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:
Showing 71 through 80 of 220.00-
Love the Baja - 2003 Subaru Baja
By Glenn n Tom - August 8 - 4:36 amWe fell in love with the car/truck the 1st time we saw it @ the Philly flower show 2001.The yellow paint sticks out every where we go, yellow was our 1st choice. We love its styling, its comfortable, its certainly not a car you see very often...like the RAV4. The vehicle is on the louder side with the frameless windows and AWD tires. Versatility...great for Home Depot during the day and dinning @ night. We seem to do about 28 hwy/24 city non turbo. Rearward visibility could be better; the c pillars generate a huge blind spot, as well as the rear headrests are non-movable.
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love it needs heated seats - 2004 Subaru Baja
By angiono - July 21 - 2:00 amlove it dont need a ladder or parachute to get in or out of it, can carry a lot (2 7 xmas trees fit in easy peazy, just would like heated seats for the really cold days.
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Baja Rocks - 2005 Subaru Baja
By Sparky Gump - June 21 - 5:20 pmIm a former Ford Ranger owner. When gas hit $2.00 a gallon (remember that?) I knew I had to ditch my gas hungry 4x4 for a more reliable, better designed small pickup. Problem was you need 4 wheel drive on a pickup to get traction on snowy roads and 4 wheel drive trucks - even the "smaller" ones - get lousy gas mileage. One day when my wife was getting her Forester serviced I saw my perfect car/truck, the Baja. I bought one as soon as I could and I have no regrets. Ive got the outside bed for hauling dirty stuff like soil, garbage and kerosene. Inside seating for four and 26 mpg overall! Subaru is foolish for not marketing these vehicles and even more stupid for ceasing production.
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What a great surprise! - 2003 Subaru Baja
By 2 Bees - June 15 - 5:06 amMy husband brought his Subaru down to the states from Canada 10 years ago.In South Florida it was an "oddball" to say the least. When we moved to Las Vegas it was in much better company but getting old. While in the dealership for service we watched the Bajas get unloaded, once I saw the yellow one I was hooked! Between the quality and finish I love this car. (No, its not a truck!) What a blast dashing through the Las Vegas wash in this vehicle, great for off road adventures! I now participate in art festivals and only a minivan will out do this baby. We had a kayak carrier built we love everything about our Baja!
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Very practical "truck" - 2006 Subaru Baja
By tcatbaja - June 6 - 1:53 pmI came from a Tundra looking for something smaller. Was all set on a Tacoma, but tried a Baja and loved it. Very solid ride, "almost" like an RX7 I used to own. Perfect for hauling small stuff. 21-29 mileage is a stretch; my first tank was 18.3, all city driving, but still much better than the 13-14 I got with the Tundra. I got the Royal Blue metallic, which gets dirty quick. Id probably get silver if I had it to do again.
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New baja owner - 2003 Subaru Baja
By dhart - May 9 - 10:00 amI 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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not too bad - 2005 Subaru Baja
By From Western NY - May 1 - 12:56 amPRO: All wheel drive - been through two Buffalo winters and it goes anywhere. Getting 26-28 mpg in the summer. Have used the pass-trough more than expected, a lifesaver. The bed extender is handy. Glad I didnt get the turbo, dont need it in the city and gas prices. CON: The stupid engine has "major hesitation" when starting in first gear. Snow tends to pack under the front windshield wiper/hood. Opening the door in winter always causes snow to fall onto the seat. NITPICKS: Windshield glass is wavey, seat bolsters are too big - hard to get into/out of the front seat, radio sounds like the 1950s, cup holders are short and in the way. Windshield wont clear 100% on extremely cold days.
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Baja Rocks! - 2004 Subaru Baja
By davescomp - April 21 - 2:00 amThis vehicle has just what I wanted, and everything I needed. The ride, space adn comfort of a car, and the ability to throw whatever I need in the back. I dont have to worry if I am hauling something dirty or smelly, and if it is something long, I can open the back end. It may seem like a short bed at first, but with the conversion of teh back seat and the bed extender, it is not bad at all. I have brought home full sized panneling, lumber, lattice, bags of concrete, and hauled many other things like plants and muddy yard tools. All I had to do was spray out the back end!
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Buy Only If You Plan To Keep It! - 2003 Subaru Baja
By TURBO9956 - March 28 - 11:03 amSqueaks 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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A great little truck - 2006 Subaru Baja
By Roadmaster - February 22 - 5:03 amThis truck with the options for the bed extender does everything I want it to do. It drives like a car and really hauls the stuff.
