List of hatchbacks & sedans with High ground clearance?

rock18 · 22nd March 2011, 21:14

Recently went on a trip to Yelagiri in my Palio 1.6.With five people on board and boot loaded with luggage. Palio scrapped atleast 3 or 4 speed breakers enroute.It was quite surprising that Palio with GC of 170mm scrapes the speed breakers but Indica with similar load but GC of 165mm does not scrap such speed breakers.
GC spec imentioned in the brochure does not actually translate into real time performance.
Just want to how many cars can actually take on the speed breakers without scrap.
I heard from my friends that Fiesta,Figo,Ritz all scrapes the speed breakers on full load where as Indica,swift does not.Atleast much better.
GC issues of Civic,OHC,Baleno,Accent are already discussed in the forum.

Checked with fellow Palio owners and they too have similar experiences.
I thought that in my next car,My first priority would be high ground clearance.
How many cars in the present market can eat up all the speed breakers without a sweat?
1.Maruti SX4
2.Ford Fusion

Sunrise · 22nd March 2011, 21:25

I think these are also cars that do not have issues with GC
i-10
Swift
Figo
We have all weird kind of speed breakers all around, hence cant be sure of the same one in another car. Even Verna does not have issues with GC( sedan segment)

ampere · 22nd March 2011, 21:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by rock18

How many cars in the present market can eat up all the speed breakers without a sweat?
1.Maruti SX4
2.Ford Fusion

Present Market? Fusion is history! Already phased out by Ford. But yes it has a fantastic clearance. I own one never had a single bottom scrapping till date in the last 6 years of ownership!

nilanjanray · 22nd March 2011, 21:48

I believe the old Sx4 had 10mm higher GC. When I bought it, the GC was 190 mm - at least that is what the website and brochures said.

Perhaps they brought it down to 180mm to improve handling for the VVT version.

Aroy · 22nd March 2011, 22:08

It is not only GC, but the break over angle - the angle between two wheels and the underbody that matters. Short hatches would scrape the speed breakers less than long wheel base vehicle. That is why Alto has been quite successful on bad roads, and does Manali - Leh effortlessly (if driven carefully).

ajay0612 · 22nd March 2011, 22:16

Maruti Ritz (small wheel base and small boot so you can't load it much :-). Larger tyre dia also helps.

Fiat Grand Punto (173mm)

n.devdath · 22nd March 2011, 22:17

The Laura has enough GC to tackle most terrains when it comes to executive sedans. Coming to the hatches, the Figo is high enough as well.
Of course, the 800 and the Alto have been all time favs.

kaviprem · 22nd March 2011, 22:20

^^ Adding to what Aroy mentioned, the suspension also matters. If its too soft, the ride would be good, but the GC number doesnt get honored. If the suspension is on the harder side, ride would be stiffer, but GC number would really mean. Thats the reason, Indica might not be hitting all the spots where Palio hits.

Rock18, If you have completely loaded [max passenger + full load of luggage], there is no surprise for scrapping a few speed breakers.
Btw, I had been to Yelagiri last year [around the same time] in my Safari. It was a pleasant to drive through the hills, ofcourse, the roads are not that good and speed breakers are also not of standards. So, no wonder why you might have gone through that experience.

Prem.

bluevolt · 22nd March 2011, 22:26

I think following cars do not have ground clearance issues (I may be wrong)

1. Maruti Alto
2. Maruti WagonR
3. Maruti Ritz/Swift
4. Hyundai Santro/i10
5. Ford Figo
6. Tata Indica
7. Hyundai Verna

This list may grow/shrink.

rameshnanda · 22nd March 2011, 23:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajay0612

Maruti Ritz (small wheel base and small boot so you can't load it much :-). Larger tyre dia also helps.

Fiat Grand Punto (173mm)

I do have GC issues with my Grande Punto even without full load. Previously I owned Getz and I hardly faced any GC issues with it.

9thsphinx · 22nd March 2011, 23:19

Why did we forget the Honda Jazz? No GC issues for me, no matter how much I stuff it with! And lets not forget... it rides like a breeze

download2live · 22nd March 2011, 23:28

The cars with good GC and still driving like cars sadly are history now: Ford Fusion and FIAT Adventure.

You will be better off with SUV's. Or with an M800 or Alto.

Also do not go blindly for high GC. It effects the handling of the car. Negatively.

OT: At the rate Bangalore Speed breakers are gaining height soon the GC required will leave Tractors shamefaced.

Tapish · 22nd March 2011, 23:36

surprisingly (because Esteem is a very low slung car), I never faced GC issues in my car. Have covered bad and good terrains alike..

MAS · 22nd March 2011, 23:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere

Present Market? Fusion is history! Already phased out by Ford. But yes it has a fantastic clearance. I own one never had a single bottom scrapping till date in the last 6 years of ownership!

+1
Fusion is a great hatch with amazing ground clearance. I own a TDCi with 1,10,000 kms on the clock (1,10,022 to be exact) and the high ground clearance is one of the reasons I'm holding on to this car. I have never scrapped the bottom of the car even on tracks where roads existed a few decades earlier.

the VTEC guy · 23rd March 2011, 09:21

Apart from the GC of the car other things that will matter are the break even angle(shorter wheelbase cars would scrape less), suspension settings, how much the vehicle is loaded,illegal speed bump design and above all driving style will contribute.so on one day if you are careful drivng the same stretch of road will all other parameters same there is a chance one may not scrape the bottom of the car.

22nd March 2011, 21:14	#1
rock18 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 310 Thanked: 55 Times View My Garage	List of hatchbacks & sedans with High ground clearance? Recently went on a trip to Yelagiri in my Palio 1.6.With five people on board and boot loaded with luggage. Palio scrapped atleast 3 or 4 speed breakers enroute.It was quite surprising that Palio with GC of 170mm scrapes the speed breakers but Indica with similar load but GC of 165mm does not scrap such speed breakers. GC spec imentioned in the brochure does not actually translate into real time performance. Just want to how many cars can actually take on the speed breakers without scrap. I heard from my friends that Fiesta,Figo,Ritz all scrapes the speed breakers on full load where as Indica,swift does not.Atleast much better. GC issues of Civic,OHC,Baleno,Accent are already discussed in the forum. Checked with fellow Palio owners and they too have similar experiences. I thought that in my next car,My first priority would be high ground clearance. How many cars in the present market can eat up all the speed breakers without a sweat? 1.Maruti SX4 2.Ford Fusion
	() Thanks

22nd March 2011, 21:25	#2
Sunrise BANNED Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Bangalore Posts: 59 Thanked: 12 Times	Re: List of hatchbacks/sedans with High ground clearance? I think these are also cars that do not have issues with GC i-10 Swift Figo We have all weird kind of speed breakers all around, hence cant be sure of the same one in another car. Even Verna does not have issues with GC( sedan segment)
	() Thanks

22nd March 2011, 21:48	#4
nilanjanray Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: HR, UK, RJ, TN Posts: 1,888 Thanked: 2,946 Times View My Garage	Re: List of hatchbacks/sedans with High ground clearance? I believe the old Sx4 had 10mm higher GC. When I bought it, the GC was 190 mm - at least that is what the website and brochures said. Perhaps they brought it down to 180mm to improve handling for the VVT version.
	() Thanks

22nd March 2011, 22:08	#5
Aroy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Delhi Posts: 2,614 Thanked: 3,010 Times View My Garage	Re: List of hatchbacks/sedans with High ground clearance? It is not only GC, but the break over angle - the angle between two wheels and the underbody that matters. Short hatches would scrape the speed breakers less than long wheel base vehicle. That is why Alto has been quite successful on bad roads, and does Manali - Leh effortlessly (if driven carefully).
	() Thanks

22nd March 2011, 22:16	#6
ajay0612 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Haridwar Posts: 435 Thanked: 480 Times	Re: List of hatchbacks/sedans with High ground clearance? Maruti Ritz (small wheel base and small boot so you can't load it much :-). Larger tyre dia also helps. Fiat Grand Punto (173mm)
	() Thanks

22nd March 2011, 22:17	#7
n.devdath BANNED Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 4,287 Thanked: 2,816 Times	Re: List of hatchbacks/sedans with High ground clearance? The Laura has enough GC to tackle most terrains when it comes to executive sedans. Coming to the hatches, the Figo is high enough as well. Of course, the 800 and the Alto have been all time favs.
	() Thanks

22nd March 2011, 22:20	#8
kaviprem BHPian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Trichy Posts: 980 Thanked: 975 Times View My Garage	Re: List of hatchbacks/sedans with High ground clearance? ^^ Adding to what Aroy mentioned, the suspension also matters. If its too soft, the ride would be good, but the GC number doesnt get honored. If the suspension is on the harder side, ride would be stiffer, but GC number would really mean. Thats the reason, Indica might not be hitting all the spots where Palio hits. Rock18, If you have completely loaded [max passenger + full load of luggage], there is no surprise for scrapping a few speed breakers. Btw, I had been to Yelagiri last year [around the same time] in my Safari. It was a pleasant to drive through the hills, ofcourse, the roads are not that good and speed breakers are also not of standards. So, no wonder why you might have gone through that experience. Prem.
	() Thanks

22nd March 2011, 22:26	#9
bluevolt Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New Delhi Posts: 3,273 Thanked: 3,477 Times View My Garage	Re: List of hatchbacks/sedans with High ground clearance? I think following cars do not have ground clearance issues (I may be wrong) 1. Maruti Alto 2. Maruti WagonR 3. Maruti Ritz/Swift 4. Hyundai Santro/i10 5. Ford Figo 6. Tata Indica 7. Hyundai Verna This list may grow/shrink.
	() Thanks

22nd March 2011, 23:19	#11
9thsphinx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ahmedabad Posts: 1,121 Thanked: 549 Times View My Garage	Re: List of hatchbacks/sedans with High ground clearance? Why did we forget the Honda Jazz? No GC issues for me, no matter how much I stuff it with! And lets not forget... it rides like a breeze
	() Thanks

22nd March 2011, 23:28	#12
download2live Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: - Posts: 1,157 Thanked: 1,271 Times	Re: List of hatchbacks/sedans with High ground clearance? The cars with good GC and still driving like cars sadly are history now: Ford Fusion and FIAT Adventure. You will be better off with SUV's. Or with an M800 or Alto. Also do not go blindly for high GC. It effects the handling of the car. Negatively. OT: At the rate Bangalore Speed breakers are gaining height soon the GC required will leave Tractors shamefaced.
	() Thanks

22nd March 2011, 23:36	#13
Tapish BHPian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Nainital Posts: 365 Thanked: 920 Times	Re: List of hatchbacks/sedans with High ground clearance? surprisingly (because Esteem is a very low slung car), I never faced GC issues in my car. Have covered bad and good terrains alike..
	() Thanks

23rd March 2011, 09:21	#15
the VTEC guy BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pune Posts: 564 Thanked: 140 Times View My Garage	Re: List of hatchbacks/sedans with High ground clearance? Apart from the GC of the car other things that will matter are the break even angle(shorter wheelbase cars would scrape less), suspension settings, how much the vehicle is loaded,illegal speed bump design and above all driving style will contribute.so on one day if you are careful drivng the same stretch of road will all other parameters same there is a chance one may not scrape the bottom of the car.
	() Thanks