Have an '04 with 90+ looking at getting a '10. Read all the ground clearance threads but dont see where anyone says definitively if there is a difference in older vs newer.. Bottom line-'10 at dealer looked lower than my '04. Did not ask and now I am home and cant compare. Does anyone know? It matters to me as I have a cabin in West Virginia with gravel roads. '04s been ok but a little lower could be an issue.
The specs for my 2010 car say 5.5 inches. Compare that with the specs in your owner's manual. I've got a gravel driveway that tends to get rutted, and the 2010 is OK. In other threads where folks have asked about unpaved roads, one suggestion that is regularly given is to rent the car for a day or a few and try the road. Hope that you get some rain so you can do it in bad conditions.
I have already scratched the underside of the front bumper on a parking lot cement "curb" or whatever you call those things. Have to be careful not to pull too far forward.
I haven't hit any of the standard height curbs yet with ours. So I don't think it's any lower than any of the other imported cars I've owned.
I was doing some digging around and I noticed the 2012 ground clearance is now 5.3. So it seems the Prius is shrinking... from 5.6 in the Gen 2 5.5 in the Gen3 2010,2011 5.3 in the 2012. Wth? I am starting to get worried as every little bit helps with driving around in the snow. Anyone else notice this?
I'm betting that is a unloaded car....put in 2 adults and a few grocery items....what would it be then.
If a dealership has any on the lot you can check it out yourself: just stand a tape measure on it's end and extend the tape till it's brushing the underside of yours. Likely somewhere in the middle of the engine bay would be the nadir, but look around. Then repeat at your dealership, with the new model. Maybe let them know what your up to, LOL. And then there's debatable underside: if it's steel support framing, jutting out, vs more flexible and uniform aero panel. The latter is likely a little less prone to hang up in deep snow.
