All model years and variants of the Tesla Model Y have a ground clearance of 6.6 inches.
Ground clearance is the distance between the lowest point of the vehicle and the ground.
6.6 inches of ground clearance allows the Model Y to drive on flat gravel roads, but this won’t be sufficient if you intend to drive on gravel tracks or graded off-road tracks.
All model years and variants of the Tesla Model Y have a ground clearance of 6.6 inches. These include the Tesla Model Y Performance and Long Range models made from 2020 to 2022. This is higher than sedans like the Model 3 and the ever-popular Toyota Camry, which have 5.5 and 5.7 inches of ground clearance respectively. However, The Tesla Model Y’s ground clearance is still far from the ground clearance that SUVs and trucks have, which usually ranges anywhere from 8 to 11 inches.
What Is Ground Clearance?
Ground clearance is the distance between the lowest point of the vehicle and the ground. It is one of the things you need to consider if you intend on driving your vehicle on unpaved or dirt roads. Most trucks and SUVs have relatively high ground clearances precisely so they can be used to go off-roading. Vehicles with low ground clearance will struggle in off-road conditions because their undercarriage will be more prone to damage. Hence, they’re typically relegated to driving on paved roads.
All model years and variants of the Tesla Model Y have a ground clearance of 6.6 inches.
A sports car, for example, will have a lower ground clearance to keep its center of gravity low, which helps improve its stability and handling. However, this comes at the cost of being more prone to hitting obstacles underneath.
Why Is Your Tesla Model Y’s Ground Clearance Important?
Ground clearance is usually important for vehicles that are taken off road. Most of those vehicles usually sit high off the ground so they can drive over rough terrain without damaging any of their components underneath. The Model Y sits a little higher off the ground compared to other Teslas since it’s a compact crossover. The 6.6 inches of ground clearance allows the Model Y to drive on flat gravel roads. However, this won’t be sufficient if you intend to drive on gravel tracks or graded off-road tracks.
There are ways to raise your vehicle’s ground clearance, but we suggest you check with your mechanic first before doing any modifications. You can also look at getting a different and more capable vehicle if you intend to do a lot of off-roading.
Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, including research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. Lisa has written for Car Bibles and The Drive.
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