Off-roading is a popular adventure for outdoor thrill-seekers. While the level of terrain intensity varies widely, it is still important to understand your vehicle’s capabilities—including the ground clearance!

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2022 Toyota Highlander ground clearance

The 2022 Toyota Highlander comes in ten trim options: the

, Hybrid LE,

XLE

Hybrid XLE,

XSE

, Hybrid XLE Bronze Edition,

Limited

Hybrid Limited,

and

Platinum

. All of them have the same ground clearance at 8.0 inches.

Toyota Highlander ground clearance over the years

It’s been over two decades since the Toyota Highlander was first released, and countless improvements have been made over the years. For starters, the ground clearance has risen over half of an inch, and plenty of technology and safety features have been added as well.

Take a look at how the ground clearance has changed through the generations:

1st generation (2001-2007): 7.1–7.3 inches

2nd generation (2008-2013): 8.0–8.1 inches

3rd generation (2014-2019): 8.0 inches

4th generation (2020-2022): 8.0 inches

Keep in mind that the ground clearance changes depending on the model year and trim level.

MORE: Toyota Highlander V6

What is ground clearance—and why does it matter?

A vehicle’s ground clearance typically determines how much rough terrain the car can traverse. Simply put, ground clearance (or ride height) measures the distance between the lowest point on its chassis and the ground. This is important if you’re traveling in an unsteady area like the mountains or desert plains, where rocky terrain will likely damage your vehicle if the ground clearance is too low.

With a higher ride height, your vehicle will be able to better handle bumps and uneven roads. To avoid damaging your car, experts advise having at least an 8.5-inch ground clearance. Since none of the Highlanders quite reach an 8.5-inch ride height, you’ll want to avoid any serious off-roading in it.

MORE:

Toyota Highlander towing capacity

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Is the Toyota Highlander a good off-road vehicle?

Any Toyota Highlanders made after 2008 will be your best bet for off-roading, since those models will have at least an 8-inch ride height. However, this vehicle isn’t meant to handle extremely rough roads or trails. Low to moderate terrain, along with being very cautious, will be most ideal for the Toyota Highlander.

Some other features beyond ground clearance can assist in smoother off-roading. The Highlander has a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 295 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque which can certainly help. Additionally, you can upgrade trims to be equipped with AWD and drive modes for Mud, Sand, Rock, and more.

If you’re looking for a vehicle that can power through almost any obstacles, check out the

Toyota 4Runner

. With a 9.6-inch ground clearance and a 33-degree approach angle, this SUV is built for some serious off-road adventuring.

Guard against accidents with the best RAV4 insurance

Knowing and understanding your Highlanders capabilities including the ground clearance is half the work when it comes to protecting your vehicle—the other half is covering it with the best

car insurance

policy! And that’s where

Jerry

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