Gives me more ground clearance too as I do take it offroad in the woods & on the trails here in Northern Wisconsin. The speedometer under-reads 5 mph at 60 mph. It has improved my highway mileage when I compute the additional 8% of miles. I'm sure the higher center of gravity would affect handling but that's not why I have it. The higher stance and bigger tires give it a more macho look vs. looking like a sporty station wagon.