Toyota recently revealed the 2023 Crown, a full-size 4-door car with four inches more overall height than the midsize Toyota Camry. While Toyota hasn’t announced Crown specifications yet, the new sedan could potentially have seven inches of ground clearance.
A car body with SUV ride height is a familiar mashup. After all, not everyone wants an SUV, but most sedans don’t offer the exact ground clearance you might want in winter weather or on dirt roads. If the idea of getting a car with more ground clearance appeals to you, here are five used cars to look for that fit the bill.
1. 2010-2015 Honda Accord Crosstour
Based on the Honda Accord sedan, the Crosstour offered the driving characteristics of a sedan and the versatility of a crossover. From 2010-2011, it was called the Accord Crosstour, shortened to Crosstour for the 2012-2015 model years. It offered up to 6.2 inches of ground clearance, and all-wheel drive was available. The 51.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats rounded out the Crosstour’s crossover-like versatility. You can find a high-mileage Accord Crosstour on Autotrader for $9,000-$12,000. Depending on trim level, a newer Crosstour may run $18,000-$20,000. We recommend looking for a V6-powered model. It’s a lot more rewarding to drive than with the 4-cylinder. See Honda Accord Crosstour models for sale
2. 2020-2021 Nissan Versa
The Nissan Versa is the newest and the smallest car on this list. This subcompact car was all-new for 2020, with styling that echoes the midsize Nissan Altima. The value-packed Versa doesn’t have the cargo space of an SUV, but it does have a stunning 6.8 inches of ground clearance, which is only a fraction less than that of the Nissan Kicks crossover. And since neither model is available with all-wheel drive, the Versa can go just about anywhere the Kicks can. We found examples of 2020-and-newer used Versas on Autotrader for $18,000-$21,000. The Versa is the only car on this list that’s still available. See Nissan Versa models for sale
3. 2003-2007 Subaru Outback Sedan
Yes, there was a sedan version of the Outback for a few years. Offered as the Limited with a 243-horsepower turbocharged flat-4 or the luxe L.L. Bean with a 3.0-liter flat-6, the Outback sedan (aka Outback SUS) boasted 8.7 inches of ground clearance. That’s the same clearance as the current Outback has and is more than many SUVs offer today. All-wheel drive came standard, and features like leather seats, dual-zone air conditioning, and a CD changer (you read that right) were available. As you would imagine, these sedans are harder to find than the wagons, but we found some on Autotrader for about $6,000-$9,000. See Subaru Outback models for sale
4. 2016-2018 Volkswagen Beetle Dune
With the 2016-2018 Beetle Dune, Volkswagen doubled down on the feel-good retro vibes of the Beetle. Baja Bugs from the 1960s and 1970s, air-cooled Beetles modified for off-road racing, inspired the Dune. The Beetle Dune doesn’t go that far, but its suspension offers 6.3 inches of ground clearance, and the Beetle Dune has a broader track than the regular Beetle. There are also fender flares and Dune accents along the body sides. Offered as a hardtop or convertible, Beetle Dunes got their power from a 1.8-liter, 170-hp engine backed by a 6-speed automatic. These seem to hold their value well, and sellers listed the ones we found on Autotrader at about $22,000-$32,000. See Volkswagen Beetle models for sale
5. 2016-2018 Volvo S60 Cross Country
Volvo is another company that put its high-riding wagon underpinnings under a sedan body. The Volvo S60 Cross Country has its wagon siblings’ stylish, airy interior, 7.9-inches of ground clearance, all-wheel drive, and an off-road-ready suspension. Regarding safety, Volvo has consistently been ahead of the curve. These sedans had features like City Safety, Collision Warning, and Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake. Depending on the model year, there were different engines available, but you will most likely find the S60 Cross Country powered by a 2.0-liter, 240-hp I-4. Expect to spend around $20,000-$30,000 on an S60 Cross Country. See Volvo S60 models for sale
