Before owning a car, potential buyers oftentimes go the extra mile to find out which vehicle will satisfy most of their daily commuting needs. In recent years, the popularity of crossovers and SUVs has only gone steadily upward. And a major reason for this is undoubtedly the superior level of interior surface and ground clearance they offer in almost all of their vehicles. Similarly, sedan cars are also the lowest ground clearance cars in India. Through the rest of the article, we will cover why ground clearance plays a crucial role in widening a car’s range of audience and the reasons for it being constantly on the tick list of automobile owners – be it two-wheeler or four.
What is Ground Clearance?
Ground clearance, which, in layman’s terms, is known as seat height, is essentially the difference between the lower end of the car tire, i.e., the road itself and the bottom of the car’s chassis. A feature that almost invariably plays a significant role in a vehicle’s demanding atmosphere, ground clearance ups the dimensional aspect and contributes to its overall body dynamics.
How is it crucial?
Possibly no other country in the world has this much variety of roads like India. We have them all from broad highways to narrow alleys, asphalt to dirt. And the roads always do not consist of ideal speed breakers and traffic lights. In a country with many intersections and imperfections, bumps higher than standard level, potholes deeper than usual, and several roads still left unpaved, high ground clearance vehicles typically come to aid. However, to a greater degree, the lowest ground clearance car in India is owned by a significant ratio of consumers.
The least amount of ground clearance?
There is no hard and fast rule regarding the minimum level of ground clearance in vehicles. A 170-180 mm ground clearance is ideal on a standard basis. It ultimately becomes easier to dodge or run over unnecessary things on the road with this distance from asphalt. However, even the sports cruisers having a low ground clearance of 125 mm will not cause much of a problem if the road it is run on is ideal, which, on most occasions, is not. So, the policy of “better safe than sorry” is preferable.
Segment-wise list of average ground clearance:
- Sedan: 165mm
- Compact Sedan:170mm
- SUV: 225mm
- Compact SUV : 190-200mm
- Hatchback: 168mm
- Sports Coupe:135-140mm
Top 10 Lowest Ground Clearance Cars in India: 2022
1. Maruti Suzuki Alto
Suzuki Alto is the best vehicle to start this list of lowest ground clearance cars in India. This 4-seater hatchback is one of the most purchased cars under five lakhs INR. It is very family-friendly, smoothly driven, and available in CNG variants, thus making it all the more fuel-efficient – Maruti Suzuki Alto is the definition of a budget-friendly four-wheeler. Alto’s 160 mm ground clearance can’t suffice rough terrains, although the overall body dynamics are impressive.
2. Maruti Suzuki Eeco
With Maruti Suzuki Eeco, MPVs have found the way to this list, an ideal lowest ground clearance car in India with 5 and 7 seater options. Priced within 6 lakhs INR with CNG and petrol variants optional, Eeco has impressive dimensions, 160 mm ground clearance, and boot space is 275 liters. Very popular as a cosmopolitan city taxi, and after the 2020 BS6 compliant, Eeco has become all the more eye-catchy and easy to drive even in traffic.
3. Maruti Suzuki Dzire
Maruti Suzuki Dzire has always remained a people’s choice due to its constant upgrades, implementation of the latest norms, it’s a compact sedan within a budget cap of 10 lakhs with 5 seater capacity, attractive dual-tone schemes, fresh interior job, smooth body proportions & a 163 mm ground clearance with 378 liters of boot space. Uneven or upward/downward slopes might cause slight discomfort, but it makes up for such drawbacks with strong performance, economical output, and tremendous after-sales or resale value.
4. Maruti Suzuki Swift
Undoubtedly the most seen hatchback on the Indian roads, Maruti Suzuki Swift is the go-to car of many. 3 years back, it came a substantial engine change, modern pieces of equipment, and 163 mm ground clearance. Thus, in no way is it uncomfortable on bumpy roads and the jack-of-all-trades hatchback currently available on the Indian market. Among the lowest ground clearance car in India, Swift has amazing resale value, nationwide service centers backed by Maruti, and, additionally, multiple options to choose from, all adhering to Suzuki’s decade-long legacy.
5. Maruti Suzuki WagonR
Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is a smart family car with a spacious boot space of 341 litres, 165 mm ground clearance, and within a price cap of 7 lakhs INR. WagonR is among the best-selling cars in India. Its reliable, has the efficiency and power of the K12 series engine with AMT, can easily accommodate a family of 5, and all in all, is much more progressive than its predecessor.
6. Maruti Suzuki Celerio
To name a few numbers, Maruti Suzuki Celerio falls under a 7 lakhs INR budget, has 165 mm ground clearance, 235 mm of boot space, and is very economical in spirit. A brilliant combination of budget-friendliness and fuel efficiency defines this hatchback, and a smooth drivetrain makes it more compelling purchase.
7. Hyundai Aura
Again dealing with numbers, Hyundai Aura is 3995 mm in length, 1680 mm in width, 1520 mm in height, and has a 165 mm ground clearance with 2450 mm wheelbase. Superior boot space (402 litres), significant fuel tank (37 litres), and above-average fuel engine (the K10C series) are some dynamic additions to its 2020 iteration, all within an ex-showroom price of 8.64 lakhs INR.
8. Hyundai Verna
The lowest ground clearance sedan car in India has found a new definition in Hyundai Verna. It is very appealing to look at, with fluid body ergonomics, calibrated dimensions, and chassis. The 165 mm ground clearance is a cherry on top. Hyundai Verna surely packs quite a punch. This subcompact sedan has multiple variants to choose from as per one’s budget. With a 480 litres boot space, it comes with choicest safety features at a convenient range of 9-15 lakhs INR.
9. Hyundai Santro
Over a decade it has been since Hyundai Santro got its first facelift, and with proper upgrades at intervals, it has maintained a steady audience all this time. Speaking of the new model available since 2019, Hyundai has taken a minimalist approach to Santro. It now has 160 mm ground clearance, 230 mm boot space, a price tag of 7 lakhs INR.
10. Volkswagen Vento
A mid-range compact sedan (ex-showroom price from 10 lakhs INR onwards), Volkswagen Vento is ideally fit for metropolitan areas, exceptionally equipped with 493 litres of boot space, 163 mm ground clearance, and available in multiple variants, all 5 seaters.
How do I pick the right Lowest Ground Clearance Car?
Ideally, your most traveled roads are the criteria while choosing the best car. Because the roads you are most familiar with will also be the road most taken by your vehicle. For people from a hilly area, a vehicle with high ground clearance is good. Similarly, two-wheelers will be more accessible than any cars for unpaved roads, no matter the ground clearance.
No single car in India can handle the wide variety of roads found in India. The lowest ground clearance cars in India are often best for daily commuting purposes. Thus, on the flip side, notable mentions in this list are Renault Kwid, Datsun Redi-GO, and Suzuki KUV100. As they belong to the segment of high ground clearance cars. Therefore, after picking your preferred choice of car segment, you should consider the roads you intend to ride it in.
