Knowing the dimensions of your car is essential, and the height in particular if you want to determine if it will fit in your garage. Certain cars are also classified as dangerously high, and you may want to avoid them. But how tall are cars?
The average height of a sedan, city car, hatchback, and supermini car, is between 4.5 feet and 5.2 feet high. Sports cars are slightly shorter, averaging 4.4 to 4.9 feet high, while SUVs and pickup trucks are usually between 5.2 and 6.5 feet high, making them more prone to rolling over.
If you wish to know the height of each type of car, how the car’s height influences its safety on the road, and whether your car will fit in your basement parking, stick around. We will discuss everything you should know about the average height of cars.
What Is The Average Height Of Cars?
| Type of Car | Average Height |
|---|---|
| Sedan | 4.5 to 5.2 feet |
| Hatchback | 4.5 to 5.2 feet |
| Coupe | 4.3 to 4.8 feet |
| Luxury Car | 4.2 to 4.9 feet |
| Sports Car | 3.9 to 4.4 feet |
| SUV | 5.2 to 6.5 feet |
| Compact SUV | 4.9 to 5.6 feet |
| Pickup Truck | 5.5 and 6.2 feet |
If you’re thinking of a new car, you should determine if your living environment is suitable for that car. People often buy cars and only realize that the car is too high for their basement parking or garage when they arrive home.
Therefore, knowing your car’s height can help you avoid running into this situation. So, what is the average height of each type of car?
How Tall Are City Cars, Hatchbacks & Sedans?
- Average Height: 4.5 – 5.2 feet (137-158cm)
City cars, hatchbacks, and sedans have an average height of 4.5 to 5.2 feet (54 – 62.4 inches).
These cars are perfect for anyone in the city or urban area, as you won’t have trouble finding parking. These cars are also short enough to fit under any underground/ basement parking.
You shouldn’t have any problems with the car not fitting into your parking space with any of these cars and can safely purchase one for use in the city.
Popular cars in these categories include Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Carolla, and Audi A4.
How Tall Are Luxury Cars?
- Average Height: 4.2 – 4.9 feet (128-149cm)
Luxury cars, like Maserati’s and Porches, are a bit shorter than hatchbacks and sedans. They have an average height of about 4.2 to 4.9 feet (50.4 – 58.8 inches).
While some luxury cars may be shorter than the cars of the previous category, they also have lower ground clearance.
Therefore, if you are in an urban area with many speed bumps or gravel roads, there may be better options than a luxury car.
These cars are perfect for those who only drive around the city, and you won’t have any problems with the car’s height when finding underground parking.
How Tall Are Sports Cars?
- Average Height: 3.9 – 4.4 feet (118-134cm)
Sports cars are even shorter than luxury cars, with an average height of 3.9 to 4.4 feet (46.8 – 52.8 inches).
Because of their shorter height, sports cars have even less ground clearance than luxury cars. They are very fast, but driving over speed bumps can feel quite uncomfortable.
If you’re sticking strictly to tar roads and highways, a sports car might be a great option, and you won’t have trouble finding parking with this type of car.
However, if there are a lot of speed bumps in your neighborhood, you might consider another car.
How Tall Are Compact SUVs?
- Average Height: 4.9 – 5.6 feet (149-171cm)
Compact SUVs are taller than any other car we have mentioned before, with an average height of 4.9 to 5.6 feet (58.8 – 67.2 inches).
In addition, compact SUVs offer more space than hatchbacks or sedans, while their ground clearance is also slightly better.
This makes it possible for you to ride over speed bumps with ease. You can also park on curbs if need be.
Compact SUVs aren’t too tall to make underground parking a hassle. Some of the most popular Compact SUVs are the BMW X4, the Toyota Urban Cruiser, and the Volkswagen Polo Cross.
How Tall Are SUVs?
- Average Height: 5.2 – 6.5 feet (158-198cm)
SUVs are the bigger counterparts of compact SUVs. As can be expected, they are also taller, averaging about 5.2 to 6.5 feet (62.4 – 75 inches) tall. SUVs are often promoted as family cars since they have more space and better ground clearance than other cars.
Popular SUVs include the Toyota Fortuner, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Land Rover Discovery. Most SUVs will fit in underground parking, but you should always check the maximum height allowance before driving into one.
How Tall Are Pickup Trucks?
- Average Height: 5.5 – 6.2 feet (167-189cm)
Most pickup trucks have approximately the same height as SUVs, with their height averaging between 5.5 and 6.2 feet (66 – 74.4 inches).
However, depending on the size of the tires and additional ground clearance your pickup truck has, you may have some limitations concerning underground parking.
Pickup trucks are perfect for those living in farming communities or areas where the road conditions aren’t ideal. However, they may not be as well suited for those living in urban areas and large cities.
Popular pickup trucks include the Ford F-150, the Ford Ranger, and the Toyota Hilux.
How Does The Height Of A Car Influence Its Safety?
While many factors contribute to the safety of a specific vehicle, its height is one of them. Higher cars may become top-heavy, increasing their risk of rolling over in an accident or under strong wind conditions.
Some SUVs and pickup trucks are prone to rolling over, which is something you should consider before buying one.
In addition to being more likely to roll over, taller standing vehicles have less road handling ability, meaning that they are harder to control on the road and drive. This becomes more dangerous in snowy areas or places with strong winds.
Not all SUVs and pickup trucks are prone to rolling over, and some have excellent road-handling capabilities.
The car’s height compared to its width is a big factor in this, and you should opt for a wider car if it is taller to reduce the chances of it rolling over.
What Is The Average Height Of Underground Parking?
While we’ve mentioned that you may have difficulty with certain underground parking spots if you drive a taller vehicle, the good news is that most garages are built to accommodate at least 7 feet of height.
This means that any cars mentioned in this article will have no problem fitting into a standard garage, provided the garage is also wide enough for the car.
When moving into lower covered areas, always check for signs indicating the maximum height of the roof so you can avoid getting stuck while driving into undercover parking.
Some parking spaces, especially those in cities, may not have enough roof clearance for a taller SUV or pickup truck.