2006 Subaru Baja Review

The 2006 Baja is a practical vehicle from Subaru with both seating for four people and a a modest pickup bed. 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.  It is one of the few car-based four-door crew cab pickups that have been on the market. The Baja is a crossover between an SUV and a pickup truck. Unlike the Chevy Avalanche or Honda Ridgline, which are the size of a full size truck, though, it is much smaller. The Baja comes standard with four-wheel drive. A turbocharged version became available mid cycle. A five-speed manual or four-speed automatic are the transmission options. Subaru combines the notion of a sport utility vehicle and a pickup truck in its compact car-based Baja four-door crossover. For 2005, a new net-type center storage pocket for the rear seatback was installed, and the 12-volt power outlet was relocated to the console storage box. All models were pre-wired for optional high-powered, offroad Baja lights. A hard bed cover accompanied the upgraded Baja Turbo with the Leather Package. The only changes for the 2006 model year are a newly standard security system and keyless entry. Assertive styling touches give the Baja Turbo a distinctive appearance. While the Baja was not exactly a success and met with some harsh critics over its design, many find it appealing. 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.

Baja Power and Handling

 The 2006 Baja is powered by Subaru's 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder which generates 165 hp in the Baja Sport, while the Turbo model features a 210-hp, turbocharged 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder that produces 235 pounds-feet of torque. A five-speed-manual transmission with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is standard, and a four-speed automatic is optional. Turbo models can be equipped with an automatic transmission featuring a manual-shift provision. The quiet, smooth-running Baja drives easily and has a pleasant feel. Confident steering produces a near-sporty feel. The ride is firm but not unpleasant, even on rough pavement. After initial hesitation, acceleration is fairly good from a standstill, but low-speed passing power is mild. Although the 2.5 has decent output, there's only so much thrust it could furnish while saddled with nearly 3,700 pounds of all-wheel-drive Subaru. The Baja will get a 0-60 time of about 9.9 seconds (with the manual gearbox) -- about equal to a compact V6 pickup of the day. In 2004, 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. The Baja is certainly not a performance car, but it's a lot more fun to drive than most other pickups or SUVs.

2006 Baja Design

 The Baja bears some resemblance to other Subaru models, including the Forester SUV, until you view its rear, which is a small pickup bed. The Baja features enlarged front fenders and large, foldable, body-colored mirrors. Integrated fog lights sit behind protective stone guards. The Baja's grille is unique, while its stylized alloy fuel door is similar to the one used on Subaru's ST/X concept. A power moonroof is standard. The Baja rides a 104.3-inch wheelbase and has 8.4 inches of ground clearance. Tie-down hooks, a bed light and sport bars on the cargo bed are installed. Roof rails and crossbars are standard. 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.

Inside the Subaru Baja

Inside the 2006 Baja, the front seats have unusually snug side bolstering. The backseat is fairly comfortable, but legroom could be better. Bajas can seat four occupants. The driver faces gauges ringed in silver trim. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, remote keyless entry, an outside-temperature gauge, and power windows, locks and mirrors. The Baja Turbo Leather Package includes a six-way power driver's seat and heated front seats.  A Switchback system provides a reconfigurable rear seat and cargo area. With the optional bed extender, cargo bed length increases to 60.5 inches and can hold such equipment as mountain bikes and surfboards. 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.

Summary

For safety features, the Baja has depowered front airbags with a dual-stage front-passenger airbag. The front seat belts have pretensioners and load limiters. For another look, read more about the Subaru Baja. 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. Production ended for the Baja after just four years on the market. 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.