Most roads are smooth and easy to travel, but not all. Whether you have a path to a cabin in the woods, a gravel route to your favorite camping spot, or a craving for an off-road adventure, you need an SUV that can handle rough terrain. Here are the SUVs in each class with the highest ground clearance to overcome obstacles you can’t drive around.
Subcompact SUV: Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
This brand has been going off-road since World War II, so seeing more than one Jeep SUV on this list isn’t surprising. The Jeep Renegade is a subcompact SUV whose Trailhawk trim boasts 8.7 inches of ground clearance. That figure bests the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, with 8.4 inches.
Compact SUV: Subaru Forester Wilderness
Moving into this class, we find more traditional sizes in an SUV that stands a little taller. The Subaru Forester Wilderness trim sits 9.2 inches off the ground to deliver the best clearance in its segment. Meanwhile, the Toyota RAV4 TRD has 8.6 inches of ground clearance, while the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk comes in at 8.7 inches.
Midsize SUV: Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk
That’s right — this list has another Jeep. The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk represents the midsize SUV class with a ground clearance of 10.9 inches for your off-roading pleasure. That measurement easily bests the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro, with 9.6 inches.
Full-size SUV: Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve
Like its shorter sibling, the extended-length Jeep Grand Cherokee L has 10.9 inches of ground clearance. That gives you enough room to clear obstacles on most trails. The model that comes closest in this class is the GMC Yukon AT4, with 10 inches of clearance.
Off-road SUV: Jeep Wrangler
The Ford Bronco Wildtrak 2-Door previously beat the Jeep Wrangler in one of the most important off-road categories. The Bronco boasts 11.6 inches of ground clearance, while the standard Wrangler Rubicon measures 10.8 inches. However, Jeep touts a class-leading 12.9 inches of ground clearance in the Wrangler Willys, Rubicon, and Rubicon 392 models equipped with the Xtreme Recon package.
Luxury subcompact SUV: Volvo XC40
The Volvo XC40 likely isn’t an SUV you’d want to take on trails, but you’ll be pleased with 8.3 inches of ground clearance when faced with snow or flooding. That’s greater than the BMW X1 and X2’s 7.2 inches.
Luxury compact SUV: Infiniti QX50
You probably didn’t expect to see the Infiniti QX50 in this roundup. However, it has the most ground clearance in its class at 8.6 inches. The Range Rover Evoque has 8.3 inches, and the Volvo XC60 offers 8.5 inches, falling just short of the QX50.
Luxury midsize SUV: Land Rover Discovery S P300
The Land Rover Discovery is notable for its off-roading chops. This luxury midsize SUV provides at least 11.1 inches of ground clearance to give you more room than the Range Rover Sport, offering 10.9 inches.
Luxury full-size SUV: Rivian R1S
This SUV is not only electric but also the model with the highest ground clearance in its class. The Rivian R1S gives you 14.9 inches to move over obstacles effortlessly. That’s better than the largest Range Rover’s 11.5 inches of clearance.
Luxury off-road SUV: Land Rover Defender
Taking on the wilderness is easier with the Land Rover Defender’s 11.5 inches of ground clearance. The next closest model in this class is the Mercedes-Benz G 550, standing 9.5 inches off the ground.
