Overview & Reviews

Consider the platypus. Being semi-aquatic, this bizarre mammal looks like a cross between a beaver and a duck. But thanks to its quirky features, it's agile on land, is a fair swimmer and is adept at rooting for food on stream bottoms.

So what's that National Geographic sound bite got to do with the Subaru Baja? Well, the somewhat visually similar Subaru was also designed to adapt to changing needs, albeit ones dictated by its owner, not its survivability. Thanks to its unorthodox architecture, the Baja promised the nimble nature and passenger comfort of a midsize sedan along with the hauling capability of a small pickup truck.

Alas, just like many of Mother Nature's past experiments, the Subaru Baja didn't quite take. The car's odd styling turned off a lot of potential buyers, as did the fact that there just weren't that many people who desired a car-based pickup. Chevy El Camino enthusiasts excepted, of course. Production ended for the Baja after just four years on the market.

Most Recent Subaru Baja

Based on the Legacy/Outback platform, the Subaru Baja was produced from 2003-'06. In terms of its exterior design, calling the Baja "distinctive" would be the nice thing to say. We're certain that the heavy cladding along the lower body was supposed to look rugged, but instead it seemed as if a Pontiac stylist from the late '80s had infiltrated Subaru's design studio.

Rather than a sedan's trunk or a wagon's enclosed cargo area, the Baja featured a small, open cargo box like a pickup truck. To improve versatility, Subaru fitted a "Switchback," otherwise known as a midgate. The midgate allowed the front wall of the bed and the rear seatback to fold down and into the passenger area. This increased bed length from 41 to 60 inches. The rear window was fixed in place, however, which placed limitations on the size and shape of items that would fit.

The Subaru Baja was initially available in standard and Sport trims. The standard Baja came with air-conditioning, leather seating, full power accessories, a CD player, 16-inch alloy wheels and a power sunroof. The Sport was more of a base trim, as it substituted cloth upholstery for the leather and had a manual, not power, driver seat. Options included a bed extender, a bed-mounted bike rack and a premium sound system with a six-CD changer. The cabin design was essentially the same as the Legacy's, which meant high-quality materials, a user-friendly control layout and comfortable seats.

Power was provided by a 2.5-liter flat-4 that made a respectable 165 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission was standard, with a four-speed automatic optional. Although the 2.5 had decent output, there's only so much thrust it could furnish while saddled with nearly 3,700 pounds of all-wheel-drive Subie. Our testing netted a 0-60 time of 9.9 seconds (with the manual gearbox) -- about equal to a compact V6 pickup of the day.

The following year, the Baja Turbo debuted. Fitted with a turbocharged version of the 2.5, it sported 210 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque. The Baja Turbo was more than 2 seconds quicker to 60 mph and a lot more fun to drive. An Edmunds road test quote sums it up nicely: "It's not quite a performance car, but it's a lot more fun to drive than most other pickups or SUVs."

In theory, the Subaru Baja seemed to make perfect sense, offering the best attributes of a family sedan with the utility of a compact pickup. But it fell a bit short in a few areas. Passenger capacity was limited to just four rather than the regular Legacy's five. And towing capacity was rated at just 2,000 pounds with the automatic and 2,400 pounds with the manual.

Still, with its all-wheel drive, generous ground clearance and versatile cargo bed, a used Subaru Baja could be the ideal choice for outdoor sports enthusiasts involved with mountain biking, kayaking and camping. Add in Subaru's solid reputation for reliability, the Baja's easy-to-handle size and superior fuel economy (compared to a V6 pickup truck) and this odd duck of a car may make more sense than most people initially thought.

User Reviews:

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  Keep it away from the dealership! - 2006 Subaru Baja
  By Chris - October 11 - 11:16 pm

  I bought this Baja to save gas over my Chev full size pick-up. WRONG MOVE. At first it got really great mileage (almost 30 mpg on hwy) but then I took it to the dealer for its first oil change. BIG BIG MISTAKE. After that day it starting getting 17 mpg in town and 20 mpg on hwy. I took it back to the dealer (02/07) and the mechanic said no codes showed bad and therefore he couldnt work on the vehicle. The dealer offered me $18k trade in for a new Chevy truck and I guess thats about the best I can expect to get. Such a great concept vehicle but I can see now why Subaru never sold very many of them. Why drive a tiny truck if it uses as much fuel as a comfortable one? Save your money!

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  I love my Baja - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By stooks - September 5 - 2:00 am

  this car truck is great the handling and the cars many uses from hauling the trash off to getting a load of lumber its great Ill never owne anything eles and it goes great in the snow and rain the all wheel drive makes it stick to the road thanks subaru for a great car

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  excellent work truck - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By FL inspectors - August 24 - 1:03 am

  290,000 miles in 5.5 yrs. 90% of the time with a generator and tools in the back. Minimal maintenance, record of 220,000 miles before 1st belt change. AWD with FL rain, wonderful! 24 mpg with full load. Very satisfied. A little worried about inevitable future maintenance due to mileage.

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  Form meets Function - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By JustLee - August 16 - 9:20 pm

  This car/truck is just plain fun.

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  Baja is Brava! - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By OnlineJimK - August 11 - 2:00 am

  A great car/truck! Very good mileage + utility + car comfort. If you need more truck than car, try the Nissan Frontier, but if you need some truck, but more car, than this is the vehicle for you! Also, the Baja rules on New Englands ice and snow covered roads. 5 stars!

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  Most Fun I Ever Had! - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By Renee - August 1 - 10:10 pm

  This is such a great vehicle. I lusted after the Brat in the 70s but never got the chance to own one. Thirty years later when it was time to buy a new car, this new version was on my list. After test driving an Infinity G35, VW Passat, and Mitsubishi, this was my last and final choice. As soon as I got behind the wheel, I was hooked! Ive had this car for 2 years now and havent regretted purchasing it once. For a fun time, dependability, and unusual looks, check this one out. People stop me all the time and ask about it; its different from everything else on the road. Go for the manual transmission... its great fun!

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  My Baja - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By KathyK - July 30 - 10:00 am

  This is an awesome car/truck. Fun and reliable.

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  Happy Days with My Subaru Baja - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By PARA 958 - July 23 - 1:06 pm

  Have had 3 other Subarus but this is the first Baja. Love the looks of this car, the comfort of the well designed seats, and the fuel economy (20 city, 28 hwy). Love the comments I receive from people and the ability to haul light items in the bed. The bed extender was a nice touch. Looked at the Turbo model but decided against it because of having to use premium fuel. For those who need a car to zip here and there on errands, this car meets those needs. Back seats are comfortable and up above the front. Backseat passengers love it. Wish the rear window would raise up. But other than that, no complaints about my Baja.

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  Baja - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By Bob - June 30 - 1:56 pm

  I recently purchased the Subaru Baja Sport for my commute to work. Although its only been about one month since I bought the Baja it has proven to be a good choice. I am getting 28mpg. Its fun to drive and though its no sports car it handles and accelerates good enough for me.

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  Great for grownups too - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By EyeDoc - June 23 - 10:00 am

  Traded in my Wrangler to get better security and utility while keeping the ability to get up the mountain to work in winter. It carries 4 large bales of hay for the horse. The "switchback" opening (covered by a cargo net) gives our dogs plenty of air while letting them ride inside. Plus, with just over 10,000 miles I get 30mpg. No problems and no regrets.