Everyone knows that the quality of the Russian road surface leaves nothing to be desired. It is for this reason that cars with wide ground clearance and increased cross-country ability are increasingly appearing on domestic roads.
There are a lot of cars with high ground clearance, but 5 minivans deserve special attention, which are perfect for large families.
Volkswagen Multivan
A comfortable car with a convertible interior and ground clearance of 220 mm. Depending on personal preferences, you can choose a minivan with an automatic or manual transmission.
The model has been produced for more than 65 years, so manufacturers have managed to take into account all the wishes of its fans.
The latest generation of Volkswagen Multivan is equipped with powerful, economical engines, a modern info-media system and all-wheel drive.
Owners of a modern car from a German manufacturer can also boast a spacious 7 or 8-seater interior, equipped with the latest technology.
Gazelle
Not the minibus, but a special modification with all-wheel drive. GAZ really wanted to win the competition for off-road transportation of Russians and made this hybrid of a crossover and a mini-bus. The Gazelle copes with off-road conditions, but you can’t call it comfortable. The network is filled with complaints that the interior creaks, the suspension doesn’t cope, and sitting isn’t very comfortable.
All-wheel drive minivans are in demand on the market. Do you think it's a good idea for Russia?
Hyundai H-1 (Starex)
For family trips, an excellent option would be the Hyundai Starex - a roomy car with an unusually rounded body that can accommodate 7 people.
Advantages of the car:
- excellent maneuverability;
- ground clearance - 190 mm;
- the ability to rotate the rear seats 90° and lock them in that position;
- engine volume – 2.4-2.6 liters, depending on the configuration and year of manufacture.
When choosing a minivan, it is worth considering that only the first generation model range, which was produced from 1996 to 2007, has all-wheel drive.
Mitsubishi Delica
The Delica not only has all-wheel drive and independent suspension, but also a bunch of “Jeeper” gadgets. For example, what typical minivan has a winch as standard? The car was conceived as a family vehicle for traveling into nature. Apparently, the Japanese development was a success. Well, I would also like to separately note the futuristic design of the vehicle. It’s even somehow awkward to go off-road in the countryside with this one. However, there will be no problems with cross-country ability even there. And “Delica” is simply beautiful. She has repeatedly become the winner of various Designer's Choice nominations.
Toyota Venza
A comfortable car with a spacious interior for 7 people, which makes it both a minivan and a station wagon. Toyota Venza appeared on the Russian car market in 2012 and immediately gained wide popularity.
The car's ground clearance is 205 mm, so it is perfect for Russian roads. The car is as comfortable to drive as possible, both when driving on the highway and within populated areas.
An additional advantage of the machine is its safety. The minivan is equipped with a full set of airbags, as well as an anti-lock brake system.
The catchy appearance, increased level of comfort and safety make the Toyota Venza one of the most popular family cars. The only drawback of the vehicle is its relatively weak engine, with a power of 182 hp.
Toyota Alphard (Toyota Alphard).
Is it sold in the Russian Federation: yes, since 2011.
Characteristics and features:
- excellent driving characteristics;
- power 275 hp;
- reliable, strong body;
- ground clearance - 168 mm;
- maximum speed – 200 km per hour;
- engine – petrol, 3.5-liter, works in tandem with a 6-speed automatic transmission;
- all-wheel drive is available even in the basic configuration;
- combined cycle consumption – 10.5 l.
Price: from 3,273,000 rub.
BMW 2-Series Gran Tourer
A car designed to drive on all types of road surfaces. The minivan is equally comfortable to drive both in the city and on the highway. BMW owes these indicators to its high ground clearance and front-wheel drive.
A tall and elegant car, from the moment of its release to this day, has been widely popular among lovers of vehicles with wide ground clearance, which for the BMW 2-Series Gran Tourer varies between 203-222 mm.
SsangYong Stavic (Ssang Yong Stavik).
Is it sold in the Russian Federation: yes.
Characteristics and features:
- 7-seater saloon;
- ground clearance 18.5 cm;
- 2-liter diesel or gasoline engine, 2 or 3 liters;
- fuel consumption is about 11-12 liters per 100 km in the combined cycle;
- spacious, comfortable, transformable interior;
- maximum speed – 180 km/h;
Honda Odyssey
A car whose ground clearance varied depending on the configuration, as well as the year of manufacture. So the first generation of minivans, produced from 1994 to 1999, could boast ground clearance from 150 to 170 mm.
For all subsequent Honda Odessey, the ground clearance varies from 140 to 165 mm. This is explained by the fact that the car began to be produced mainly for Canada, Korea and the USA, where the roads are in much better condition.
The main advantages of the car include a spacious trunk, excellent dynamic qualities and a body whose exterior is thought out to the smallest detail.
The modern car market is literally replete with various offers, among which minivans occupy not the least place. But when buying a family car, it is important to pay attention to its adaptability to specific Russian roads.
Nissan Quest (Nissan Quest).
Is it sold in the Russian Federation: no, since the Quest is a model created specifically for the Japanese and American markets, so it can only be purchased from us “by hand.”
Characteristics and features:
- ground clearance up to -155 mm;
- extravagant appearance;
- front-wheel drive;
- maximum speed – 203 km/h;
- automatic transmission, located on the dashboard, which is located exactly in the center in this model;
- powerful 3.5 liter petrol engine (243 hp);
- trunk volume – 926 liters;
- fuel consumption in the combined cycle is 12.4 liters per 100 km.
Price: from 195 thousand rubles for the “old lady” of 1993 to 620 thousand for the Quest of 2006.
Rating of all-wheel drive minivans
Toyota Alphard
Ground clearance: 165 mm
This Japanese beauty takes tenth place in our ranking. The first thing that catches your eye is its spectacular exterior. The front part of the Alphard consists of a huge false radiator grille, pierced with many aluminum inserts. The head optics have a predatory, expressive squint. The headlights consist of two stylish sections.
The glazing area in the minivan is impressive - the driver sees the situation on the road around the car. He is helped in this by a large rear-view mirror and additional viewing windows in the Japanese pillars.
The all-wheel drive version provides efficient control on snowy and wet roads. Especially for the Russian market, including heated mirrors, heated front and rear seats, ceiling air ducts in the rear of the cabin.
The basic version of Alphard "Prestige" includes two roof hatches, an audio system with 8 speakers, an air ionizer, three-zone climate control and ventilation of the front row of seats.
The car has four seats.
Mercedes-Benz Viano
The representative of the premium brand was sold on the Russian market for a short time - from 2010 to 2014. The model has not received wide distribution, so it is now difficult to find it on the secondary market. Nevertheless, Viano managed to prove its reliability and high quality of workmanship.
Under the hood of the all-wheel drive minivan, two types of 2.1 liter diesel engines were available - units with 109 and 150 hp. The service life of both installations reaches 500 thousand km. Car enthusiasts note that even 109 hp. enough for a dynamic and frisky ride.
The model was offered in three body lengths - from compact to extra-long. Basic equipment included:
- front airbags,
- electrically adjustable and heated aspherical side mirrors,
- ESP, ABS, EBV systems,
- air conditioning system.
The minivan was equipped with a six- or seven-seat interior layout.
Subaru Exiga
Ground clearance: 175 mm
Another rare minivan with high ground clearance made it into our ranking in eighth place. The car was not officially supplied to the Russian market, but “grey dealers” found a way to import the model into the country. It was produced from 2008 to 2011.
The bright appearance of the car stands out against the background of city traffic. The sporty character of the model can be seen in every element of the exterior. The optics extended along the hood line are in perfect harmony with the graceful silhouette of the Subaru.
Under the hood of the all-wheel drive version you can find several types of power plants:
- 2.0 l, 148 hp, gasoline,
- 2.0 l, 150 hp, gasoline,
- 2.0 l, 225 hp, gasoline,
- 2.5 l, 170 hp, gasoline.
All of them are combined with an automatic transmission and a CVT.
Among the advantages of the model are fairly high power indicators, responsive control, efficiency and an affordable price on the secondary market. True, spare parts can be difficult - finding a supplier of original elements in small towns is almost impossible.
Toyota Hiace Regius
Ground clearance: 180 mm
1997 was the debut year for the Japanese minivan. The appearance of the car did not differ in any special delights - it is an ordinary car with chopped-square shapes. It was produced only in right-hand drive for the Japanese market. There were no official deliveries to Russia. On the secondary market you can now find 1-2 copies throughout the country.
The machine is intended only for highway or city use, and can accommodate 7-8 seats.
In the engine compartment there are 2.7 liter (145 hp) and 3.0 liter (130 hp) diesel engines. Both come paired with an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
The transforming interior is the main feature of this minivan. It offers many ways to organize seating. You can rotate and move the front row. The second and third can be dismantled. If desired, you can remove the second row of seats, leaving passengers in the third row with a huge amount of seating space.
The interior is roomy and high, allowing you to move freely inside the car.
SsangYong Rodius
Ground clearance: 182 mm
The chief designer of the Korean company, Kenya Greenlee, worked on Rodius for about two years. He sought to create a unique car that would attract the public not only with its elegant forms, but also with its well-thought-out technical part. Unfortunately, Greenlee's expectations were not met - the new product was greeted with caution and without enthusiasm. The reason for this is the non-standard appearance of the Korean. The rounded radiator grille, large headlights and hood with a hump made the car look repulsive. However, even on the Russian market there were buyers. What attracted them?
First of all, its impressive dimensions - the Rodius body length is more than five meters. The second “strong side” of the Korean is the transformable interior, which allows you to move the middle row of seats longitudinally and rotate them 180 degrees.
The minivan was equipped with only one 2.7 liter 165 hp diesel engine, which had a good service life - about 300 thousand km without major repairs.
Seat Altea
Ground clearance: 185 mm
Seat Altea is a Spanish five-seater minivan, produced from 2004 to 2013. The model was presented in three versions: standard, XL and Freetrack. The latest variation is an all-wheel drive crossover. In the minivan body, the basic version included:
- electric power steering,
- air conditioner,
- on-board computer,
- ABS,
- six airbags.
The all-wheel drive version is available with only one gasoline engine – 2.0 l, 211 hp. It is combined with a robotic gearbox.
The original solution of the manufacturer was to place the windshield wipers in the front pillars of the car. The Spanish minivan is suitable for driving around the city and on the highway, asphalt and paving stones. It’s not worth experimenting off-road - its chassis is unreliable. The car takes turns smoothly and without roll, even at high speed. The operation of the brake system is debugged due to the informative pedal. The engine unit is known for its high service life - without major repairs in quiet driving mode, it will last about 400 thousand km.
Volkswagen California
Ground clearance: 193 mm
Those who have ever seen a Volkswagen California in “full mincemeat” certainly wanted to buy it. And it’s not about the stylish exterior or super-powerful engines, but about interesting additional “goodies”. The car is ideal for travel: it is spacious, tall and technically sophisticated.
The salon has four seats. The back row converts into a large double bed. But where can two more people sleep? That's right, on the roof of a car. It has a tent with a reinforced floor, which when folded looks like a regular roof. If you unfold the tent, you get another double bed.
An awning is placed in the compartment between the roof and the floor of the tent for protection from the sun and bad weather. It extends to the right side of the machine and is installed on special supports. Under the canopy you can place a table and chairs, which also come with the minivan. Where are they hidden? In the door. It is there that special niches for folding furniture are equipped.
Travel lovers especially appreciate the built-in mini-shower, pull-out kitchen unit with gas stove and refrigerator.
Traveling in this car is comfortable even in winter, because it has an independent air heater.
The main disadvantage of this Volkswagen is its high price. Even on the secondary market you will have to fork out a lot to buy this version with all-wheel drive.
Mercedes-Benz Vito
Ground clearance: 195 mm
There is another minivan in the Mercedes-Benz lineup that has high ground clearance and all-wheel drive. This is Vito. It appeared for the first time in 2003 and since then has been highly popular all over the world. In Russia you can buy it on both the primary and secondary markets. Only the high price tag on the model can “dissuade” you from buying.
The car is offered in three versions: closed van, cargo-passenger and family versions. The maximum capacity of the cabin is 9 people. All rows of seats are individually adjustable and have LED reading lights.
The basic version of the minivan includes:
- disc brakes,
- adaptive ESP system,
- four airbags,
- tire pressure monitoring,
- parking assistant,
- adaptive optics,
- Blind spot monitoring.
Volkswagen Transporter
Ground clearance: 202 mm
Powerful, roomy, comfortable and passable – this is exactly what the Volkswagen Transporter is. In terms of its capabilities, it can easily compete with leading SUVs, the only difference being that it can accommodate many more passengers.
The Transporter is offered in four variations: all-metal commercial, passenger, cargo and “double-cabin”.
All these minivans are supplied to Russia with 2.0-liter turbodiesel engines with a capacity of 150-199 hp. on full drive.
The Transporter has a high ground clearance of 202 mm, which allows it to easily move along the highway, gravel and rough terrain. The German's suspension is durable and durable, completely independent. All-round disc brakes, ventilated at the front. The maximum speed of the car is limited to 198 km/h. It takes about 12-15 seconds to accelerate to the first hundred. The minivan consumes little fuel - 6.8-7.7 l/100 km.
Volkswagen's basic equipment includes eight airbags, electronic differential locking, hill start assist, ABS and much more.
Mitsubishi Delica
Ground clearance: 210 mm
Production of the Delica has long ceased, but the car is still in active use. It is especially common in Siberia, in particular in the Altai Republic. Mountainous terrain and frequent snow obstacles force residents to purchase cars with high ground clearance and all-wheel drive. Since they live mainly from tourism, the requirements for the car are strict. Delica meets all of them – both in cross-country ability and in spaciousness. A fast, nimble and comfortable car boldly carries passengers across mountain peaks. But the driver should get used to the right-hand drive - you won’t find a minivan on the Russian market with a left-hand drive.
Under the hood of the all-wheel drive version is a diesel engine with a power of 140 hp. and volume 2.8 l. In terms of endurance, it has practically no equal - the installation resource reaches 400-450 thousand km.
The Delica was produced in long and short bodies; its roof could have a regular or ventilated design. Models were created with a high roof, a transparent roof and a double roof hatch.
The shortened body made it possible to place three rows of passengers in the car (7-8 seats), while the version with an extended wheelbase made it possible to install a fourth row for two more passengers.
Chevrolet Uplander (Chevrolet Uplander).
Is it sold in the Russian Federation: only on the secondary market.
Characteristics and features:
- equipped with a comprehensive child seat;
- combines the practicality of a minivan and the dynamics of an SUV;
- ground clearance –14 cm;
- manual transmission;
- 3.9 liter engine;
- left-hand steering position;
- Spare parts are inexpensive and delivered quickly.
Price: this car is quite difficult to find in Russia, so the prices for it are correspondingly high, for example, for a 2006 model, the former owner will ask you about 700 thousand rubles.
