10 SUVs With Maximum Ground Clearance (Ranked)

The SUVs with the highest ground clearance include the Rivian R1S (over 14 in at max air-suspension height), Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (~10.8 in), Ford Bronco Sasquatch (~11.5 in), Land Rover Defender (~11.5 in raised), and Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro (~9+ in). Air-suspension models vary by drive mode.

Ground clearance is the simplest off-road spec and the most commonly misread one. Published figures are measured at curb weight to the lowest hanging component, and air-suspension vehicles quote their maximum height — a number they only achieve in specific drive modes at low speed. This list ranks the SUVs with maximum usable ground clearance, flagging which figures are fixed and which require air springs.

Clearance matters beyond rock crawling: deep snow, rutted fire roads, steep driveways, and flood-prone streets all reward it. For used buyers there's a flip side — high-clearance SUVs get taken off-road, and skid-plate scrapes, water crossings, and frame damage don't always make it into the listing photos. We cover how to screen for that below.

How we ranked this list

Manufacturer-published ground clearance, noting trim dependence and whether air suspension is required for the max figure.
Usable off-road geometry — approach/departure angles and underbody protection, not just the clearance number.
Availability of the high-clearance configuration — standard equipment ranks above rare option packages.
On-road livability — some clearance kings ride like farm equipment; we note it.
Used-market condition risk — how often each model is bought used with hidden off-road damage.

Rivian R1S (2022–2026) — ~8–14+ in clearance range via air suspension · Up to ~835 hp quad-motor · Class-leading wading depth (~3+ ft claimed) · Max height only in off-road modes
The electric wildcard tops the chart: the R1S's air suspension spans roughly 8 to over 14 inches at its highest off-road setting — more maximum clearance than anything else in showrooms — with quad- or dual-motor torque control to exploit it. The caveats are the usual air-suspension asterisk (max height is a mode, not a resting state) and EV-brand service-network patience. Used examples deserve a battery health check plus a history report.
Ford Bronco (Sasquatch/Badlands/Raptor) (2021–2026) — ~8.3 in base to ~11.5 in Sasquatch; Raptor ~13.1 in · 35-in tires from the factory (Sasquatch) · Fixed suspension — clearance always available · Check early builds for recall/campaign completion
The Bronco with the Sasquatch package sits at roughly 11.5 inches on 35-inch tires, and the Raptor pushes past 13 — fixed, mechanical clearance with no air-spring caveats. Solid off-road geometry and removable panels make it the Wrangler's first credible rival in decades. Used Broncos are young but already show trail abuse; check for underbody damage and early-build quality campaigns by VIN.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (2018–2026) — ~10.8 in (Rubicon); more with 35-in tire package · Solid axles, front/rear lockers standard · Best approach/departure angles in class · Used: assume trail use, inspect frame and driveline
The Rubicon's ~10.8 inches (Xtreme 35 package pushes higher) comes with the best crawling geometry in the class: solid axles, lockers, and a disconnectable sway bar. It remains the default serious off-roader. It's also the most off-roaded vehicle in America, which makes used-market screening critical — frame rash, water-crossing history, and hard-trail damage are endemic in the used supply.
Land Rover Defender (2020–2026) — ~11.5 in at max air-suspension height · ~35.4 in wading depth · Luxury cabin + real capability · Used: air suspension/electronics service history critical
The modern Defender's air suspension reaches roughly 11.5 inches raised, paired with genuinely superb terrain electronics and a wading depth near 35.4 inches. It's the pick for people who want maximum capability with luxury manners. The used-buying calculus is pure Land Rover: brilliant when sorted, expensive when not — air suspension and electronics history matter as much as trail damage.
Toyota Land Cruiser (2024–2026) — ~8.7 in clearance, fixed · ~326 hp hybrid turbo four · Legendary durability record · Rear locker + stabilizer disconnect available
The returned Land Cruiser (J250) offers about 8.7 inches of fixed clearance with Toyota's full off-road hardware — locking rear diff, crawl control, stabilizer disconnect — and the durability reputation that makes 300k-mile examples ordinary. It trades the old V8 for a hybrid turbo four. Clearance is mid-pack here, but total go-anywhere-forever capability is top-tier.
Toyota 4Runner (TRD Pro / Trailhunter) (2010–2026) — ~9.1 in (TRD Pro trims) · Body-on-frame, huge aftermarket · Best-in-class resale value · Used: verify off-road damage and accident history
The 4Runner's ~9.1–9.2 inches (TRD Pro) comes on a body-on-frame platform with a resale-value cult and a new generation as of 2025. It's the used-market king of this list: fifth-gen supply is enormous. That cuts both ways — plenty of clean mall crawlers, plenty of hammered trail rigs, and prices that stay high either way. A history report helps separate them before you pay 4Runner tax on a rebuilt one.
Jeep Grand Cherokee (Quadra-Lift) (2011–2026) — ~10.9–11.3 in at max Quadra-Lift height · Family-SUV comfort with real clearance · Air suspension repairs common on older used cars · Confirm Quadra-Lift equipped via VIN decode
With the Quadra-Lift air suspension, the Grand Cherokee rises to roughly 10.9–11.3 inches depending on generation — genuine Wrangler-adjacent clearance in a leather-lined family SUV that rides beautifully on-road. The asterisk is the air suspension itself: on used examples a decade old, compressors and struts are known wallet items. Standard coil-spring cars sit far lower, so verify the option by VIN.
Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro (2023–2026) — ~9.1 in clearance (TRD Pro) · ~437 hp i-FORCE MAX hybrid, ~9,000 lb towing · Three rows + real clearance · Check towing history on used units
The full-size pick: the current Sequoia TRD Pro offers around 9.1 inches of clearance with a standard ~437-hp hybrid V8-replacing powertrain and three usable rows. It's the choice when the whole family and the trailer are coming off the pavement. Watch the rear-cargo packaging (the hybrid battery raises the floor) and, on used examples, hitch-abuse from heavy towing.
Subaru Outback Wilderness (2022–2026) — ~9.5 in clearance — highest of any car-based pick · Standard symmetrical AWD, A/T tires · Car ride and economy (~24–26 mpg combined) · No low range — trail limit is real
The Wilderness trim lifts the Outback to about 9.5 inches — more than several body-on-frame SUVs here — with standard AWD, all-terrain tires, and wagon manners. It's the maximum-clearance choice for people who will never touch low range: snow country, forest roads, bad driveways. It can't rock crawl, and it doesn't pretend to. As mostly gentle-use vehicles, used examples tend to be honest — but verify anyway.
BMW X7 (air suspension note) (2019–2026) — ~8.7 in at raised air-suspension height · Standard air springs both axles · Limo comfort first, clearance second · Used: air suspension/electronics repair budget required
The X7 makes the list as the luxury-liner footnote: its standard two-axle air suspension can raise the body roughly 1.6 inches, putting maximum clearance around 8.7 inches — more than some off-road trims — while riding like a 7 Series the rest of the time. Nobody rock-crawls an X7; the height is for snow, ramps, and rough gravel. Used, it carries classic big-BMW air-suspension and electronics cost risk.

Buying tips

Published clearance figures are measured unloaded, and air-suspension maximums only apply in off-road modes at low speed. If clearance is why you're buying, prefer fixed-suspension trims or budget for air-system repairs on used cars.
High-clearance SUVs get used as intended. On any used example, get it on a lift: look for skid-plate impact damage, bent frame crossmembers, rock rash on control arms, and silt lines from water crossings.
Water crossings kill vehicles slowly — flood and deep-water damage shows up later in electronics and driveline failures. Run the VIN for flood branding and check whether the report's location history includes flood-event regions.
Verify the exact trim and package by VIN before paying trim-specific prices: Sasquatch, Quadra-Lift, TRD Pro, and Wilderness hardware drives thousands in value and isn't always represented honestly in listings.
Check open recalls — several vehicles here have had campaigns (suspension, powertrain, software) — and confirm completion by VIN before purchase.
Lifted-on-aftermarket-parts examples are not the same as factory high-clearance trims: insurance, warranty, and resale all treat them differently, and install quality varies wildly.

Frequently asked questions

Which SUV has the highest ground clearance?

Among mainstream models, the Rivian R1S claims the highest maximum — over 14 inches at its tallest air-suspension setting. Among fixed-suspension vehicles, the Ford Bronco Raptor (~13.1 in) and Bronco Sasquatch (~11.5 in) lead, with the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon close behind (~10.8 in).

How much ground clearance do I need for off-roading?

Roughly 8.5–9 inches handles forest roads, snow, and moderate trails; serious rock crawling generally wants 10+ inches plus good approach/departure angles and underbody protection. For bad weather and rough pavement only, anything over ~8 inches is plenty.

Is air suspension ground clearance as good as fixed clearance?

Functionally yes while it works — but max height is only available in specific modes at low speeds, and air systems add failure points that get expensive with age. For hard, frequent off-road use, fixed high-clearance trims are the safer long-term bet.

Does higher ground clearance make an SUV less safe?

It raises the center of gravity, which modern stability control largely manages but never eliminates. Taller off-road trims can also ride on tires that lengthen braking distances. Check rollover and crash ratings for the specific trim you're considering.

How can I tell if a used off-road SUV was abused?

Inspect the underbody on a lift for impact damage and silt residue, check the frame for bends and fresh undercoating (a cover-up favorite), and run a VIN history report for accidents and flood brands. Off-road damage rarely appears in listing photos.