Cross-country ability and ground clearance of the Lada Granta liftback model

Measuring vehicle clearance

There are two ways to measure vehicle clearance.

The first method involves the use of special aluminum, plastic and polyurethane spacers. They are fixed between the vehicle body and part of the rack. There are also rubber spacers - they are installed between the coils of the spring. Spacers made from this material increase ground clearance slightly, but at the same time the swaying of the car is reduced. Unfortunately, using this method reduces ride comfort because the car becomes stiffer. Polyurethane spacers are considered the most optimal - they are more resistant to deformation and, unlike aluminum, do not corrode in winter.

The second way to increase ground clearance is to use wheels with a radius larger than those of currently existing wheels. However, friction may occur between large wheels, wheel arches and mud flaps. Therefore, before using this method, see if all proportions will be met.

To measure the ground clearance, use a regular ruler or tape measure.

To obtain the most accurate data, you need to measure in several places (lower points). Strat points can be places under the axles and under the engine crankcase.

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How to increase car clearance?

Changing the height of the clearance, namely increasing it, is an infrequent procedure, but sometimes you cannot do without it. Because in some cases, only by increasing the ground clearance can you improve the technical characteristics of your car. For example, you may need to increase the vehicle's ground clearance if:

• If the car is often used to transport any goods.
• The car constantly catches on the pallet when driving on bumpy, uneven roads.
• Mud flaps installed near the car wheels began to touch the road surface.

Air suspension installation

It is not difficult for owners of the latest generation cars equipped with air suspension to change the ride height. The on-board computer program is responsible for adjusting the ride height in such cars. This system allows you to increase the vehicle's ground clearance manually, using 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 hefty sum, about 100 thousand rubles.

Replacing tires

This method is considered the simplest in terms of implementation. First of all, you can try to install tires with a larger profile, which will increase the radius of the wheels. This option can slightly increase the vehicle’s ground clearance, usually 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 turning or when the vehicle is heavily loaded. Subsequently, this leads to the tires quickly wearing out. It is also possible for corrosion to develop as a result of contact between the wheels and the car body.

Replacing wheel rims

This method of increasing ground clearance involves installing larger diameter rims. In this case, in addition to the internal dimensions of the arch, as in the previous version, you should take into account the diameter of the wheel hub, as well as the holes for the bolts located on it.

The easiest way to select such discs is in the store itself. The employee will select suitable discs from 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 disks differ not only in size, but also in the type of fastening and often do not match.

This option will also slightly increase the vehicle's ground clearance, but will cost much more than the previous one. Since you will have to change not only the wheels, but also buy additional tires for them, and this is not a cheap pleasure.

Replacing car suspension springs

You can also increase ground clearance by replacing the shock-absorbing springs. This method is most popular among car owners. But this will require disassembling the front and rear suspensions.

Springs are selected with an identical size, but more rigid. The spring stiffness is indicated by markings directly on the spring. Such changes can significantly increase the vehicle's ground clearance.

Installing spacers in suspension elements

Another option for increasing ground clearance is to install special spacers in the car suspension. They come in various types, differing in the location of attachment and materials of manufacture.

For example, there are spacers that are inserted between the shock absorber strut and the body cup. Thus, the vehicle’s ground clearance increases to a certain height, depending on the size of the insert itself. The disadvantage is a decrease in stability and controllability of the car.

In turn, there are also interturn inserts that are installed directly between the turns of the springs. Due to the fact that part of the spring does not function after installing the spacer, the vehicle's ground clearance increases. This will be especially noticeable when the vehicle is heavily loaded. However, this increases the stiffness of the suspension and reduces its service life.

As you can see, there are many ways to increase the ground clearance of a car, and almost all of them can be done independently. However, if the car is still under warranty, then tampering with the car's suspension may result in a denial of warranty repairs.

Installation

There is nothing difficult in installing houses; you just need to have the necessary tools and a little skill in car repair. The work will take no more than 40 minutes on both sides of the car.

Required tool:

• Set of keys or sockets;
• Penetrating lubricant WD-40 or similar;
• Two jacks
• Hammer and goatee;

Work process

The easiest way to install it is from an inspection hole, but if you don’t have one, you can do without it.

We lift the car on jacks on both sides and remove the wheels, do not forget to fix the front wheels of the car using a rollback.

We treat the bolt securing the strut to the beam with WD-40 penetrating lubricant and wait for 5 minutes. Then unscrew it.

Remove the bolt from the silent block of the rear shock absorber

We install the houses by first screwing them to the beam, and then insert the shock absorber into the house mount and fix it with a bolt.

TIP: It is recommended to install the stand in the middle hole on the house, this will allow you to achieve the optimal height and center of gravity of the car.

We carry out similar work on the opposite side of the car.

The process of installing spacers for the rear shock absorbers of the Priora is completed, do not forget to adjust the headlights.

Installation of springs of different lengths and stiffness

The amount of ground clearance of a car directly depends on the installed spring. The body rests on it, and not only how much the car will rise above the road, but also the operation of the entire suspension depends on its rigidity and length. There are several options for springs on the Lada Priora. These are classes “A” and “B”, the first one is considered the more severe. In addition, there are several types of springs that were installed directly at the factory at different times.

When choosing springs, you should always look for a reasonable compromise, since installing an overly stiff part and using it on an unloaded car will not allow the suspension to work smoothly, and the car will bounce on every bump.

One of the options for increasing ground clearance is to install intercoil spacers on the spring. These elements do not allow the spring to compress completely, and the stiffness of the suspension increases. However, at the same time, the compression of the shock absorber is limited, which reduces the smoothness and comfort of the vehicle's suspension.

Another simple way to increase ground clearance is to install a spacer under the spring between the body and the spring. This part, made of high-strength rubber, easily copes with the pressure of the vehicle's weight on it, while the suspension settings practically do not change. You need to understand that if the spring sag, installing such a spacer will not be able to increase the rigidity of the part. Therefore, the spring must be changed.

Another way to increase the ground clearance of the Priora is to install larger tires. Of course, you cannot simply change the wheel size from R 13 (14) to R 15, but installing a tire with a higher profile is quite acceptable. Instead of 175/55 R 14, you can use 175/70 R 14. But the driver should not forget that a higher wheel profile behaves slightly worse when cornering, and take this fact into account when choosing a speed.

The dimensions of the restyled Lada Priora have not changed significantly. Although, due to the new front and rear bumpers, the length of the Lada Priora has changed by several millimeters.

As before, the restyled Lada Priora sedan has the longest length, which in the new version is 4,350 mm. The length of the station wagon is 1 centimeter shorter, but the Priora hatchback is even smaller, the length of this version of the body is 4210 mm. The width of the entire family is 1,680 mm and the wheelbase is the same for all 2,492 mm.

As for the ground clearance or ground clearance of the Lada Priora, the manufacturer indicates a figure of 165 mm for the sedan and hatchback, while the ground clearance for the Lada Priora station wagon is 170 mm. However, in fact, the ground clearance is greater; just pick up a tape measure and make sure of this. But the manufacturer is not mistaken; he simply indicates the vehicle’s ground clearance when fully loaded.

New Lada: Car diagram - Lada Priora

The luggage compartment volumes of the new version of Lada Priora in all three bodies have changed little. The sedan's trunk volume is 430 liters. The luggage compartment volume of the Priora hatchback is smaller, only 306 liters, but if you fold the rear seats (which cannot be done in a sedan), the volume increases to 705 liters.

Further detailed data on the dimensions of the Lada Priora are in the table below.

As for the tire size of the Lada Priora, the manufacturer recommends installing 14-inch wheels. The tire size can be 175/65 R14 or 185/60 R14 or 185/65 R14. The most interesting thing is that today, even on Lada Granta or Kalina in well-packaged trim levels, AvtoVAZ offers 15-inch wheels as standard.

How to increase clearance, and how dangerous is it?

For many car owners, increasing ground clearance is a key task. The reasons may vary. For example, in a loaded car, the wheels touch the fender liners, or the mud flaps on uneven sections of the road (when rocking) hit the road (this greatly irritates the driver’s psyche). Needless to say, a loaded car with low clearance is a real disaster.

The adjustment process is as simple as possible for vehicles with pneumatic-hydraulic or air suspension. In this case, there is no need to make additional adjustments to the ground clearance. A number of models have special shock absorbers with which you can independently increase or decrease the ground clearance.

In other cases, you can use conventional spacers made of plastic, plastic or metal (most often aluminum). In practice, plastic spacers performed best. They practically do not deform even under difficult operating conditions. In some cases, hard rubber spacers can be used.

To achieve maximum efficiency, installation is performed directly between the coils of springs - this gives the latter additional rigidity. If money allows, you can install so-called adjustable spacers.

One cannot fail to mention another popular method - installing wheels with the largest possible radius for a particular car model. But there is always a danger that when turning or on a loaded car, the wheels will begin to rub against the fender liners. For some reason, many car enthusiasts forget about this.

Ground clearance is a constantly changing value that depends on a number of parameters - wear of tires, springs and car springs. Over time, the clearance decreases. In this regard, periodic adjustment of clearance is a very useful and necessary activity.

Just please, without fanaticism. Increasing the ground clearance above the permissible limit is fraught with loss of vehicle controllability, and this is for your safety.

Ground clearance (also known as ground clearance) is one of the most basic and important parameters of any car.

Many of us often pay special attention to this parameter when choosing a car. Ground clearance is especially important in winter conditions, when traditionally winter takes utility workers by surprise and roads even in large Russian cities turn into winter rally tracks

Unfortunately, what car manufacturers indicate in their technical specifications often does not correspond to reality. For example, few people think about the fact that the ground clearance of cars in reality is much less than what is stated by car companies.

So if you buy a car with a ground clearance of 140 or even 150 mm, don’t 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 car’s ground clearance is similar to some sports cars.

Our online publication has decided to select for you ten cars that, due to their ground clearance, are not actually intended for use on Russian roads. Especially in winter. We would like to note that we did not include in our rating any exclusive, rare sports cars that have low ground clearance due to their specific nature. We chose among ordinary cars that can be officially purchased in Russia and intended for use in the city. First, let's find out what the ground clearance of a car is?

I stand tall. What ground clearance is needed for a passenger car?

A car with high ground clearance is a blessing, especially in the outback, where there are few good asphalt roads. This suspension allows you to easily pass large holes on broken sections of dirt roads, where passenger cars often damage thresholds and hit the engine crankcase against protruding stones. High ground clearance also helps during snowfalls. Sometimes the courtyards of houses are so covered with snowstorms that driving through the snowdrifts becomes problematic. Low cars fall into snowdrifts along the bottom and helplessly rotate their drive wheels, unable to escape from the winter trap. A couple of extra centimeters to the ground clearance in such a situation can be very useful.

“The ground clearance of a car for living in the city must be at least 160 mm,” says Vyacheslav Subbotin, engineer and captain of the GazReid Sport racing team. “It is this that allows you to painlessly roll the front end up to concrete curbs near sidewalks without the risk of scratching the bottom or crushing the bumper. The height of the curb is exactly 160 mm. True, sometimes they are not buried according to the standard, with height exceeding the standard.”

What is car clearance and how to increase it? Comparison tables

The answer to the question “what is a car’s ground clearance?” simple - the minimum height of the middle part of the car from the surface. That is, the distance between the bottom and the road.

Actually, not just a car. Any vehicle. There are special tractors with a ground clearance of two meters. And the tank’s high ground clearance makes it more visible and vulnerable in battle. Although cross-country ability is a very important quality for him.

Advantages of cars with low clearance:

• excellent road holding. A low center of mass helps with cornering stability. That's how all racing cars are
• efficiency. All other things being equal, the drag is slightly lower, which saves fuel
• "fuzzyness". The sporty, fast-looking silhouette of the car warms the soul of the owner.

The advantage of cars with high ground clearance. One thing, but a very significant one. Patency. Such a car will not sit on its bottom in bad conditions. It will travel in the direction that roads still exist in our place. Easy parking - it won’t catch a curb or a stone in a snowdrift.

It is significant that high ground clearance raises the center of mass of the car, making it prone to tipping over on sharp turns. Therefore, when driving on good roads at high speeds, it is worth reducing it.

Based on clearance height, cars are conventionally divided into:

• passenger cars –110-180 mm. We take into account that the average height of the border is 16 cm
• crossovers, SUVs #8212 160-220 mm
• SUVs – 200-420 mm.

Alas, it's not that simple. There is also such a thing as “body geometry”. A long car with a high body can give up even before entering a tow truck. And the Peugeot 107 easily climbs up or down a hill, goes around the pits along the contour, without touching anything.

The VAZ-2131, having lengthened by half a meter from the classic Niva, acquired the harmful ability to regularly cling to something.

More. The bottom is not a solid plate. It’s worth inspecting your car on an overpass; knowing where and how much the parts protrude, you can carefully “skip” a post or stone under the bottom.

For family cars with high ground clearance, we can recommend the Volkswagen Polo Sedan 1.6 with a height of 170 mm.

Volkswagen Polo Sedan 1.6

Relatively inexpensive, roomy, passable. When choosing a family car, you should look beyond ground clearance, even if the choice is based on operating conditions. We take into account price, efficiency, trunk size, cost and availability of maintenance.

When looking for a model of an economical car with high ground clearance, you should take into account the contradictory requirements: low cars are more economical. So we are looking for a reasonable compromise in the requirements. You can pay attention to the “C3 Picasso Trekker” with a clearance height of 175 mm or Nissan Juke – 180 mm. All-wheel drive, automatic transmission, high engine power on average increases fuel consumption.

Among inexpensive, budget cars with high ground clearance, the Russian Lada 4#215 4 and Chevrolet Niva are interesting. Similar to each other - mechanics, all-wheel drive, 1.7 liter engine with 80 horses - cars with excellent cross-country ability.

The Chinese are doing quite well in the budget class, making quite decent cars at a relatively low cost.

Ways to increase ground clearance

How to increase car clearance. There are cars with active suspension. Their design includes the ability to change the height of the car literally “on the fly”, raising or lowering depending on driving conditions.

Hydraulic, pneumatic and hydropneumatic systems are controlled by an on-board computer. Provision is made for raising and lowering each wheel depending on the conditions: at different cornering speeds, uneven roads, at the start, braking. Installed sensors assist the movement without driver intervention.

Adjustable Air Suspension (ESS)

Cars equipped with such systems move smoothly, driving is more comfortable and safer. Alas, you have to pay for everything. Both in the literal sense: such models are more expensive, and in the figurative sense - the complication of the design leads to more complicated maintenance and reduced reliability.

A simple way to increase the car's ground clearance is to install different wheels.

It has nuances. Wheels 195/65R15, 205/55R16, 225/45R17, 225/40R18 have almost the same external size. It is necessary to take into account the change in the rubber profile, choose the same profile, but with an increased radius.

There are also failures caused by geometry. With the same number of wheel revolutions, the distance the car travels is different. That is, irregularities in the speedometer readings are possible. The speed sensor is likely to fail in vehicles equipped with ABS and ESP systems, if any. And it won’t be possible to increase it much - the wheel arches will interfere, possibly touching the mudguards.

Another option is to replace the springs and shock absorbers, and supply additional “gaskets”. Many workshops now provide such services. We take into account that the replacement of standard components of the car automatically leads to the loss of the factory warranty, if it has not yet expired. Such replacements also affect the stiffness of the suspension.

SUVs with high ground clearance

As a rule, if they are looking for high ground clearance, then they pay attention to SUVs (in this case, preference should be given to all-wheel drive models). In the conditions of the domestic off-road conditions that are familiar to all of us, you won’t find a better option

In the conditions of the domestic off-road conditions that are familiar to all of us, you won’t find a better option.

Next is a video about cars with high ground clearance:

Chevrolet TrailBlazer

When discussing cars with high ground clearance, we should start with this model. The ground clearance here reaches 25.5 cm, and this is also accompanied by good wheelbase characteristics - 28.45 cm. As a result, this car can easily conquer peaks.

This is complemented by high-quality interior design, a powerful engine, as well as an original and memorable appearance, which makes the model one of the most popular in its segment.

Mercedes-Benz GL

Next in our rating of cars with high ground clearance is a representative of the German automobile industry with a clearance of 28.5 cm. The presence of all-wheel drive, rich equipment and stylish interior design are included. In addition, the model pleases with excellent filling - the Mercedes is equipped with modern equipment.

At the same time, if you are looking for an inexpensive crossover with high ground clearance, then the Mercedes-Benz GL will not suit you - this vehicle belongs to the premium segment. At the same time, this affects not only the cost, but also the excellent parameters in which the car outperforms most competitors.

Infiniti QX80

It is the largest Japanese SUV in the premium segment. Naturally, such elite models are not designed to drive through a swamp, but if Infiniti gets off-road, it will be able to overcome almost any obstacle.

A high ground clearance of 26.3 cm, a powerful engine, excellent suspension, large wheels, and electronic all-wheel drive control systems help achieve this. As a result, the car guarantees a comfortable and safe ride in any conditions.

LADA 4×4 and Chevrolet Niva

The secret of Vesta’s lack of all-wheel drive, perhaps, lies in the fact that no one would take the Niva. The first domestic crossover rises above the asphalt by 205 mm, and the version created together with Chevrolet is already 220 mm.

In addition to high ground clearance, the driver can expect all-wheel drive, low weight, cross-axle differentials on two axles at once and thoughtful body geometry with favorable approach and departure angles. And the Niva also has permanent all-wheel drive, low-speed steering and differential locking.

These models are prime examples that capable cars don't have to be expensive. The average cost of a LADA 4×4 is 312 thousand rubles, a Chevrolet Niva is 362 thousand rubles.

Be careful when purchasing. Despite the fact that every third of the Nivas is given away without problems, there is a risk of buying a scrapped car, either in collateral, with incorrect mileage, restrictions or unpaid fines.

"Shnivy" are even more problematic. Most cars are sold after accidents, with unpaid fines. You can come across examples after a taxi, in collateral, leasing, with registration restrictions and twisted mileage.

Also read: Chevrolet Niva - from dirt to city. One owner experience

Lada Priora tank how many liters

The popular domestic Lada Priora borrowed the tank volume from its predecessor. And many potential owners are interested in the question, how many liters are in the tank? We will definitely answer this pressing question in this material, and also tell you a lot of useful information about the Lada Priora tank, including what troubles to expect, how much it costs and most importantly, what is the capacity of the gas tank.

A short excursion into history, the legendary VAZ-2108 was equipped with a tank, the volume of which was absolutely the same as that of the VAZ-2110 later. The “Ten” has long been discontinued, and the Priora is being produced, but the capacity of the gas tank has not changed since the days of the “Eight”. At the same time, Lada Priora has its own personal article number (that is, catalog number) for the tank. The number is identical for each body: sedan, exactly the same for a station wagon and, accordingly, for a hatchback. According to numerous owners of the car we are considering, its tank volume is the most optimal, and all because Priora is a 100 percent city car with average fuel consumption in urban conditions and low fuel consumption on the highway. According to information from the car manufacturer, the tank volume is 43 liters, however, Lada Priora owners have found through experience that the tank capacity is actually up to 49 liters.

We find something and lose something...

Ground clearance of the Nissan Almera car: ground clearance of the Nissan Almera car and trim levels The trunk volume is not the most impressive - only 450 liters. But a special mesh is provided for securing the load.

Due to unsuccessfully selected suspension settings, the handling of the Lada Priora station wagon is far from ideal.

Generation I Test Drives 1 Generation I Test Drives

Daewoo Gentra (4-door sedan)

Generation I Test Drives THERE is a fairly common misconception that a station wagon can carry heavy loads that a sedan or hatchback cannot. In fact, the gain is only in the volume of cargo, and the difference in carrying capacity, if we talk about the compact class, as a rule, does not exceed a couple of tens of kilograms. The Priora station wagon has a carrying capacity at the level of its Western counterparts - 505 kg. But compared to its brothers - the sedan and hatchback - it increased by only 15 kg.

However, even because of this small difference, the designers had to slightly change the suspension settings. And as a result... the car's driving performance has become worse.

...Roads in the Kaliningrad region, as in any other part of Russia, are far from ideal. However, the station wagon's suspension copes with potholes more or less tolerably. But a series of gentle “waves” on the asphalt made our car sway so much that it was time to stock up on seasickness pills. Actually, this is a long-standing disease of models of the “tenth” family, but the “Priora” sedans and hatchbacks have already recovered from it. And here’s a surprise – on the station wagon, the chronic illness made itself known again. The reason is the unsuccessfully selected characteristics of the springs and shock absorbers. Therefore, in more or less serious turns, the Priora does not perform well and reluctantly reacts to the rotation of the steering wheel - first it almost completely selects the suspension travel, and only then with a strong trim on board it goes into a turn.

Representatives of AvtoVAZ did not argue with this opinion about the driving performance of the station wagon. We agreed that it is necessary to improve the behavior of the car on the road, to more carefully select the characteristics of springs and shock absorbers - according to engineers, this work is already underway.

Rating of high clearance sedans

Lada Vesta

A car with beautiful X-shaped styling and balanced driving characteristics. It has a 2635 mm wheelbase, front-wheel drive and a 480-liter trunk. The ground clearance of the 4-door Vesta sedan is 178 mm, which is more than enough to drive through broken roads with potholes and other defects.

The car comes with 2 gasoline engines of 1.6 and 1.8 liters with a power of 106 and 122 hp. respectively. The power units are paired with a 5-speed manual transmission or an AMT robot with the same number of stages.

Datsun on-Do

A car created on the Lada Granta platform and similar to the Russian budget sedan. The main advantage over the domestic passenger car is the presence of a 4-band automatic transmission, offered in the Trust and Dream trim levels.

The updated Granta with a nameplate from another manufacturer is a compact, practical and inexpensive car, characterized by unpretentious operation, adapted to Russian road conditions due to a reliable and repairable suspension, high ground clearance of 174 mm.

It is worth noting that On-DO sedans with automatic transmission are 10-20 mm lower than versions with manual transmission.

VW Polo

One of the best representatives of cars in this class. The Volkswagen Polo sedan is an easy-to-drive car, adapted for Russian roads. Meets in Kaluga. Compared to its classmates, it has a rich engine range and a 6-speed automatic transmission. However, the ground clearance is less than that of AvtoVAZ’s flagship, Vesta. It is 163 mm.

Under the hood of the 4-door sedan there is a junior 90-horsepower engine, its powerful version with output of 110 “horses,” or a turbocharged TSI gasoline unit developing 125 hp.

Interior

After the restyling, the interior of the Lada Priora became much more expressive and modern. A new dashboard, a large display in the middle of the dashboard, an updated center console - all this has ennobled the interior of the sedan. But the same features of the panel, the same gear lever, steering wheel, seat upholstery, flaws in the assembly and other points remind of the previous interior of the car.

The interior of the LADA Priora is generally not bad, but not impressive.

Vesta's salon is fundamentally different. A completely different design, created in the style of modern foreign cars, a large display that fits harmoniously into the interior, and does not break out of it, as in the Priora, an impressive dashboard, high-quality operation of the climate system, well-profiled seats with good lateral support, space, etc.

Vesta's salon looks much more interesting.

In general, the interior of the LADA Priora is acceptable, but after Vesta it leaves a clear feeling of unfinished and lack of harmony.

Options and cost

Lada Priora has half as many versions as Vesta - 3 versus 6. In addition, the described advantages of the new sedan over its predecessor can largely be explained by the difference in cost. The starting price of LADA Priora is 389,000 rubles, while for LADA Vesta it is 514,000 rubles. For class B cars the difference is 125,000 rubles. very weighty. Top versions are priced at 464,000 rubles. and 633,000 rub. (RUB 658,000 for modification with AMT). Consequently, at the top the difference grows to 169,000 (RUB 194,000).

Lada Priora: cost of new models

Various car modifications

The price for the main version of the new Lada Priora, released in 2011, is 11,500 thousand dollars. This version can be safely called “empty”, but still, a certain minimum of equipment is present in it, namely: electric windows, an airbag for the driver, an alarm system and central locking.

The average option will cost 13,000 thousand dollars. And the most “stuffed” package costs about 14,500 thousand dollars.

This modification is equipped with a 16-valve engine with a capacity of 98 horsepower, airbags, an ABS system, fog lights, parking sensors, climate control, an on-board computer, power windows, heated seats and mirrors and 14-inch alloy wheels.

In 2006, AvtoVAZ OJSC began the first cycle of preparation for the release of the new Lada Priora model. The car, which received the index 2170, was created on the basis of the Lada-110 model, adopting the platform and engine from it. In fact, the Priora was an in-depth restyling of the Ten. About a thousand changes were noted in the design, both superficial and fundamental. Priora received an extensive range of interior and luggage compartment parts. The exterior of the Lada Priora, ground clearance and many other parameters of the chassis differed from those of the 110th model. The doors became 5 mm wider, which forced the stamping shop of the Tolyatti plant to rebuild several punches and dies. Thus, the identity of the Lada 110 and the Lada Priora was reduced to a minimum. AvtoVAZ engineers counted over a thousand parts that distinguished the old Lada from the new one, and radically changed the design of the “tens”. External attributes, moldings, alloy wheels, external door handles, front optics, rear lights, hood, trunk, tail and the entire exterior as a whole exuded novelty. The final touch of the update is Kama Euro tires size 185/65 R14.

Comparative table of vehicle clearance

Maxim Markov

Hi all! In the modern realities of Mother Russia, most motorists travel by car both on asphalt roads and on dirt roads. I won’t say anything about the qualities of our autobahns here, I’ll just say that such a trip is often quite simple to describe – an off-road rally! Therefore, when every now and then you scrape the bottom of your car along the roadway, whether you like it or not, you will have to not only get acquainted with the concept of ground clearance, but also learn how to increase the car’s ground clearance. The latter, of course, worries those who are used to doing everything on their own. Today, we’ll talk about this value, and the comparative table of vehicle clearance, which can be seen below, will help you install a vehicle with optimal ground clearance for your area.

Volvo S60 Cross Country

Car brand knowledge test
The clear leader in ground clearance in the premium segment is the Volvo S60 Cross Country. Ground clearance is 201 millimeters. Such figures can even put some crossovers on their backs. In addition, no other sedan on our market has such indicators. True, despite all the advantages of the Volvo S60 Cross Country (all-wheel drive, sedan, tall, off-road), it did not gain much popularity among us.

Good ground clearance means that you can safely drive on roads with holes and potholes, without worrying about the integrity of the muffler and various elements located on the bottom of the car at its lowest points. Each car from the above has unsurpassed charm, pleasant design, individuality and high technology. And if you don’t want to experience the inconvenience of low ground clearance, perhaps you should choose one of the above-mentioned representatives, which will delight you for many years when traveling around the city and in nature.

, 23 Apr 2018

A car is designed to travel on the road. But lately we have to do this off-road, and sometimes it’s difficult to determine where one ends and the other begins. Therefore, such a car characteristic as ground clearance is of increased interest among car owners. This article shows the dimensions in a comparative table of vehicle clearance, but first, of course, you should understand what it is and what functions it performs.

Clearance is explained by GOST as the distance between such parts of the car as the supporting surface and the lowest point of the central part of the entire structure. Simply put, this is the distance that separates the prospect of damaging the lowest part of the car and the road surface. More often, this concept can be heard in such a form as ground clearance - it is more understandable, easier to remember and therefore used with great pleasure.

The amount of ground clearance is a very important characteristic for any car, as it significantly affects stability at high speed, cross-country ability, and maneuverability. And these, without a doubt, are the indicators that can demonstrate the car in the best light. As for cross-country ability, it can be increased along with an increase in value. By the way, this can be done while driving – on some cars.

As a rule, ground clearance is indicated in millimeters, sometimes also in centimeters.

It is also common practice to notify car owners about two values ​​- clearance under the front and rear axles. Sometimes they even indicate the clearance that is under the engine crankcase.

To make it easier to characterize clearance, in the future, using a table, a conditional classification of this characteristic should be given. In general, ground clearance can be divided into three categories: high (SUVs and SUVs), medium (crossovers and SUVs), small (passenger cars). And now regarding the specific values ​​of ground clearance under the front bumper:

1. 20-35 cm for SUVs.
2. Not less than 18 cm and not more than 25 cm for SUVs.
3. 14-20 cm for cars.

As for the oil pan, these are the following values:

• From 20 cm for SUVs;
• From 17 to 21 cm for SUVs;
• From 12 to 17 cm for passenger cars.

Interior

Ground clearance (clearance) of Lada Largus in various bodies: van, 5 seats

The high level of ergonomics also did not cause any complaints. Finishing materials, relatively inexpensive, but of sufficient quality, are combined according to color scheme and make the interior of the car cozy and relaxing. Italian designers used the finishing tone in a double, layered version. The upper tier of the cabin is decorated with light-colored materials, while the lower tier is decorated with darker materials. There is no contrasting transition between these two levels; one color replaces the other smoothly, in halftones. In fact, the entire interior trim is done in a two-tone version, which creates the impression of integrity. The driver's door armrest is equipped with semi-automatic power window control buttons, and there is also a joystick for adjusting the exterior rear-view mirrors. All buttons are designed in an anti-press format; accidental touches will not turn them on.

Options and prices | Auto is the official dealer of LADA in Khmelnitsky

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High clearance sedans: the most popular models

Compactness and affordable cost have made such cars one of the most popular in our country. In addition, the models stand out for their attractive appearance, representativeness and ease of maintenance.

Now we will discuss models that will delight us with their ground clearance.

Volkswagen Polo

The ground clearance of this model reaches 17 cm. Combined with high-quality assembly and excellent dynamics, this makes the car an excellent option for driving both on the streets and off-road. Among the main characteristics of the model it is worth highlighting:

• engine with a volume of 1.6 liters and a power of 105 horsepower;
• manual five-speed gearbox (or 6-speed robot);
• good dynamics (with a manual you can take a hundred in 10.5 seconds).

Chevrolet Lanos

First of all, it is worth emphasizing the affordable cost of the model, especially if you look closely at the secondary market. Many people don’t like the design of the car, but this is a matter of taste and preference. In any case, a sedan with a ground clearance of 16 cm deserves your attention. In addition, the model pleases us:

• 1.5 liter engine and 86 horses;
• high-quality five-speed transmission;
• good dynamics (acceleration to 100 km/h will take 12.5 seconds);
• quite comfortable fit.

At the same time, the car takes quite a lot of fuel - in city conditions, some models require about 10 l/100 km.

Toyota Camry

This high-clearance sedan has become an incomparable world leader in many respects. The machine pleases with its performance and excellent functionality. The design is classic, but this is only for the benefit of the car. It especially stands out for its high-quality assembly.

Of the main parameters, it is necessary to say about:

• ground clearance of 16 cm;
• convenient disembarkation and embarkation;
• wide selection of high-quality motors;
• excellent gearboxes that are designed to save fuel;
• presentable appearance;
• relatively low cost (about 998 thousand rubles).

An increased level of comfort allows you to enjoy traveling in a premium car even when purchasing the basic version.

Nissan Almera

To be honest, the ground clearance here is not that great - only 15 cm. At the same time, this is quite enough to feel comfortable in the city. On the other hand, the model has a lot of other positive qualities:

• powerful 1.5-liter engine and 102 horses;
• excellent dynamics (with mechanics, 100 km is taken in 10 seconds);
• spacious fuel tank (50 l);
• the ability to choose a model with automatic transmission or manual gearbox);
• stylish appearance.

In addition, you need to take into account that this vehicle is a Japanese car, which indicates its quality and reliability. In addition, you can feel good in this Nissan even while driving with not very high-quality fuel

What's good about high ground clearance?

High ground clearance has always been valued by true car enthusiasts; its high value definitely increases the status of the car, both visually and functionally. You don’t need to go far here, take for example any Lada car and double its ground clearance. I’m sure the car will appear before you in a completely different form, like an SUV. And you, as a driver, will receive a lot of advantages:

• The visibility around the car will increase significantly;
• Getting into the car will become much easier and more convenient;
• The cross-country ability will also please you; the likelihood of “sitting on your belly” in snow or mud will be significantly reduced;
• The front and rear overhang angles will also increase accordingly, which will keep bumpers and body kit elements from colliding with the road surface or curb.
• Increasing the pitch and roll angle will give you some advantage when overcoming road obstacles.

How and why to measure ground clearance

In such a situation, when buying a car, we can only demand that at least the conditions for the clearance measurement procedure be met. Experts recommend performing such actions exclusively on the inspection hole; how the measurements are taken is not so important, whether an ordinary tape measure or a centimeter will do. They also focus on the following nuances:

• Tire pressure must comply with the vehicle's owner's manual.
• A tire installed on a car must comply with the manufacturer’s recommended requirements both in size and profile.
• It is also necessary to load the car at least to a minimum; for this, ballast weighing 75 kg is installed on the front seat, and the weight of a full tank of fuel (40-70 kg) is installed in the trunk.

I think we’ve sorted out the preparatory process, now let’s return to the question of where to measure? The most common areas, which in each individual car can be the lowest point of the entire structure, can be counted about four. It is from them that the clearance value is calculated.

1. The bottom point of the pallet, if you have protection installed, the thickness of its sheet must be taken into account when measuring.
2. From the base of the bumper and in places where there are plastic overhangs.
3. From the muffler resonator and the lower edge of the fuel tank.
4. From the lower mounting brackets under the front shock absorber struts.

Well, again, each vehicle has its own low point. For example, on ordinary sedans this is the exhaust system, fuel tank or catalyst. For SUVs - a transfer case or differential, etc.

What can we perform there?

The first thing that will suffer when encountering a deep pothole or an open sewer hatch is, of course, the front bumper. As soon as the car dives into such a hole (look at the photo), you are guaranteed a split bumper. Let's not talk about dented wheels and sills now.

There are no general standards, but there are average values ​​for cars, family cars, and SUVs that reflect the ground clearance (distance from the front bumper to the asphalt):

• for SUVs from 18 to 35 cm;
• for passenger cars from 13 to 20 cm.

Next in line for the “breakdown”, and in the direction of travel, we have the oil pan. That's who gets it to the fullest. No, no, you’ll hear from a friend that he broke through the pan. And this is already a very expensive repair. The pan itself, changing the oil, or even worse, if you didn’t immediately notice the breakdown and drove for some significant distance without oil. Quite often, the clearance between the pan and the ground is even less than from the bumper. To be precise, it is not the pallet itself that sticks out, but its protection. But it’s better to let the ground clearance decrease slightly, by a few centimeters due to protection, than to drive at the risk of damaging the pan.

Here the values ​​are almost the same:

1. for an SUV on average from 17 cm;
2. for a passenger car from 12 cm.

Elements of the front suspension of some cars (levers, rods) can also significantly reduce ground clearance. Don’t forget about the muffler with a resonator, which, although recessed into the bottom, can easily get caught on the road on some car models.

At one time, as the owner of a VAZ 2112 car, during a year of operation, I managed to puncture the gas tank three times. This is all to blame, of course, for the disgusting directions and also weak rear springs, because of which the ground clearance in the middle part of my car was indecently small, and at any opportunity I clung to obstacles with this element. After the third time, I was already seriously concerned about this issue (I still think, why not after the second), and I changed the springs along with the tank. I installed new ones from model 11, since it is half a turn longer. I really don’t know if this solved the problem, because I sold the car almost immediately.

Renault Duster, Renault Kaptur and Nissan Terrano

It’s not for nothing that we combined these three off-road crossovers.
All of them are front-wheel drive, only some modifications are equipped with single-wheel drive. The cars are built on the same platform and are identical in ride height. The declared ground clearance from the manufacturer is 205 mm, but 10 mm is “eaten up” by the protection. But 195 mm is quite enough for budget crossovers. But the pricing policies of the models are different. The average cost of a Duster is almost 634 thousand rubles, a Nissan Terrano is 779 thousand rubles, and for a completely new Capture (sold in Russia for only three years) they ask for an average of 918 thousand rubles. At the same time, you can easily find a problem-free copy on the secondary market.

According to statistics from avtocod.ru, every second Duster and every third Terrano and Capture are sold “clean”. But this does not mean that you need to relax and neglect checking your car. Most of the “Dusters” and “Captures” are sold after an accident, with the calculation of repair work and unpaid fines. “Terrano” is most often sold with a duplicate title, road accident and registration restrictions.

Also read: Battle of crossovers: Nissan Qashqai vs Renault Kaptur

Vesta factory tires and wheels

If you decide to replace the standard wheels and tires on a Lada Vesta, then rely on the full diameter of the wheel. How to do this, using 185/60 R14 as an example:

• A disk with a diameter of 14″ is equal to 14 * 25.4 (1 inch = 2.54 cm) = 355.6 mm.
• The height of the tire profile is calculated as follows: 185*60/100=111 mm. Add up the rim diameter and the two tire profile heights: 355.6 111 * 2 = 577.6 mm.

The green color indicates the minimum deviation of the wheel diameter (up to 3 mm); Orange indicates a diameter deviation from 3 to 6 mm.

When installing tires or wheels that differ in parameters from those recommended by the factory, you can:

• be refused warranty repair of the chassis;
• be stopped by a traffic police inspector, who has the right to draw up a report on the car’s non-compliance with the requirements of the Technical Regulations;
• fail to pass technical inspection.

If you are going to buy winter tires for your Lada Vesta, then try to choose narrower tires. These tires will create more pressure on the road surface and improve traction. Remember that wide tires are more sensitive to ruts in winter. And low-profile tires make the ride less comfortable, because... transfer even the smallest holes to the body.

The smaller the unsprung mass (this includes the mass of tires and wheels), the better the car will hold the road and accelerate faster. For example, if you put wheels on a car that are 2 kg lighter each, then acceleration to 100 km/h will be reduced by 0.2 seconds.

What wheels and tires did you choose for the Lada Vesta? What are the pros and cons of such a replacement? Participate in the survey, leave feedback and ask questions. Let us remind you that in this article we determine the real fuel consumption of this car.

General characteristics of the car

Standard wheel clearance

Few passenger cars can match SUVs in terms of ground clearance, but high ground clearance is only important in combination with other vehicle characteristics. If we consider the Priora’s ground clearance, then, on the one hand, everything is very clear here: this figure for this model is 165 mm. But in order to assess its sufficiency, it is necessary to additionally consider the following characteristics:

• total length of the vehicle;
• front and rear overhang length;
• wheelbase;
• vehicle track width;
• the presence of protruding elements under the bottom of the car;
• change in ground clearance for a fully loaded car.

From high to low clearance

If you are really thinking about purchasing a new car and are trying to find the best option in terms of not only price, but also ground clearance, I recommend taking a look at the tables I provided! With their help, you won’t have to crawl under a car with a tape measure in your hands at a car dealership; you’ll find out everything here and now. First, look at the height of cars under the class b category.

As you can see, the Mini-Cooper turned out to be small not only in words, but also in deeds - 120 mm. Renault Logan and Daewoo Nexia, popular in our area, have ground clearance of 155 and 158 mm, respectively. Well, the leader was the Ford Fusion with its 175 mm.

Lowering the car: why and how to do it

Lowering the suspension is usually done to style the car and give it a more daring look. Such tuning makes the car tougher, but nevertheless remains popular. You can lower the VAZ 2170 in the following ways:

1. Installing air suspension (the most expensive method). Complete reworking of the chassis. The result is a lowered car that can be raised if desired.
2. Chassis with adjustable clearance (also expensive). Here, the degree of compression of the springs is adjusted automatically.
3. Installation of low profile tires. Low-profile tires are definitely not suitable for bumps, but you won’t have to modify the chassis.
4. Shortening (sawing off) springs. This is a budget method - you only need to saw off 1.5 turns in the front, 2 turns in the back.

When purchasing a car, the future owner evaluates a number of indicators that must primarily meet the characteristics of the upcoming operation or the conditions of the region in which the car will be used. Considering the poor quality of roads in certain parts of Russia, such a parameter as vehicle clearance plays a fairly important role.