Overview & Reviews

The Baja is all new for 2003. It's similar to the Subaru Outback, but it has an open cargo bed. Certainly a niche vehicle, it should appeal to people with active lifestyles, especially those who ski or surf.

• Comfortable ride, stable handling, decent fuel mileage, multiple configurations, unlikely to be lost in a parking lot.

User Reviews:

Showing 41 through 50 of 97.00

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  New baja owner - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By dhart - May 9 - 10:00 am

  I have had the Baja base model for about a week now. I sold an Explorer Sport Trac. I wanted something a bit smaller, better mileage and quieter on the road. The Baja is all of this. I think it is great. It is very quiet and smooth at highway speeds. It is much less work to drive than the Sport Trac. It is not a powerhouse, but I did not want one. I will drive this till it drops.

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  Buy Only If You Plan To Keep It! - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By TURBO9956 - March 28 - 11:03 am

  Squeaks and rattles seem to be the norm. My automatic transmission has never shifted right - its slow to do everything (my dealer says its normal). The engine clicks and rattles - again, "normal". So, I decide that I will trade it -nope. I almost passed out when I received my offer. Tried to sell it, nobody wants it. I received a "guaranteed trade value" from Subaru HA! they dont even want it back. The back seat is a joke.

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  Im loving it - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By KYLE MARCRUM - February 5 - 10:13 pm

  I love this car. Its quick, absorbs bumps like crazy and it turns heads. Hauling and payload are minimal but if you want that youll buy a real truck. I camp and paintball a lot. Its perfect to just throw all the dirty stuff in back and keep your interior clean. Maintenance is simple to do. The versatility is amazing for something that looks so small. I would recommend for anybody.

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  Almost 3 years later, and still love it! - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By NoVa Baja - December 27 - 7:53 pm

  Been by far the best car/truck I have ever owned. For me there is enough power, even here in the DC area. Even 3 years later people ask about it when in parking lots. My MPG has been as low as 18 commuting city streets, with 22 commuting on combined city/hwy, and 29 hwy (a high of 31 hwy on a long flat stretch at 60mph). Looked at the Ford SporTrac, so glad that I skipped it for the Baja. A better fit for the real world IMO. Was able to handled some very rutted roads to a cabin in the Smokys very well.

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  A great Suby - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By MikeeB - December 24 - 11:46 am

  A great vehicle. Has never been to the dealer since I purchased it for repairs, I do all the regular stuff to it. Carries all my stuff, tows my ATV, is very comfortable to drive. Good mileage for AWD, I average about 24 mpg, and high 20s on the highway. This is my first Subaru, and I will definitely look for another one when it is time to replace the Baja. Build quality is outstanding, with no weird noises or issues like many other cars. It is very comfortable to drive for long distances, I now have 113,000 miles on it, and will try to go for at least 300,000 before I replace it.

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  my "baru" - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By angiono - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Love the car has plenty of pep the yellow looks wild at first but the color grows on you, only thing missing is heated seats.

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  After one month... - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By Clark Savage - September 6 - 2:00 am

  Another fine vehicle from Subaru! The exterior styling is a bit "over the top" for me, but it gets plenty of looks and comments. The interior is well-designed and comfortable. A better stereo option would have been nice--guess Ill go with an aftermarket. I took it out on some Forest Service and Wildlife Refuge roads and it drove superbly! Ended the day by rescuing a stranded family of SIX on the expressway and drove them over the pass--acceleration was no problem, but it was certainly cramped.

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  Pleased - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By Zman - July 28 - 4:13 pm

  Works great in snow; 25 MPG; good to haul stuff with yet maintains comfort like a car. I call it combination- car and truck CRUCK.

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  AWD Mini El-Camino - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By Jim-Rome - July 19 - 2:00 am

  Since the 70s Ive said I wanted an AWD (or 4WD) El Camino. This is in in a mini version. Very versatiel and fun. It isnt a REAL truck... but the.. my wife would expect REAL work.

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  Just wouldnt die - 2003 Subaru Baja
  By Trent - June 9 - 5:00 pm

  I had a 2003 baja which I bought at 100,000 miles. Over the next two years, I added on 60,000 miles using it as a commuter car. I bought the car with few mechanical problems, and over the long commutes and two years on an already dated car, I was rather impressed with its reliability. Over the course of those miles, the only repairs were brake pads, rotors, muffler repair, sealing an oil leak and a lower ball joint. I finally trades it in once an O2 sensor failed at 162,000 miles. All in all, pretty respectable considering it is 13 years old in the rust belt. The bed was very useful for moving washers, dryers, beds, etcetera. I got my use out of it. I would buy another if they were still making them.