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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  GREAT all purpose car - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By dailydrivernj - September 22 - 10:00 am

  Owning this vehicle now for one year has been a terrific experience. Good fuel economy, NO reliability issues at all. Fun to drive and gets a lot of looks. Interior storage is a bit tight at times. Comfortable seating in all 4 places. Dealer replaced front brakes under warranty at 22000 miles. The 30000 mile service at the dealer is a bit pricey for a 4cyl car. Cold a/c in summer and decent heat in winter. Easy to maintain and keep clean

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  Stamina plus - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By SoAnn Ott - September 13 - 12:13 am

  Goes places that a regular or four wheel drive vehicle wouldnt attempt. Streamlined looks besides. This is the truck of our dreams.

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  Steves Review - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By hazzardwarning - September 2 - 10:00 am

  I love to drive this car. So far I have not had any problems with it. I went from a dodge ram with a 360 engine to this, so I can really tell the difference in fuel useage. It does lack a lot of get up and go though (though it is not bad for a 4 cyl). I would like to see a 6 cyl or the higher performance 4 (such as the WRX). Though I know that there is no possiblity of this, I would also like to see a special edition STI version of the BAJA (such as the WRX STI). If I had it to do over again, I would have made the same decision in purchasing this vehicle.

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  Silver Bullet - 2006 Subaru Baja
  By Jason - August 1 - 12:16 pm

  I love driving my 06 Baja Turbo! It accelerates quickly and performs very well. I have hauled a big freezer, a washer & dryer set (whole set at once!), even hauled a riding mower home from Sears. The mower barely fit, but due to the width of the Bajas bed I was able to accomodate it. Its awesome in the snow and mud and I have yet to get it stuck. The Baja comes well equipped with an impressive list of standard equipment. I love driving my Baja!

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  Fun! Fun!! Fun!!! - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By skiwee - July 27 - 2:00 am

  Baja has proven itself in several snowstorms in the Northeast. (Changed Bridgestones to Dunlop Wintersport M2 tires.)Unstoppable, reliable, great handling and ride. Only positive comments from onlookers, so far.

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  Great Car - 2005 Subaru Baja
  By saboats - July 20 - 12:56 am

  I have in 2 years never had a problem with this car. I love it!

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  The fun truck alternative - 2004 Subaru Baja
  By Dr.D. - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Replaced an old trusty Ford Ranger, and worried about the fact that the Baja is not a truck. I can still do almost everything I need to do, and many things I couldnt do before. The Baja is just plain fun, especially with the 5-speed. It really hugs the road and gives you a feel of control. Theres plenty of power in the 4-cyl with the 5-speed (drove the automatic and it felt a little sluggish), and the mileage beats most competitors. The back seat isnt great, but I sit in the front! Have not regretted this purchase.

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  i like my baja - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By Baja duck - June 8 - 10:00 am

  It was really out of our price range at the time. But after having test drove the manual we were hooked. It has a unique styling all its own, handles great, is fun to drive, and comes standard w/ leather, sunroof etc. very nice car. Very nice dealership.

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  Most versatile vehicle I have driven - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By kalins1 - April 16 - 10:00 am

  Sure it wont haul 2 tons of top soil, but considering most truck owners only use their full beds 10 percent of the time (cant remember where that research came from), the Baja has plenty of hauling capacity. Plus, if you throw a hitch on it, you can haul a trailer and basically double the capacity. Did I mention that our Baja has been getting 26 mpg!!!

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  Nothing else like it - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By Subaru_You - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Analyzed hundreds of vehicles for: Child safety; Appearance; Fun; Economy; Performance; 4-doors; and cargo capacity. Came down to four vehicles: Subaru Baja; Honda Element; Toyota 4Runner and RAV4. Baja came out on top for me. Local Subaru dealership beat my credit union on financing. Also got the 03 Baja well below invoice. Driving the Baja confirms the right choice: AWD, superb handling, tight, solid, and quiet. Fuel economy that is good. Audio upgrade sounds great, and more useful features than a Swiss Army knife. Work for a tech company with a parking lot full of grey BMW and Benz. Glad I didnt go down that expensive and typical route.