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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  so far....REALLY FUN!! - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By evillabrat69 - December 18 - 1:37 am

  I bought this car 2 months ago with 87k on it, and have been loving it!! with a 50 mile commute each way to work, its quiet & very comfortable. ive done some light off-roading and have no complaints. my fiancee prefers to take the subie when ever we go anywhere together. no complaints on the 25 mpg. off line acceleration could be better, and the steering column could be a little longer (im tall and have to reach a bit) Overall it beats the pants off the 2001 neon i traded in on it!!! so far this is the best looking, 2nd best performing (1998 pontiac grand prix gt was faster) i have owned. I really love this vehicle!

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  Sooby rooby roo, we love you! - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By Lucas Martin - May 5 - 2:58 am

  This car is amazing. I love how it looks. It really fits the Colorado lifestyle. Havent taken it to the shop in two years and still runs like new. The back is really cool. If you are a fun loving personand you live near the mountains, I highly recommend this car for you. It does have a few issues. One is that there are only 4 seats in the car. Another one is that the gearshift is pretty wobbly. But overall, this car is the most amazingest car ever.

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  My cartruck - 2006 Subaru Baja
  By leslie - April 11 - 5:20 am

  Love the versatility. Love the low entry. Miss storage compartments. Back seat compartment too small. Great handling in rain and snow.

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  Still disappointed after 2 years - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By Disappointed in De - February 12 - 12:50 pm

  From the day, I drove it off the lot, it has had squeaks. I have had it in four times and the dealer has never been able to make any improvements. Drivers area is cramped.

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  Baja Turbo - Colorado - 2004 Subaru Baja
  By hatake - February 5 - 2:00 am

  Recommend to those who a) haul large object every now and then (it is not a pickup truck, its a car with a small bed), b) dont race (if you do, go with Forester or WRX), c) live in higher altitude (above 8,000 ft) and still need responsive engine, d) not too concerned about gas mileage (about 22 mpg), e) like the looks (at least able to tolerate), and f) if your bike costed more than $1500 and always nervous when it is on roofrack. Its a good alternative car for regular light DIY Home Depot kind of folks.

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  love it - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By angiono - August 18 - 2:00 am

  it has plenty of pep gets out of its own way, great on fuel, just missing heated seats, easy for a women to drive and get in and out of and you can store a ton in the cargo area.

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  Went from 4x4 pickup to Baja - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By trakonus - August 7 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this truck about a month and a half ago, I wish it came out when I bought my dakota a few years ago. It fit my needs perfectly. It handles great and the upgraded sound system is great. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone. My neighbor used to be a mechanic for subarus up north, and he said as long as i use their oil filter and follow the maintenance log it will last a long long time.

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  Perfect match for my active lifestyle - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By Mike Custodio - June 22 - 3:50 am

  Bought my turbo baja with 56k on it, and racked up 10k in 6 months. While there is both positive and negative attitude about it, the turbo baja matches my lifestyle perfectly. It excels in Back country roads, carrying kayak, mtn bikes, and occasional landscaping items. Performance and handling excel that of a true truck. I love trucks, but I love my baja better. Downsides: Get the Bed ext. Turbo lag and reluctant downshifts sap power. But once you get going, your gone. Frequent oil changes: every 3,000 miles for turbos. My ABS unit somehow decided to fail. It will cost $1200 to replace, dealership unsure what caused the failure. Otherwise, this subie matches my lifestyle and driving habits

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  new owner - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By charles young - June 21 - 4:16 am

  I am new in the Subaru area. I bought a Baja to play with. I like it very much, but it is to early to really give an experienced report. Will do that later. So far it has been what I expected.

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  Nicks Baja - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By Nickb - May 25 - 2:00 am

  Excellent traction on wet roads. Cant wait to test in Winter. Could use more power. But once moving feels spirited when need to passing.