Pre-Owned Jeep Patriot Adelaide: The Importance Of Ride Height

Next time you’re passing a vehicle marked as a 4x4 on the highway, have a look at the ride height. For those not in the know, the ride height is the distance between the base of the wheel (the bit touching the floor) and the bottom of the chassis (traditionally the lowest part of the underside of the car).

However, on many modern day cars there are parts of the car actually lower than the chassis, thus lowering the ride height. And that’s the point we’re trying to make. Next time you pass a 4WD, if it’s not a Jeep, just have a look at the gap between the lowest part of the car and the floor.

What you will more than likely see is a step built in to the lower part of the bodywork. This is supposedly to allow for easier access to the car. There’s nothing wrong with that in theory. Easy access to your vehicle is a very important thing. But there are a couple of problems with there being a step on a 4x4 vehicle.

Firstly, if you own a Jeep 4x4 Adelaide, the reason for doing so is that you need the extra power and driving capability for rugged and rough terrain. Either out of necessity or simply for fun. But the fact is, you lead a life that is, shall we say, a little more demanding than most. Of course you can drive a 4WD in the city. In fact, they make great city cars. But if you have such a low ride height, all it is really advertising is that car has never been anywhere near off-road. It’s simply a toned down 4WD, designed for slightly more comfortable city living. Try and take it off road, and that little convenient step is likely to get ripped clean off.

That’s why ride height is important for 4WD cars. In a pre-owned Jeep Patriot Adelaide and its regular tarmac will be no trouble: just look at the car's ride height. It’s got a massive 205 mm of ground clearance - enough to get over some serious boulders. This is a real off-road car. A car designed to be able to take the rough with the smooth, in every possible sense.

Of course, all cars are designed with a more specific purpose in mind. The Dodge Journey and Chrysler Grand Voyager were designed with seven seats to be luxury people carriers. But 4x4s are designed to go off road. So if there is a low step built into the bodywork, what kind of message is this sending? That it’s a 4x4 that was never meant to be taken off the tarmac? That is not a compromise that Jeep is willing to make: 4x4s should always be able to take it on the trail.

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