Ground Clearance?

[Husker4theSpurs]

Just wanted to get Prius owners' opinions on the ground clearance of the Prius. I know it's pretty low, but it seems the wheelbase is pretty long for the size of the car.

Question is ... how bad is it? Do you have to be REALLY careful all the time? Driveways, speedbumps, road intersections? Any input would be great!

[Jack66]

It does seem pretty low, but I haven't had a single problem.

[ny biker]

I haven't had any problems either.

[qbee42]

Pedestrians tend to thump when you go over them. Other than that, no problems. The ground clearance is comparable to most cars. There are so many SUVs around that normal ground clearance doesn't look normal.

Tom

[abq sfr]

Originally Posted by Husker4theSpurs

Just wanted to get Prius owners' opinions on the ground clearance of the Prius. I know it's pretty low, but it seems the wheelbase is pretty long for the size of the car.

Question is ... how bad is it? Do you have to be REALLY careful all the time? Driveways, speedbumps, road intersections? Any input would be great!

Only time I've bottomed out on a speed bump was with over 800 pounds of relatives in the car. Also the front bottom does not scrape as much on parking barriers as my minivan did, so it must be a little higher up.

[Jack66]

Originally Posted by qbee42

Pedestrians tend to thump when you go over them. Other than that, no problems.
Tom

I try to run over polite people that are considerate and try to minimize the thumping -- mimes are especially agreeable to run over.

Actually, the question makes me remember a news story a few years back concerning the fact that many smaller cars could possibly get wedged under the back end of a SUV in an accident. Relates somewhat to ground clearance. I haven't seen anything lately to be concerned about but I'll do some research.

[nerfer]

Originally Posted by Husker4theSpurs

Just wanted to get Prius owners' opinions on the ground clearance of the Prius. I know it's pretty low, but it seems the wheelbase is pretty long for the size of the car.

Question is ... how bad is it? Do you have to be REALLY careful all the time? Driveways, speedbumps, road intersections? Any input would be great!

I can get out of my friend's driveway, which is quite steep and empties onto a street curved the other way (driveway might be 8 degrees, street is maybe 2 degrees, total = 10 degree change in a matter of one foot). If I go too fast the front will scrape the bottom (entrance angle I think is the term that applies). That's the only place I've ever had a problem (except getting too close to some higher concrete blocks/curbs when parking in parking lots). No damage that I know of. Driving on roads hasn't been a problem with potholes and debris. Same with speed bumps, it bothers the driver more than the car. I've dragged bottom on fresh snow without noticing. I remember some major dips in a couple residential streets in Texas (inverse speed bumps I guess) that might be a problem, but I haven't been there in years, and that's the only place I've seen ones like that.

I came from a Subaru Outback that had 7.9" clearance but it hasn't been a problem.

[David Beale]

I haven't hit anything "normal" on the road, but our last snowfall was about 6" and the front air dam did plough the back alley for a few days.

I don't take extra precautions either. Not like I had to with my 1993 RX-7! Our roads tend to be pretty rough, due to the extreme weather conditions. Especially now, with "global warming", where we get frequent freeze/thaw cycles. It used to just get cold and stay that way!

[Steamboatsig]

I scrape the front spoiler on driveways on occaision.

[subarutoo]

My driveway scrapes the air dam every time, even at slow speeds. Also, watch out for parkinf lot curbs. Mine almost always hits.