Ground clearance decides how much rock, rut and snowbank a vehicle can straddle before something scrapes. Some of the tallest figures come from air suspensions that raise the body on demand, while others are fixed by the factory. Here are eleven trucks and SUVs that sit highest off the ground, starting with the Tesla Cybertruck.
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1. Tesla Cybertruck: Tops the Ride-Height Chart
Tesla’s Cybertruck rides highest of the group, with GearJunkie’s clearance ranking putting its ground clearance at 16 inches at the maximum setting. That figure comes from the adjustable suspension, which lifts the pickup to its greatest height for rough ground and makes it the clear leader of this list.
At speed the story changes. Above 10 mph the truck settles to 14 inches, so the headline number applies mainly to slow, deliberate off-road driving rather than to everyday highway use.
2. GMC Hummer EV: Electric Giant on Stilts
The GMC Hummer EV sits just behind the Cybertruck, offering 15.9 inches under the vehicle at maximum height, per GearJunkie’s list. Only a tenth of an inch separates the two electric heavyweights, which share the top of the table.
That figure is a maximum, reached only when the adjustable suspension is raised to its top position. Like the Cybertruck, the Hummer’s best clearance is a setting rather than a fixed ride height, so everyday numbers sit lower.
3. Rivian R1T: Clearance on Demand
Rivian’s R1T reaches 14.9 inches of clearance, a number that GearJunkie’s ranking lists third among new vehicles. Its adjustable suspension lets the electric pickup climb to that height whenever the terrain turns rough.
The same system can drop the truck to 7.9 inches when lowered. That seven-inch swing makes the R1T one of the most adjustable vehicles here, trading trail height for easier access and calmer road manners. Few rivals can match that range.
4. Ram 2500 Power Wagon: The Factory Rock Crawler
Among traditional trucks, the Ram 2500 Power Wagon leads the field with 14.2 inches of ground clearance, according to GearJunkie’s roundup. That puts the off-road-focused pickup within seven-tenths of an inch of the Rivian R1T at its tallest.
The Power Wagon’s figure is simply the ground clearance listed for the truck itself. Only the three electric trucks above it ride higher, which makes it the tallest of the conventional pickups in this ranking.
5. Ford Bronco Raptor: Raptor-Grade Lift
The Ford Bronco Raptor posts a minimum of 13.1 inches of ground clearance, a figure SlashGear’s clearance comparison describes as respectable. The word minimum matters here, because that number is the floor on Raptor trims rather than the ceiling.
It also edges past the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon that follows on this list. For buyers cross-shopping the two boxy off-roaders, the Raptor gives up nothing in height and starts ahead by two-tenths of an inch.
6. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon: Class-Leading Rubicon
Jeep’s Wrangler Rubicon reaches a class-leading 12.9 inches, according to MotorBiscuit’s SUV comparison. The figure applies to the Willys, Rubicon and Rubicon 392 trims when they are fitted with the Xtreme Recon package.
The package is the key qualifier, since lesser Wrangler setups sit lower. Even so, the number puts the Rubicon just under the Bronco Raptor and above every other SUV farther down the list. That margin is small, but the badge still carries bragging rights.
7. Land Rover Defender: Octa Ride Height
Land Rover’s Defender can reach up to 12 inches of maximum ride height in certain modes on off-road-focused Octa versions, SlashGear’s report says. That makes the British SUV a serious rival to the Wrangler on paper.
The qualifiers are important, because the figure applies to Octa models and only in particular modes. A standard Defender should not be assumed to match it, and the number falls below the Rubicon’s 12.9 inches.
8. Range Rover: Luxury With a Lift
The Range Rover offers 11.6 inches of ground clearance with its air suspension at maximum height, according to SlashGear’s comparison. That puts the luxury flagship in the same neighborhood as far more rugged-looking rivals.
As with the other adjustable entries, the figure describes the top setting. At normal ride height the Range Rover sits lower, so the 11.6 inches is available when needed rather than all the time. Buyers should confirm that setting before counting on it.
9. Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk: Trailhawk Trims It Close
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk offers 10.9 inches of ground clearance, according to MotorBiscuit’s class ranking. That makes it the most trail-oriented version of Jeep’s family SUV in this ranking, and it clears the Toyota 4Runner below by more than an inch.
The figure sits two inches below the Wrangler Rubicon, a reminder that the Grand Cherokee splits its job between pavement comfort and trail use. It is the lowest of the Jeep entries on this list.
10. Toyota 4Runner: Truck-Based Mainstay
Toyota’s 4Runner TRD Pro has 9.6 inches of ground clearance, as MotorBiscuit’s comparison notes. The truck-based SUV holds a spot on a list otherwise filled with air suspensions and specialist off-road packages.
The number is modest next to the electric trucks at the top, yet it is still enough to clear the Mercedes-Benz G-Class that follows by a tenth of an inch, and it is the TRD Pro version that earns it.
11. Mercedes-Benz G-Class: Boxy Icon, Lower Stance
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class closes the list, with the G 550 standing 9.5 inches off the ground per MotorBiscuit’s 2023 comparison. Its upright, boxy shape suggests a taller stance than the measured number actually delivers.
The figure comes from a 2023 comparison and applies to the G 550 specifically. It shows that a rugged reputation and measured clearance do not always line up, even for one of the most recognizable off-road shapes.
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