Cars And SUVs With Best Ground Clearance Under Rs. 10.0 Lakh (Updated)

Group 1: >200mm Ground Clearance

In Group 1, we have 4 SUVs with a ground clearance of more than 200mm.

1. Tata Nexon - 208mm

The Tata Nexon facelift, which was launched in September 2023, offers the highest ground clearance of any cars or SUVs that sport a starting price of under Rs. 10.0 lakh. The 2023 Tata Nexon facelift offers a ground clearance of 208mm. However, only 4 petrol-manual variantsof the Nexon fall under the Rs. 10.0 lakh price bracket.

Tata Nexon Petrol Variants Explained — Which One To Buy?

2. Renault Kiger - 205mm 

Renault Kiger is the next in line with a 205mm ground clearance. It’s on par with the Nissan Magnite and Kia Sonet. The Kiger offers 2 engine options with a choice of manual, AMT and CVT transmissions. However, only the normal petrol-manual, normal petrol-AMT and 1 variant of the turbo-petrol manual fall under Rs. 10.0 lakh.

New Renault Kiger Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

3. Nissan Magnite - 205mm

The Nissan Magnite is another option with a high ground clearance of 205mm. It costs about the same as the Renault Kiger and offers the same 4 powertrain options as the French SUV. Its 1.0L normal petrol with the AMT automatic transmissions makes it the most affordable option for an SUV buyer on a tight budget.

Nissan Magnite Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

4. Kia Sonet - 205mm

Kia have revealed the Sonet facelift for the Indian market. The updated 2024 Sonet SUV offers the same 205mm ground clearance as before. Among the cars on this list, the Sonet brings a new kind of driving experience for under Rs. 10.0 lakh with the auto-clutch manual transmission with the turbo petrol engine.

3 of its variants with 1.2L normal petrol engine with manual transmission and 1 variant with the diesel engine are available for under Rs. 10.0 lakh.

Kia Sonet Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

Kia Sonet Diesel Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

Group 2: 200mm Ground Clearance

In the 2nd group, we have only 1 SUV that offers a ground clearance of 200mm.

1. Maruti Suzuki Brezza - 200mm

The Maruti Suzuki Brezza offers a ground clearance of 200mm. Although it is available with 3 powertrain options – normal petrol-manual, mild hybrid petrol-automatic, and CNG-manual, only 3 variants of the Brezza normal petrol-manual fall under Rs. 10.0 lakh (ex-showroom).

Maruti Suzuki Brezza Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

Group 3: 181 - 190mm Ground Clearance

1. Maruti Suzuki Fronx - 190mm

The Maruti Nexa Fronx offers a ground clearance on 190mm. It is available with 5 powertrain options:

• 1.0-litre turbo petrol with 5-speed MT
• 1.0-litre turbo petrol with 6-speed TC
• 1.2-litre normal petrol with 5-speed MT
• 1.2-litre normal petrol with 5-speed AMT
• 1.2-litre CNG with 5-speed MT

While all variants equipped with the 1.2-litre normal petrol and 1.2-litre CNG fall under Rs. 10.0 lakh, only 1 turbo petrol-manual makes it to this list.

2. Tata Punch - 187mm

The Tata Punch has a ground clearance of 187mm and it doesn’t cost a whole lot more than a typical hatchback. The Punch offers the option of a 1.2L normal petrol engine with a manual and an AMT automatic transmission. All variants except one 1.2-litre normal petrol-AMT with the dual tone paint option cost under Rs. 10.0 lakh (ex-showroom).

Tata Punch Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

3. Hyundai Exter - 185mm

The Hyundai Exter B1-segment SUV offers a ground clearance of 185mm. All variants except the top normal petrol-automatic variant with a dual-tone roof cost under Rs. 10.0 lakh (ex-showroom). The Hyundai Exter is worth considering if you value safety along with a healthy ground clearance as it offers 6 airbags as standard. It also offers a generous boot space of 391 litres, which is higher than the Tata Punch.

4. Renault Kwid - 184mm

The Renault Kwid is one of the most affordable options on this entire list with a ground clearance of 184mm. The Kwid has 3 powertrain options — a 0.8L normal petrol-manual, 1.0L normal petrol-manual and 1.0L normal petrol-automatic (AMT). It’s not just the ground clearance of this car that impressed us. It’s one of the few cars that deserves a spot in the higher segment but its price and performance options compel us to keep it in the A-segment.

The Kwid has a large boot, big 14-inch tyres and a tremendous road presence for the price.

Renault Kwid Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

5. Mahindra Bolero Neo - 184mm

The Bolero Neo From Mahindra also has a 184mm ground clearance. It too has a much stronger road presence than its B2 SUV rivals because of its body-on-frame construction. Unfortunately, only one of its most affordable diesel-manual variants cost less than Rs. 10.0 lakh. Moreover, despite a fairly punchy diesel engine, the heavy kerb weight takes a toll on its efficiency and performance.

6. Renault Triber - 182mm

The Renault Triber is the most affordable 7-seater car on this list. Surprisingly, it’s also fairly affordable and with the removable 3-row seats, it offers enough boot space to move your house. The only notable problem with the Triber is its 1.0L normal petrol engine, which doesn’t have the performance to continuously haul 7 adults at expressway speeds without stressing the engine. We wish it had the option of 1.0L turbo petrol engine and CVT automatic transmission.

Renault Triber Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

7. Tata Tiago NRG - 181mm

The Tata Tiago NRG is an ideal choice for buyers interested in a safe car with a low budget and a high ground clearance. At this price range, nothing else beats the Tiago NRG’s 12.52/17 score in GNCAP adult safety. Its 181mm ground clearance is better than that of even the Mahindra XUV300.

Group 4: 180mm Ground Clearance

The Group 4 has 5 cars with exactly 180mm ground clearance. This is the last group as this is the minimum a car should offer to warrant an interest among buyers looking for a high-ground-clearance car.

1. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga - 180mm

The Maruti Ertiga has a 180mm ground clearance and it’s the second car on this list that offers 3-row seating. However, being a larger, more powerful car with a bigger engine, you have the option of only 2 petrol-manual variants under Rs. 10.0 lakh.

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

2. Maruti Nexa Ignis - 180mm

The Ignis is another unsung hero among affordable cars with high, 180mm ground clearance. Its tall boy design makes ingress-egress easy even for tall occupants with a turban. Even with inflated car prices these days, the Ignis seems to carry a reasonable price tag and good value for budget car buyers.

Maruti Suzuki Ignis Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

3. Mahindra XUV300 - 180mm

The Mahindra XUV300 also has 180mm ground clearance. It’s barely enough to put it in the SUV family but acceptable, nonetheless. Being one of the more powerful cars in the B2 SUV category, the XUV300 is quite expensive. It has 5 powertrain options but only the lower 2 petrol-manual variants meet our Rs. 10.0 lakh (ex-showroom) cap.

Mahindra XUV300 Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

Mahindra XUV300 Diesel Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

4. Citroen C3 - 180mm

The Citroen C3 is another option if you think the XUV300 is a bit too expensive while the Ignis and Punch are too small for your taste. The issue with the C3 is that it doesn’t get an automatic transmission with either of the 2 petrol engines.

Citroen C3 Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy? (v3cars.com)

5. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso - 180mm

The S-Presso is the most affordable option on this list of cars with high ground clearance. Its styling may not appeal to everyone but its efficiency figures certainly will. Around 25kmpl mileage is something you just can’t ignore.

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

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