The best cars with high ground clearance in the UK
Need a car that does anything and goes anywhere? Here are the best cars with high ground clearance in the UK, from off-road legends to premium family picks.
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By Craig Hale
Last update: 16 January 2025
Whether you’re gearing up for off-road adventures or just want extra peace of mind around town, a high-riding SUV with lots of ground clearance can make all the difference.
Cars with high ground clearance not only help you venture further into rugged terrain, but they also help protect your underbody from scrapes and bumps on everyday roads.
There’s a wide range of cars with high ground clearance in the UK to pick from, but the best are SUVs with more than 200mm of ground clearance.
Below are six of the best cars with high ground clearance, from obvious off-roaders to everyday SUVs that can take the family anywhere.
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What cars have a good ground clearance in the UK?
The best cars with high ground clearance:
Land Rover Defender
Land Rover Discovery
Range Rover Sport
Jeep Wrangler
Volvo XC90
BMW X5
Land Rover Defender
 "Land Rover Defender off-road")
Our pick: Land Rover Defender 110 D350 X-Dynamic SE
Ground clearance: Up to 290mm
A car that’s famous for its off-road credentials, the latest Land Rover Defender is more luxurious than ever. Of course, it still maintains its status as one of the best off-roaders money can buy this side of a pick-up truck (and it’ll even give them a run for their money).
You can go for a three-door Defender 90, a five-door Defender 110 or an eight-seater Defender 130, and you’ll have up to 290mm of ground clearance on models fitted with air suspension.
Lower-trim cars with standard coil springs have 226mm of ground clearance, which is still more than you get in its Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque siblings, which are more road-focused, to be fair.
With a maximum 900mm wading depth (850mm with coil springs), it’s also one of the best in its class at driving through water, so you can worry a bit less if your area is known for flooding.
Land Rover Discovery
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Our pick: Land Rover Discovery D350 Dynamic SE
Ground clearance: Up to 283mm
The second Land Rover on our list, the Discovery has an equally impressive 283mm of ground clearance with its standard-fit air suspension. It matches the Defender’s 900m water fording depth, too.
Because the fifth-generation Discovery has been around for a while now, you should be able to pick one up for a lot less than the Defender, which has become a status symbol alongside its Range Rover siblings.
Other off-road features include the Terrain Response system – you can tell the Discovery what type of surface (whether it’s rocks, snow, mud ruts or sand) you’re driving over, and it’ll adjust the settings to get you across.
Its large proportions also lend it well to family life – two jump seats in the boot are available for occasional use, though boot space does suffer if there are seven of you inside.
Range Rover Sport
 "Range Rover Sport driving")
Our pick: Range Rover Sport D300 Dynamic SE
Ground clearance: Up to 280mm
There’s a reason that Land Rover cars account for half of the models on this list – it’s a brand built on off-roading, even if its modern cars are among the most premium.
The Range Rover Sport is even more premium than the two SUVs above, and has that even more desirable badge running across the bonnet.
It’s the sort of car you’d see in the city, driven by wealthy business owners and football stars, but it doesn’t lose any of that get-up-and-go it’s known for.
With 280mm of ground clearance (273mm for plug-in hybrid versions) and a wading depth of 900mm, it’s just as suited to going off the beaten track.
If you want to go anywhere in style, this is the pick for you.
Jeep Wrangler
 "Jeep Wrangler driving")
Our pick: Jeep Wrangler 2.0 GME Rubicon
Ground clearance: Up to 253mm
Take one look at a Jeep Wrangler, and you’ll be able to tell this is a real off-roader. After all, Jeep isn’t just an iconic brand but a name that many use to simply describe a large SUV – a bit like saying Hoover when we mean vacuum cleaner.
Figures are strong all round, and with 253mm of ground clearance and 760mm of wading abilities, you’ll have no problem traversing some properly tough terrain.
Available in Tuscadero Pink – a nod to Barbie’s Jeep – more than five million Wranglers have now sold globally since its launch.
Don’t think that you’ll be getting a basic ‘80s toy with the latest Wrangler, though. A 12.3-inch infotainment system, powered front seats and driver aids, like ‘Drowsy Driver Alert’, are all standard from 2024.
Volvo XC90
 "Volvo XC90 exterior")
Our pick: Volvo XC90 D5 R-Design
Ground clearance: Up to 252mm
In a game of word association, the XC90 is synonymous with safety, comfort and practicality. It’s a high-end seven-seater with a choice of comparably economical engines and bags of tech. And it’s a Volvo, so it’s as safe as houses and perfect for the family.
It’s more than that, though. With its optional air suspension, the XC90 has 252mm of ground clearance. Enough to match the very capable Wrangler. Even with coil suspension, it’s 223mm off the ground.
Petrol, diesel and mild hybrid models are also rated to drive slowly through a decent 450mm of water.
Regular updates have kept the second-generation XC90, on sale from 2015, feeling fresh. Our favourite part of the interior is the Google Assistant integration, so you can treat your infotainment system just like that popular smart speaker.
BMW X5
 "BMW X5 front three quarters")
Our pick: BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport
Ground clearance: Up to 214mm
This is another very popular SUV for families, with space for five adults to be seated in comfort and a luxurious, leather-filled interior to match.
The best part about a BMW X5 is just how engaging it is to drive – sure, it’s a tall SUV with four-wheel-drive, but it feels very similar to BMW’s smaller and sportier models. In other words, it’s much more fun than rivals.
The iDrive infotainment system is also one of the best in the business, and smartphone connectivity like Apple CarPlay keeps you connected on the go.
Those with more challenging demands will be pleased to know that it has 214mm of ground clearance and an impressive 500mm wading depth rating.
What is ground clearance in a car?
Ground clearance is best defined as the distance between the lowest point of a vehicle’s underside and the ground – and it’s a good measure of how good a car will be off-road.
It’ll tell you what sort of rocks and obstacles you can get over, but it’s also handy for tackling things like steep driveways as well.
Suspension (e.g. adaptive air suspension that inflates and deflates depending on the need) and tyres (thicker sidewalls, and even bigger wheels, can lift the car up) are two of the biggest factors that affect ground clearance.
It’s worth keeping in mind that approach, departure and breakover angles are all important in understanding how good a car will be off the beaten track.
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What is considered a high ground clearance?
All of the cars on this list have more than 200mm of ground clearance, which is average to above average for an SUV. Models with over 250mm of ground clearance stand out as some of the best.
For reference, hatchbacks like the Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa will have around 100-150mm of ground clearance.
Ground clearance vs. ride height
Ride height doesn’t have a super strict definition, so it can be used to mean ground clearance but might also refer to just the suspension or how high a driver sits inside the vehicle.
Ground clearance vs. tyre size
Tyre size is one factor that can affect ground clearance – if a tyre has a thick sidewall, the car will sit higher up, even if just slightly.
For example, a tyre with ‘205/55’ on the wide means that it’s 205mm wide and nearly 113mm tall (55% of 205). A 205/60 tyre would have more height (123mm), giving it slightly more ground clearance.
Ground clearance vs. wade depth
Wade depth tells us the depth of water a car can drive through without damaging any vital components, such as the fuel and transmission systems.
It’s usually higher than ground clearance because you can drive through deeper water than the height of obstacles you can drive over.
Benefits of a high ground clearance
Having a higher-than-average ground clearance is great for drivers who need to take their car on anything other than a tarmac road.
In off-road settings, a high ground clearance can help you get over rocks, logs and river banks with more ease.
Many SUVs are only meant to be driven on the road, so paying attention to the ground clearance will help make sure you’re buying a model with the best abilities.
Around town, a high ground clearance can ensure you won’t damage the bottom of your car on high kerbs, steep inclines and declines, and so on.
Can I increase the ground clearance of my car?
You might be able to modify some cars by installing taller suspension or thicker tyres, but this is unlikely to have a major effect, and going too extreme can affect your car’s performance.
Your best bet is to buy a car with high ground clearance from the factory. Usually those intended for off-road use with air suspension are best because the ground clearance can be increased and decreased depending on the driving conditions.
Find a used car with high ground clearance
From rugged off-roaders to comfortable daily drivers, SUVs with high ground clearance offer the freedom and capability to tackle whatever the road (or trail) throws at you.
If you’re ready to find your perfect match, browse used SUVs on cinch and take your pick from having your next car delivered to your door or seeing it yourself at one of our cinch Stores.