Group 1: >200mm Ground Clearance
In Group 1, we have 2 SUVs with a ground clearance of more than 200mm.
1. Renault Kiger – 205mm
Renault Kiger is a top choice if you want a high riding car for under Rs. 7 lakh (ex-showroom). Two normal petrol-manual variants – RXE and RXL – are priced under the Rs. 7 lakh cut-off. The Kiger offers a ground clearance of 205mm, which is on par with the Nissan Magnite The Kiger offers 2 engine options with a choice of manual, AMT and CVT transmissions.
2. Nissan Magnite – 205mm
The Nissan Magnite which received an update in early October 2024, 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.
Group 2: 181 – 200mm Ground Clearance
1. 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. Only the 2 base petrol-manual variants – Pure and Pure (O) – cost under Rs. 7 lakh (ex-showroom).
2. Hyundai Exter – 185mm
The Hyundai Exter B1-segment SUV offers a ground clearance of 185mm. Only the base petrol-manual variants – EX and EX (O) – cost under Rs. 7 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.
3. Renault Kwid – 184mm
The Renualt 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.
4. 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. However, only the base RXE petrol-manual variant costs under Rs. 7 lakh. 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.
Group 3: 180mm Ground Clearance
The Group 4 has 3 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 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. 3 petrol-manual variants and one petrol-automatic variants are priced under Rs. 7 lakh.
2. 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. However, only the base normal petrol-manual variant – Live – is priced under Rs. 7 lakh.
3. 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.
