is known for its affordability, attractive and sporty exterior, joyful handling, and convertible top. What it isn’t known for? Its off-road capabilities. In fact, we suggest always keeping your Miata on paved roads.

Sports cars are an absolute thrill, and at a starting price of just $25,730, the convertible Miata offers excitement at an incredibly affordable price. Unfortunately, what the Miata doesn’t offer is the best of both worlds. While you can zip down the highway in your coupe, you certainly can’t trust it on rougher terrains.

To explain exactly why your Miata won’t be able to hack it off road,

Jerry

—the

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that saves drivers money on

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—will go over all the specs relevant to any vehicle’s off-roading abilities, and then provide a few Miata alternatives if you’re looking for something with some off-road chops.

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Can the Mazda Miata go off road?

No—the Mazda Miata was not designed to be taken off road. While you may be able to handle a dirt road here and there, we would suggest avoiding muddy and bumpy grass parking lots, and steering entirely clear of anything with rougher terrain.

Fortunately, the Miata’s low starting price of just $25,730 makes it a great option as a second vehicle. So if you’re a camper with an adventurous spirit, you can invest in another truck or SUV for the days you just can’t resist getting muddy.

Let’s take a closer look at the key specs that affect your Mazda’s off-roading abilities (or, in this case, lack thereof).

Ground clearance

Ground clearance is, perhaps, the most important number to keep in mind when considering taking your vehicle off road. The Mazda Miata has a ground clearance of just 4.9 inches—meaning there is a very short distance between the lowest point of its chassis and the ground.

For reference, experts recommend a minimum of 8.5 inches of ground clearance for off-roading vehicles. And, if you’re really serious about tackling rough terrains, you want to see a number somewhere between 8.8 and 10.8 inches. The 2021

Jeep Wrangler

, for example, has 9.7 inches of clearance—almost twice as much as the Miata.

Torque

Turning power matters far more than speed when you’re off road, so the best off-road vehicles will have low-end torque or high amounts of torque at a low rpm.

The Mazda Miata offers 151 lb-ft of torque—which isn’t a lot of power to benign with. Plus, you’ll need 4000 rpm to access it, which is much higher than what’s ideal for rough and muddy terrains.

Tires

The Mazda Miata is fitted with a small set of P195/50VR16 all-weather tires—which are less than ideal when attempting to gain traction in the mud. In fact, you’re likely to end up stuck with your wheels spinning.

All-terrain tires

, or A/T tires, are recommended for drivers who want to drive off the beaten path once in a while. While they’re not as durable or long-lasting as all-season tires, they have a most aggressive tread pattern that increases your vehicle’s traction.

Equipping your Miata with all-terrain tires may make it perform a little bit better in an inch or two of snow, or in a grassy parking lot, but it won’t make much of a difference in serious dirt and mud.

Drivetrain

All-wheel or four-wheel drive is a must for off-roading. Unfortunately, it simply isn’t an option on the Miata. Every single Miata that rolled off Mazda's production line – regardless of spec or generation – is rear-wheel drive.

Off-road rating: Don’t try it

We’ve rated Mazda Miata using

Jerry’s

super-technical DIRT rating system, broken down in the table below:

Rating	Meaning	Description
D	Don’t Try It	Vehicles better suited to highway conditions
I	In a Pinch	Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances
R	Rough and Ready	Vehicles designed for casual off-roading
T	Trail Boss	True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain

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The Mazda Miata clearly earns a D rating—don’t try it! Its ground clearance is far too low, its engine doesn’t offer enough power, and its standard-issue tires aren’t built for mud and dirt.

We expect that you weren’t planning on taking your sports convertible mudding—but we would also caution against particularly muddy or bumpy parking lots, etc. It’s best to stay exclusively on paved streets!

MORE:

The best old-school off-road vehicles

Off-road alternatives to the Mazda Miata

In general, we suggest an SUV or a truck if you’re seriously adventurous and looking to conquer the roughest terrains. Sports cars simply aren’t built for it!

Let’s take a look at some popular Miata competitors to see how they stack up.

Model	Price	Description
2020 Subaru BRZ	$28,845	The BRZ has an identical ground clearance to the Miata, which means it’s still ill-equipped for adventurous mudding trips. While it does offer more torque, it needs to be accessed at a high RPM. Plus, it is equipped exclusively with rear-wheel drive.
2020 FIAT 124 Spider	$25,390	The Spider doesn’t offer the power needed to survive in mud and dirt, and all-wheel drive is not an option. Plus, its ground clearance is even lower, at 4.5 inches.

MORE: Cheap off-road trucks

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How to insure your vehicle on- and off-road

It’s a bad idea to try driving your Mazda Miata off-road. Another bad idea? Trying to shop for cheap car insurance without using Jerry.

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