What Cars Have The Least Ground Clearance – And What Is Your Vehicle’s Ride Height?

Unless you’re an avid off-roader or a supercar fan, ground clearance is one of those things that few of us think about when purchasing a new vehicle. However, it can make all the difference to your ownership experience, especially if you frequently drive over speed bumps, rough roads, or if your driveway has a rolled curb.

Ride Height vs. Ground Clearance

Ground clearance and ride height can generally refer to the same thing. Loosely speaking, it’s the distance between the road and the lowest point of your vehicle. This isn’t always the front bumper, as you may have noticed if you have ever scraped your exhaust or undercarriage over a large bump even though the front of your vehicle drove over it without a problem.

Average Ground Clearance By Vehicle Type

A higher ground clearance allows for more wheel travel, which can translate into a better ride. A practical advantage of having your car higher off the ground is that it is less likely to scrape over obstacles in the road, and it will have the clearance to negotiate rolled curbs and speed bumps with ease. Here’s a breakdown of some average clearance measurement ranges:

Anything with a vehicle ride height below 5 inches may have trouble negotiating everyday obstacles, while a vehicle with 6.5 or more inches of ground clearance should be capable of clearing most bumps without an issue. Some modded cars can be less than two inches from the ground and rely on lift systems to raise them high enough to drive on regular roads.

Supercars also tend to require lift systems to tackle bumps and parking lot entrances. Let’s take a look below at some eye-candy and fun facts about some of the lowest supercars and hypercars around today.

Low ground clearance gives a car better handling, and control through corners, but it will be more likely to get damaged by rolled curbs.

Slammed Supercars

Supercars tend to be very low to the ground; this gives them better handling but requires a very stiff suspension to prevent the wheels from rubbing the arches over bumps. To avoid scraping the undercarriage, many modern sports cars have height-adjustable front suspensions that lift to allow them to negotiate obstacles. Some of the lowest modern supercars include:

Koenigsegg Jesko

Ground Clearance: 2.8 inches

The Koenigsegg Jesko is a hypercar powered by a 5.1-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that can produce up to 1,600 hp. It sits just 2.8 inches off the ground (wow!), although a front axle lift system lets you raise the ride height by 1.9 inches, which is still lower than most family sedans.

Bugatti Chiron

Ground Clearance: 3.5 inches

The 1,578 hp quad-turbocharged Bugatti Chiron is capable of over 270mph yet is still docile enough to drive in everyday traffic. The only issue is its 3.5-inch ride height, which will have you scraping the undercarriage over every obstacle in your way. It too has a ride height adjustment system, but it only operates at speeds of up to 22 mph.

Lamborghini Revuelto

Ground Clearance: 4.2 inches

The latest V12-powered supercar from Lamborghini now comes with hybrid assistance and this helps it deliver 1,001 hp without the aid of turbochargers. The Revuelto’s 4.2-inch suspension height helps it stick to the ground like glue while approaching its 217-mph top speed, but it doesn’t help when you try to negotiate a rolled curb!

McLaren 750S

Ground Clearance: 4.2 inches

You definitely want a ground-hugging car when it is capable of a 0-60mph time of just 2.3 seconds on its way to a 206-mph top speed. Unfortunately, when you aren’t attempting to set a new land speed record, the 4.2-inch ride height will have you scraping over every bump along the road.

Corvette C8 ZR1

Ground Clearance: 5.3 inches

The mid-engined C8 Corvette doesn’t just look like a supercar, but in ZR1 trim it also performs like one. Equipped with a 1,064 hp twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8, it delivers the kind of performance punch that nothing else at its price point can match. It even has a ride height that is (almost) high enough to make it a viable daily driver. You can add the optional lift system which gives you a 1.5 inch ride height adjustment to avoid expensive scrapes.

BRIDJIT Is A Low Ground Clearance Solution

While the Corvette may be the only supercar featured that average folks would realistically own, this list is a fun, eye-opening read about how extreme low ground clearance can get – and why it’s important to think about your ground clearance.

Rolled curbs are commonplace in the US, and many owners of low-slung sports cars will tell you that they are a major headache. But even if your vehicle has a higher ground clearance than average, it would still be wise to take precautions to avoid damaging your suspension, tires and rims.

That’s because bumps and curbs can still cause damage to your vehicle, especially if you have a stiff suspension setup or low-profile tires. Regardless of your ride, fitting Bridjit curb ramps over your rolled curbs is the best way to prevent damage and ensure a smooth transition from the road into your driveway.

Why Choose Our 3-Piece BRIDJIT Curb Set?

BRIDJIT ramps are designed for simple DIY installation. Their modular design features interlocking sections that are quick to set up and need no specialized tools:

• Reduces Curb Impact By Up To 80%, Preventing Excess Vehicle Wear and Tear
• No Jolt – Smooth Entry and Exit Over Rolled Curbs
• Use In Any Weather – Built-In Water Channel Allows Drainage
• 3-Piece Curb Ramp Set Covers Almost 12ft of Rolled Curb Driveway
• Made In The USA

Our Curb Ramp products include:

• BRIDJIT 3-Piece Expandable Curb Ramp Set
• BRIDJIT Curb Ramp Set with Extra Center Section (4 pieces)
• 47″ Extra Center Section For BRIDJIT Curb Ramp Set

Thanks to durable rubber construction, the ramps have no need to be bolted down as a permanent fixture. BRIDJIT offers the most durable rolled curb solution out there, and it will fit almost any driveway. Learn more about installation at our BRIDJIT installation page, and contact us if you have any questions.

Stay tuned for our next post, where we’ll shift gears and bring the real world into focus – comparing everyday vehicles to these supercars to see how they handle common hurdles – like rolled-curb driveways!

*Finally, please note that all of these ground clearance figures were pulled from various published data sources…if there’s an incorrect figure, please contact us and we’ll fix it.