Cars With The Highest Ground Clearance In India

Indians are quite particular about what they want from their cars. For the average person, there are a few very important things. While fuel economy is certainly at the top of that list, more recently, ground clearance has become a deciding factor for many Indian car buyers. So, if you, too, are planning to buy a new car, and ground clearance is a big deciding factor, here’s a list of the top 10 vehicles sold in India offering the highest ground clearance.

Compared to all body styles, SUVs offer the best ground clearance, so obviously, all the vehicles on this list are SUVs. Also, for this list, we’ll start with the mass-market segment and go up to the luxury space in ascending order.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Ground Clearance: 210 mm

Price: Rs. 12.32 Lakh to Rs. 14.45 Lakh

If you want an SUV that can not just handle the different Indian terrains but also the crater-sized potholes and huge speed bumps of the urban jungle, the Jimny is the one for you. With an unladen ground clearance of 210 mm, these things for the Jimny will be a walk in the park. It also has a capable 4x4 system and a bulletproof 1.5-litre petrol engine with the option of both manual and automatic.

Also Read: Best Driver's Cars You Can Buy In India Under Rs. 1 Crore

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Ground Clearance: 210 mm

Price: Rs. 10.77 Lakh to Rs. 19.72 Lakh

Now, the Jimny is a purpose-built machine and thus has its limitations when it comes to creature comforts. However, if you want a Maruti Suzuki SUV that’s more practical and gets better creature comforts, while offering the same ground clearance, you have the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. This too comes with a 210 mm unladen ground clearance, along with more modern creature comforts like ventilated seats, 360-degree camera, panoramic sunroof and more. And yes, you have an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) option as well.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Ground Clearance: 210 mm

Price: Rs. 10.95 Lakh to Rs. 19.76 Lakh

Trust Toyota more than Maruti Suzuki? Then you can consider the Grand Vitara’s twin - Urban Cruiser Hyryder. You get the same 210 mm ground clearance, identical features and tech, but in quintessential Toyota packaging. However, under the skin, both are the same SUVs, but Toyota's stronger after-sales experience makes the deal sweeter. Here, too, you have the option to go for an AWD version, and both Maruti and Toyota offer CNG options as well.

Also Read: Best Driver’s Cars In India Under Rs 50 Lakh

Mahindra Thar

Ground Clearance: 226 mm

Price: Rs. 9.99 Lakh to Rs. 16.99 Lakh

Want an off-road SUV but don’t want to compromise on comfort? The classic 3-Door Thar is as good as they come. With an unladen ground clearance of 226 mm, it gives you that huge road presence you desire from a quintessential off-road SUV. You have the option for both petrol and diesel with manual and automatic choices. And yes, if you want the look and feel of an off-road SUV without the need for a 4x4 system, then the rear-wheel drive (RWD) version will be a smarter choice.

Force Gurkha

Ground Clearance: 233 mm

Price: Rs. 15.95 Lakh to Rs. 17.27 Lakh

And if you are looking for a more off-road-focused SUV that is bare bones, then there is the Force Gurkha. It’s as analogue as they come. Only a manual gearbox, all-time 4x4 and yes, the option for both a 3- and 5-door body style, with ground clearance of 233 mm. But irrespective of which one you pick, except for extra seats, there is not much of a change between the two. The G-Wagen style design will continue to get you attention, while the tried and tested 2.6-litre diesel engine is built for the rough roads.

Also Read: Top 5 Most Fuel-Efficient Diesel Cars in India

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Ground Clearance: 226 mm

Price: Rs. 12.25 Lakh to Rs. 20.06 Lakh

But what if you are a family man? The 3-door Thar is not exactly known for its rear seat space and comfort, and the Gurkha is not modern enough. Mahindra came up with a solution with the Thar Roxx. The 5-door extended wheelbase design makes it more practical for a family, and the cabin offers a lot more creature comforts for day-to-day usability. And here you get the same 226 mm ground clearance.

At the same time, the butch and boxy DNA of the off-roader is maintained so you can still flaunt the look, feel and road presence of an off-roader. Here, too, you have the option for both petrol and diesel, in manual and automatic guises. 4x4 is also offered for those who desire it.

Toyota Fortuner – 225 mm

Ground Clearance: 225 mm

Price: Rs. 33.65 Lakh to Rs. 48.85 Lakh

In case you want something that’s time-tested and will last you a lifetime, then you have India’s favourite SUV – the Toyota Fortuner. With a ground clearance of 225 mm, the Fortuner is built for a country like India, and it has been the go-to choice of SUV enthusiasts in India for over 20 years. The current Fortuner comes with the option for both petrol and diesel with manual and automatic transmission choices.

Also Read: Most Affordable SUVs With Company-Fitted CNG Kits

Land Rover Defender – 226 mm

Ground Clearance: 226 mm to 323 mm

Price: Rs. 98 Lakh to Rs. 2.42 Crore

Now we get to the luxury space, and of late, one SUV that has become a fan favourite across the length and breadth of India is the Land Rover Defender. Depending on the model you choose, the ground clearance of the Defender ranges from 226 mm (Defender 90) to a maximum of 291 mm (Defender 110 with air suspension). And if you choose to go for the ultimate version – the Defender Octa, that number goes as high as 323 mm. That’s the best you’ll find in a production SUV in India. Petrol and diesel, both engines are on offer, ranging from a four-cylinder to a V8.

Toyota Land Cruiser 300

Ground Clearance: 230 mm

Price: Rs. 2.16 Crore to Rs. 2.25 Crore

If the Fortuner is India’s favourite SUV, the Land Cruiser is somewhat similar at a global level. An icon in its own right, the current-gen model – the Land Cruiser 300 is somewhere between the Defender and Range Rover. It has a ground clearance of 230 mm, and it packs a V8 diesel engine under the hood, a proper 4x4 system. It’s an SUV for the select few, and given the demand, only a select few have been able to get their hands on one in India.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class – 241 mm

Ground Clearance: 241 mm

Price: Rs. 2.90 Crore to Rs. 3.85 Crore

Last but not least, we come to the ultimate global SUV – the G-Wagen a.k.a. Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Initially commissioned as a military vehicle for the Shah of Iran, it was offered as a civilian vehicle in 1979. If there is one SUV that can go anywhere and do anything, it’s this one, and at present, we have the diesel-powered G 450d and AMG-made G63 on sale in India. Max ground clearance of a product spec G-Wagen stands at 241 mm, but there are some modified and special build models which cross the 300 mm mark.