Short answer: A lift kit buys ground clearance and room for larger tires. It costs stability in fast turns, gives a firmer ride and a higher step in. Larger tires also change the gearing, throw off the speedometer and often trim range, and a lift can change the warranty position. If you already know you want clearance, a cart built lifted is usually cheaper and better sorted than lifting one later.
What you gain
Clearance, mostly. A lifted cart crosses ruts, curbs, roots and soft ground that a standard cart
scrapes over or bottoms out on. It also lets you fit larger tires, which helps again on rough
ground. If your regular route includes genuinely uneven terrain, the gain is real and worth having.
What you lose
Stability in fast turns. Raising the body raises the center of gravity, and a lifted cart leans
more and feels less planted than the same cart standard. That is physics, not a defect. It also
usually rides firmer, and getting in and out is a longer step, which matters more than people
expect if passengers are older.
The parts nobody mentions
Larger tires change the effective gearing, so acceleration and top speed shift, and the speedometer
if fitted will read wrong. Range often drops slightly because you are turning heavier wheels. On some
carts the lift affects steering geometry, which shows up as odd tire wear months later rather than as
an obvious problem on day one.
Warranty and fitting
Fitting a lift can change the warranty position on suspension and drivetrain components. That
varies by manufacturer and is worth asking about in writing before the work happens, not after
something fails.
Buy it lifted rather than lift it later
If you already know you want clearance and larger tires, a model built that way is usually
cheaper overall and better sorted than a standard cart modified afterwards. The manufacturer has
matched the suspension, geometry and gearing to the ride height. A bolt-on kit is doing the best it
can with parts designed around a different one.
When not to bother
If the cart lives on pavement and lawn, a lift buys you a look and costs you comfort and
stability. That is a legitimate reason to want one, but it is worth being honest with yourself that
it is the reason.