Ground clearance decides how far an SUV can roll over rocks, ruts and snow before something scrapes. The vehicles below span electric models, luxury flagships and trail-rated icons, each with a published figure for how high it rides. Here are eleven SUVs, ordered from the highest clearance down to the lowest.
1. GMC Hummer EV SUV: Full Sixteen
Hummer EV SUV tops the list because its Extract Mode raises the body to a full 16 inches of ground clearance, though only at low speed. Day to day, the same truck rides at 12 inches. Quartz points to that Extract Mode figure as the highest number in this group.
Owners should read the 16 inches as a temporary boost for obstacles taken slowly, not a ride height for normal driving. The everyday 12 inches is the number that applies the rest of the time.
2. Rivian R1S: Air-Lifted Electric
The Rivian R1S uses air suspension to lift the body to 14.9 inches of ground clearance, a figure that puts an electric SUV near the top of this ranking. GearJunkie lists it among the highest-clearance new vehicles currently sold.
Buyers should expect that maximum height to come from the air suspension rather than a fixed setting, so the lowest ride height will always be lower than the headline number. Anyone choosing the R1S for rough ground gets adjustable clearance.
3. Ford Bronco Raptor: Raptor Room
Ford’s Bronco Raptor carries a minimum of 13.1 inches of ground clearance on Raptor trims, a floor rather than a ceiling. SlashGear counts it among the SUVs outclearing the Wrangler and treats that spec as the main reason the Raptor stands apart from other Broncos in the lineup.
For off-road shoppers, a minimum of 13.1 inches means even the lowest point under the body sits higher than most rivals manage at their peak. That is the practical gain the Raptor trim brings.
4. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X: Trail-Rated Tall
The four-door Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon X maxes out at 12.9 inches of ground clearance, which keeps Jeep’s most famous nameplate near the top of this ranking. GearJunkie includes it in its list of top clearance picks and specifically calls out the Unlimited configuration as the one reaching that maximum figure.
Shoppers cross-comparing should note that 12.9 inches applies to the four-door Unlimited, so other Wrangler body styles may differ. For trail use, that number lets the Rubicon X clear obstacles that stop most crossover-style SUVs well before they reach the rocks.
5. Land Rover Defender Octa: Octa Ascent
Land Rover’s off-road Defender Octa can reach up to 12.7 inches of ground clearance, giving the brand’s most extreme Defender a place well inside the top half of this ranking. GearJunkie cites that figure in its roundup of the highest-riding new SUVs and singles out the Octa as the trim capable of reaching it.
The phrase up to matters here, since 12.7 inches describes the Octa at its maximum height rather than its normal stance. Owners wanting that clearance get it only in the dedicated off-road variant, not across the rest of the Defender range.
6. Nissan Armada Pro-4X: Redesigned And Raised
The redesigned Nissan Armada Pro-4X offers 11.6 inches of ground clearance, a sizeable figure for a family SUV. Quartz includes it among the SUVs with highest clearance and highlights the Pro-4X as the trim that brings that off-road capability to the new Armada generation.
Families wanting a big SUV that can also leave pavement get a documented 11.6 inches here. The Pro-4X badge is the one to look for when shopping the redesigned model.
7. Range Rover: Lux Lift
The Range Rover reaches 11.6 inches of ground clearance when its air suspension sits at maximum height, putting a flagship luxury SUV in the same bracket as rugged trail machines. SlashGear counts it among the models topping the Wrangler on this measure, which says a lot about how capable the air suspension is.
Buyers should treat 11.6 inches as the highest setting rather than the default, since the air suspension lowers the body for normal driving. For anyone who wants a refined cabin and the option to raise the body over rough ground, the Range Rover delivers both.
8. Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk: Trailhawk Height
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk holds 11.3 inches of ground clearance with its air suspension, a strong number for a family SUV. SlashGear lists it among the Wrangler-beating SUVs and notes that the air suspension is what gets the Trailhawk to that height.
Shoppers weighing the Trailhawk should know the 11.3 inches depends on the air suspension, so that equipment is what delivers the clearance rather than the badge alone. It offers an everyday-friendly alternative to the Wrangler for owners who still want to tackle rough terrain.
9. Land Rover Discovery: Off-Road Mode
The Land Rover Discovery clears more than 11.2 inches in off-road mode, a sharp rise from the 8.1 inches it manages by default. Quartz places it in its ranking of high-clearance SUVs on the strength of that raised setting, and the gap between the two numbers shows how much the suspension changes the stance.
Drivers should remember that the 11.2 inches arrives only after selecting off-road mode, while the default 8.1 inches is closer to a conventional SUV. That makes the Discovery a dual-purpose option, comfortable on pavement and capable once the suspension is raised.
10. Ford Expedition Tremor: Tremor Space
The Ford Expedition Tremor delivers 10.6 inches of space under the body, a respectable figure for a full-size SUV. Quartz includes the Tremor in its list of top-clearance SUVs and uses that number to explain why this trim earns its spot.
Buyers who want a full-size SUV with off-road ability can look to the Tremor, since 10.6 inches gives meaningful room over ruts and rocks. It sits lower than the leaders on this list.
11. Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro: Pro Minimum
The 2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro lists 10.1 inches of minimum ground clearance, rounding out this ranking with a spec that is described as a floor rather than a peak. Kelley Blue Book publishes that minimum clearance spec on its 2026 TRD Pro page, which anchors the final entry on the list.
Because 10.1 inches is a minimum, the real-world number at the lowest point under the truck is the one that counts when picking a line over obstacles. For shoppers who want a trail-focused trim, the TRD Pro offers a published figure.
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