Honda CR-V Ground Clearance: What To Know

2018 Honda CR-V by EurovisionNim — CC BY-SA 4.0

Ground clearance is a vital part of the car buying process that many new or less experienced buyers can often overlook. It can be the difference between maintaining your car for years or having unexpected damage and repair issues.

Seasoned car buyers know the importance, and the Honda CR-V’s ground clearance is slightly higher than other SUVs in the midsize class. How does it compare to other SUVs in the Honda family and other manufacturers in the class?

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Ground clearance is essentially the distance between the lowest point of the vehicle’s underbody and the gap of the tire’s contact with a level surface. This is also known as ride height and is basically how much your car is separated from pavement, gravel, or other surfaces you’re driving on. It’s one of the most fundamental and essential dimensions to research when looking at a vehicle if you’re planning on going off-road.

The lowest hanging part of a car, such as the chassis, is used to determine ride height. In other terms, it’s how much space you have between the bottom of the vehicle and the road.

The higher that the vehicle sits off the ground, the less likely the undercarriage and the mechanical area will be damaged by rocks, pavement, and other road debris. It’s also helpful for wintery conditions when snow builds up on the road and can get jammed and stuck under the bumpers and tires.

What is the Honda CR-V Ground Clearance?

The CR-V’s ground clearance sits at 7.8 inches and is a decent option for an off-road capable SUV. The ground clearance is upgraded to 8.2 inches when you get the AWD model, which is pretty good.

When comparing it to the standard, midsize SUV competitors, this is about as high as it gets for a base model. Throw in its 30 MPG fuel efficiency and affordability starting in the high $28,000 range, and the CRV makes a great option for anyone looking for a consistent and fun midsize SUV.

If you’re new to car buying or aren’t as familiar with the importance of ground clearance, see the general list below to understand better why it’s essential and why it should be considered.

Advantages of Low Ground Clearance

Better handling

Sedans typically have lower ground height and a lower center of gravity. This can help to stabilize the vehicle and makes it easier to drive at high speeds. The CR-V isn’t high enough that you’ll significantly lose handling, but it may be a little more noticeable than an Accord or Civic.

Assists in Aerodynamics

When a vehicle is driving at high speed, the air moving above it becomes denser than the air traveling beneath it, resulting in higher pressure under the road. Low clearance decreases the air under the car, lowering the pressure.

This allows the vehicle to travel at fast and safe speeds. SUVs can still reach high speeds after a graduated acceleration, but you’ll probably notice a little shake or rocking in a vehicle that sits higher.

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Disadvantages of Low Ground Clearance

Of course, the main drawback is that cars with lower ground clearance can’t reasonably handle the terrain that their SUV counterparts can. Vehicles with lower ride heights can be damaged more easily due to coming in contact with more debris. Catching rocks and debris and a general lack of maneuverability make it tough to drive on anything other than smooth pavement on a clear day. The CR-V provides enough space that you shouldn’t have to worry about this daily, but things can always happen.

Advantages of High Ground Clearance

Vehicles with higher ground clearance can travel on more forms of terrain more easily, like bumpy and uneven roads. They are more likely to be able to go off-roading and handle the elements better than a low-to-ground sedan. Being higher off the ground, there’s also typically more cargo space being off the ground and having a larger chassis.

Disadvantages of High Ground Clearance

Opposite to sedans, higher raised vehicles don’t have as much balance and generally can’t drive or accelerate as fast. The 190 horsepower of the CR-V is good power, but larger vehicles don’t quite have the same top speed capabilities.

On highways, a good compact or midsize SUV should provide comfort and a smooth ride. The Honda CR-V was built to hold a lot of comfort into a small amount of space, making it suitable for city travel and handling bumpy roads. The CR-V is straightforward to drive and also provides excellent safety features. But how does the highway drive translate into off-road situations?

The ground clearance can be a considerable factor for outdoor enthusiasts who use their SUVs for outdoor camping trips, hiking, and other activities requiring great tires, an adaptable drivetrain, and good sight of their surroundings. The Honda CR-V’s ground clearance is only one feature that makes this midsize crossover a viable option for outdoor adventures.

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The Honda Safety Sense is excellent on pavement and trails, with automatic braking, enhanced airbag deployment, and improved sensing for cars or hidden objects in the mud.

Many experts recommend at least 7.5 inches of clearance for off-roading since a higher ground clearance gives the driver a clearer view of the surrounding areas. Higher ground clearance also protects the undercarriage from damage.

The Honda CR-V can have a slightly different ground clearance depending on whether you have front-wheel or all-wheel drive. If you spend a lot of time outside, a Honda CR-V and the Real-Time All-Wheel Drive with Intelligent Control system are good options.

The Real-Time AWD system is available on all trim levels of the Honda CR-V. This drivetrain provides the crossover with a maximum ground clearance of 8.2 inches, but it also allows it to take on a variety of more challenging terrain. This helps the drive in more challenging conditions, such as mud, slick surfaces, and trails.

Although many people enjoy the panoramic view a sport-utility vehicle provides, some want a vehicle capable of serious off-roading and handling Mother Nature’s worst. The taller the vehicle, the better (typically) it can handle off-road situations. It’s crucial to weigh the pros and cons and determine if you need a high-riding vehicle with sufficient ground clearance to manage your routine driving situations and which CR-V model would be most beneficial.

Most sedans have an average ground clearance between 4 and 6 inches, while SUVs have 6-8 inches. Some high-end luxury SUVs have an adjustable suspension to improve ground clearance in harsh driving conditions, such as snow, mud, or even trail driving.

As a result, having more clearance is typically beneficial, but not always. The CR-V is surprisingly loaded and has an excellent ground clearance with multiple different model heights for a brand that’s not built specifically for outdoor driving.

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Should You Buy a Honda CR-V?

Despite the ultra-competitive compact segment, the Honda CR-V is a model that ends up on everyone’s cross-shopping list. The CR-V is an easy choice if you’re looking for a practical compact SUV that offers comfort, versatility, and excellent fuel economy. It has been in the market for what seems like an eternity, and with the recent refresh and most of the kinks ironed out, it’s about as good as it gets.

Yes, you should buy the Honda CR-V if you’re looking for a solid daily commuter or family hauler.

However, if you’re searching for something that will take off the beaten path, the CR-V is simply not for you. Despite the decent ground clearance, it’s simply not designed for off-roading (especially with the AWD variant). Maybe the AWD drivetrain will let you get away with some light-duty off-roading like slightly uneven paths and passable dirt roads. Deep muds and rocky hills are a no-go.

Otherwise, drivers who want to conquer steep terrain or go rock climbing will want a vehicle with higher ground clearance designed for such activities.

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