of 150 mm (standard - code 485). But in our country, more cars in AMG body kit are more popular. In this configuration, the clearance of the E-class is only 135 mm (code 486). There is also a modification of the suspension with increased ground clearance, which is 165 mm. But such cars can only be bought in trim levels Elegance or Avantgarde.
As a result, what we see: In most E-class cars in the back of the W212, the ground clearance is only 150 or 135 mm. For Russian roads, this ground clearance is very small. After all, as we have already said, the ground clearance specified in the specification was measured on an unloaded car. This means that at least 20 mm more can be safely subtracted from the declared clearance (5 mm when loading with luggage, when three passengers, the driver, and after installing metal protection). As a result, the clearance of the E-class in the AMG body kit will be only 115 mm. Agree a significant difference. Can you imagine what driving such a car during a snowfall?
9) Kia Cee "d
Ground clearance specification: 150 mm
Real ground clearance: 125 mm
Another popular car in Russia, with which there may be problems during winter operation. We are talking about Kia Cee "d, the ground clearance of which, according to the official specification, is 150 mm. On the one hand, the clearance is quite acceptable by modern standards. But again, this does not take into account the driver, passengers, luggage and traditional engine crankcase protection, which eat up from initial ground clearance of approximately 25 mm.
When compared with the Mercedes E-class, then due to small Kia dimensions Cee "d, when fully loaded, sits much lower, which ultimately leads to a large loss of road space declared automobile company. Also, the design feature of Kia Cee "d does not allow you to install crankcase protection, which would eat up the ground clearance slightly. As a result, a real road Clearance Kia Cee "d is not 150 mm, but 125, which is extremely small for Russian winter roads.
8) BMW 3-series F30
Ground clearance specification: 140 mm
Real ground clearance: 120 mm
Once popular in Russian BMW 3-series has been losing its position in the car market for several years. Naturally, this is primarily due to pricing and the growing popularity of crossovers in our country. But not the last role in the fall in popularity was played by the small clearance of the model. On the one hand, the "treshka" has an ideal weight distribution (50:50) and amazing aerodynamic characteristics, which makes it one of the best handling cars in its class.
But the consumer pays for handling with low ground clearance, which causes inconvenience even in summer when traveling out of town. The fact is that according to the technical specifications, clearance bmw The 3-series is only 140 mm, which is very small for this size car. In reality, when a driver and three passengers get into the car, the clearance will decrease by 3-5 mm. Plus, of course, each owner installs engine crankcase protection, which eats up another 15 mm of ground clearance. As a result, the BMW ground clearance is only 120 mm.
7) Lexus IS (third generation from 2013)
Ground clearance specification: 135 mm
Real ground clearance: 117 mm
As you already understood, we started our rating with cars whose ground clearance is not very small, but, nevertheless, not very comfortable for winter driving conditions. Especially on Russian roads, which are traditionally hidden from drivers under the snow until the arrival of birds.
Starting with this car, you will see cars with obscenely low ground clearance, despite the fact that we have ordinary passenger cars that are not sports cars.
And so in front of you is the Lexus IS sedan, which has a clearance of only 135 mm!
As you already understood, this ground clearance, declared by the manufacturer, you can only see in an empty car without luggage, and also without factory crankcase protection. Having installed protection and seated passengers with luggage, at least get ready for the fact that the ground clearance will decrease by 18 mm. As a result, in fact, the Lexus IS has a ground clearance of 117 mm.
6) Ford Focus Facelift (third generation)
Ground clearance specification: 130 mm
Real ground clearance: 110 mm
More recently, this car was one of the leaders of the Russian car market. In general, the Ford Focus is of high quality and reliable car which is quite high tech. But many owners of this model often complain about the low ground clearance of the car, which often gives its owners a lot of problems. Especially in winter time. The fact is that the third generation Focus in the hatchback body has a clearance of only 130 mm, which, taking into account the loading of the car and the installation of engine protection, is very small, since in reality the ground clearance is no more than 110 mm.
In winter driving conditions, even in large cities, this car can give its owners a lot of unpleasant experiences.
5) Audi A1 Sportback
Ground clearance specification: 125 mm
Real ground clearance: 105 mm
As we have already said, the smaller the car in its size, the more the car loses ground clearance when the driver and passengers with luggage get into it. Therefore, the already low Audi A1 Sportback loses 5 mm of ground clearance when fully loaded. Plus, engine crankcase protection and, as a result, the ground clearance of a mini-car is in reality not 125 mm, but only 105 mm, which you will agree is very, very small even for a micro-car. That's why Audi owners A1 Sportback try not to travel in Russia on the road in winter.
4) BMW 6-series
Ground clearance specification: 124 mm
Real ground clearance: 109 mm
Another car of the Bavarian company, which got into our rating of vehicles with the smallest ground clearance. We are talking about the 6-series, which the engineers made very low for the sake of handling. As a result, when loading the car and installing factory engine protection, the car's ground clearance is only 109 mm. So there is no talk of any 124 mm ground clearance. Taking into account the fact that wheelbase this model is large enough low ground clearance of 109 mm can bring its owner a big problem on the winter road.
3) Renault Clio (fourth generation hatchback)
Ground clearance specification: 120 mm
Real ground clearance: 100 mm
What do you expect from a small city car? Certainly fuel economy and ease of parking in narrow streets. But few people know that when buying a Renault Clio, the owners will face a problem that is associated with a small ground clearance, which is only 120 mm (according to the official specification. At first glance, the clearance is really small, but critical.
But this parameter in the technical specifications refers to an empty car without passengers and luggage, as well as without crankcase protection. If the owner installs engine protection on the car and goes on a trip with passengers and luggage, then the car's ground clearance will be approximately 100 mm. Can you imagine how hard it will be to operate a car in winter, even in a large city.
2) Mercedes-Benz CLA-class (C117)
Ground clearance specification: 117 mm
Real ground clearance: 99 mm
Since the appearance of the Mercedes-Benz CLA-class in the C117 body on the Russian market, this car has become popular mainly with young people who did not think about low ground clearance. But after a few years, most young motorists realized that this model was not designed for winter operating conditions.
The fact is that according to the technical specifications of the manufacturer, the Mercedes-Benz CLA-class has a clearance of only 117 mm, which is very small. It's not a sports car, after all. Moreover, after installing the engine protection and when loading the car, only 99 mm of ground clearance remains. As a result, most owners of this model prefer to use the car in winter only from time to time. Don't believe. Read a few pages on the forum dedicated to this model, and you will see some negative feedback about winter operation cars.
1) Volkswagen Polo (fourth generation) Restyling
Ground clearance specification: 110 mm
Real ground clearance: 95 mm
Traditionally everything Volkswagen cars have good ground clearance, which really allows you to operate them in Russia even in winter without any problems. But just not Volkswagen Polo, which was produced from 2005 to 2009. This model was very low.
For example, the ground clearance of the car was only 110 mm. Since this indicator is calculated by the manufacturer with an empty car and without engine crankcase protection, it can be said with confidence that in reality the clearance will be no more than 95 mm. Can you imagine, only 9.5 cm!!! For city small car. Note that this is not a sports car. So if you are going to buy a VW Polo and expect to drive it all year round, then in winter, prepare a cable, a shovel and money to dig out a car in every yard.
What is decisive in choosing a particular car? Buyers naturally prefer popular models of well-known brands.
The color of the car, the power and volume of the engine, the body type, are often selected in order to surprise others, stand out among total weight motorists. For the same reasons, the factory equipment is independently supplemented by various systems according to the principle, the more the better.
But few of the young, novice drivers think about how the chosen model will fit the roads where it will be operated. And even fewer beginners know about clearance, what it is in a car and what it affects. Today in the article we will deal with this issue.
Clearance, what is it in the car?
In order to find out about the clearance, you can go to the service center to specialists, they will provide detailed and necessary information to the driver. You can also take a look at the book technical operation car, but you don’t have to, because this term has a fairly simple explanation. Let's understand the automotive terminology on our own.
In fact, you can answer the question about clearance, what it is in a car, in a few words. Clearance is the distance between pavement and the bottom of the car. Many car owners refer to this term as "ground clearance". Clearance is measured, as a rule, in millimeters, but there are also designations in centimeters.
Each type of car, be it a small car, crossover or SUV, will have a different clearance, for example:
- In passenger cars, the standard clearance height is from 12 to 17 cm.
- Crossovers have more clearance, there are models from 17 to 21 cm.
- SUVs have the highest clearance, it can be from 21 to 42 cm.
It should be understood that if the car has non-standard tires, then the clearance of such a car can significantly exceed the standard dimensions.
When buying a car, you should definitely ask about the height of the clearance. It should be noted, however, that the technical documentation the distance will differ from the actual one by several centimeters. The fact is that protection is additionally installed at the bottom of the machine. Its purpose is to protect the sump (lower part of the crankcase) from breakdown. Subsequently, the clearance height becomes less than the factory one. For example, if the manufacturer indicates a car clearance of 16 cm, then subtracting 2 cm for protection, in reality we will get a ground clearance of 14 cm.
Why is it so important to know about clearance?
Novice motorists, especially young people, often believe that the speed performance of a car depends only on engine power. In fact, this statement is extremely untrue, the engine plays an important, but far from the only role. Much depends on the weight of the car, the characteristics of the engine, transmission, tires, as well as the aerodynamic performance of the body and other important aspects.
Oddly enough, but the clearance, like other parameters, also directly affects the characteristics of the car:
- High ground clearance worsens the streamlining of the car, thereby reducing its final speed. This also reduces the stability and controllability of the car at high speeds, its safety.
- Low ground clearance, on the contrary, improves the aerodynamic performance of vehicles, but worsens the car's patency when driving over bumps.
But the desire to buy a low-slung car, and it naturally looks more modern, as a result, you can get a lot of trouble and breakdowns, for example:
- When traveling out of town, you can seriously hook the bottom of a pothole;
- Sit down with the bottom in some hole;
- Get stuck in a snowdrift or snow ruts in winter;
- Hit the bumper on the curb while normal parking.
Sometimes the driver just wonders why this happened. It turns out that the obstruction of the vehicle, which directly depends on the clearance, is to blame. That is why it is so important to know about the clearance, what it is in the car and what depends on it. This information will help you choose the right car that is right for you and not spend big money on its repairs in the future.
How to measure the ground clearance of a car?
If you want to independently measure the clearance of the car, you must understand that the measurement is carried out from the lowest point. Do not think that this is just the bottom of the car. Remember, on the bottom there are many protruding parts, such as a silencer, as well as various assemblies connecting the engine and drive wheels, called the transmission.
As a rule, the lowest part of the car is in front. Many naively believe that the lowest point is determined by the front bumper. In fact, the lowest place on a car is usually where the engine is located. Therefore, measurements are often carried out from the engine, as from the heaviest mechanism in the car.
However, there are cars in which the muffler is located lower than the engine itself. Also, the bumper may be lower than other mechanisms in the car. But most often it applies to sports or converted cars.
To measure the ground clearance of a car all you need is:
- Have a tape measure or ruler with you;
- put the car on a flat surface;
- Measure the distance from the lowest point of the underside of the vehicle to the ground.
Getting under the car is quite difficult and inconvenient, so the best option, is to drive your transport into a viewing hole. This will allow you to easily measure the clearance of all protruding parts of the car. Thus, by comparing the obtained indicators, you will determine the lowest point in your car.
Before measuring clearance at least important point is the preparation of the car itself. For the reliability of the data obtained, it is necessary that:
- In the trunk, as well as the interior of the car, there were no things.
- The fuel tank was full.
- All automotive fluids were also filled.
- The tire pressure was within specification.
- There were no passengers in the car at the time of the measurements.
How to increase the clearance of the car?
Changing the clearance height, namely its increase, is an infrequent procedure, but sometimes you can’t do without it. Since in some cases only with an increase in ground clearance can you achieve an improvement in the technical characteristics of your car. For example, you may need to increase the clearance of the car if:
- If the car is often used to transport any goods.
- The car constantly clings to the pallet when driving on bumpy, uneven roads.
- Mudguards installed at the wheels of the car began to touch the road surface.
It is worth noting that in any car, the distance between the bottom and the road gradually decreases. This change is due to long and intensive operation of the machine. First of all, wear out car tires, springs and suspension springs. All this ultimately leads to a decrease in the clearance of the car.
Air suspension installation
Car owners latest generations equipped with air suspension, it is not difficult to change the clearance height. The program is responsible for adjusting the ride height in such vehicles. on-board computer. Such a system allows you to increase the clearance of the car manually, using the buttons in the cabin.
In turn, for owners of older cars, you can purchase and install air suspension on your car. This can be done on almost any car, but it will cost a round sum, about 100 thousand rubles.
Tire replacement
This method is considered the simplest in terms of implementation. First of all, you can try to install tires with a large profile, which will increase the radius of the wheels. This option is able to slightly increase the clearance of the car, as a rule, by no more than 3 centimeters.
However, if such wheel sizes are not provided by the manufacturer, then in this case the wheels may come into contact with mudguards and arches when cornering or when the vehicle is heavily loaded. Subsequently, this leads to the fact that the tires wear out quickly. It is also possible to develop corrosion as a result of contact between the wheels and the car body.
Replacing wheel disks
This method of increasing ground clearance is to install larger diameter discs. In this case, in addition to the internal dimensions of the arch, as in the previous version, one should take into account the diameter of the wheel hub, as well as the holes for the bolts located on it.
The selection of such discs is easiest to carry out in the store itself. The employee will pick up suitable discs according to the catalog, taking into account the location of the mounting holes in the hub. It is difficult to do this on your own, since the discs differ not only in size, but also in the type of fastening and often do not match.
This option will also slightly increase the clearance of the car, but will cost much more than the previous one. Since you will have to change not only the disks, but also buy tires for them, and this pleasure is not cheap.
It should be noted that when replacing the standard rims for options large sizes, tires should be selected with the same profile. Otherwise, choosing low-profile tires, the clearance may not change at all or even decrease even more.
Car suspension spring replacement
You can also increase ground clearance by replacing the damping springs. This method is most popular with car owners. But for this you need to disassemble the front and rear suspension.
Springs are selected with an identical size, but more rigid. The stiffness of the spring is indicated as a marking directly on the spring. Such changes can significantly increase the ground clearance of the car.
Drivers choosing this option should be aware that along with replacing the springs, the old shock absorbers must also be changed, as they may not work properly due to poor performance of the bumpers.
Installation of spacers in the suspension elements
Another option to increase the clearance is to install special spacers in the car's suspension. They are of various types, differ in the place of attachment and materials of manufacture.
For example, there are spacers that are inserted between the suspension strut and the body cup. Thus, the clearance of the machine increases to a certain height, depending on the size of the insert itself. The disadvantage is a decrease in stability, as well as controllability of the car.
In turn, there are also interturn inserts that are installed directly between the coils of the springs. Due to the fact that part of the spring does not function after installing the spacer, the clearance of the machine increases. This will be especially noticeable when the vehicle is heavily loaded. However, this increases the rigidity of the suspension and reduces its service life.
It should be remembered that any intervention in the suspension of the car, such as changing the ground clearance of the car, may impair the handling and stability of the vehicle on the road. All this is bad for your safety while driving.
As you can see, there are many ways to increase the clearance of the car, and almost every one of them can be done independently. However, if the car is still under warranty, tampering with the car's suspension may void the warranty.
Conclusion
In this article, we tried to reveal the topic of clearance, what it is in a car and how it affects transport performance. We hope this knowledge will help you buy the right car for you, as well as protect your vehicle damage and unforeseen repair costs.