Subaru Baja

Last updated
Subaru Baja
2006 Subaru Baja Sport, front right, 01-02-2023.jpg
2006 Subaru Baja Sport
Overview
Manufacturer Subaru-Isuzu Automotive, Inc.
ProductionJuly 2002 – April 2006
Model years 2003–2006
Assembly United States: Lafayette, Indiana (Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc.)
Body and chassis
Class Compact utility/pickup truck
Body style 4-door coupe utility
Layout Front-engine, all-wheel drive
Related Subaru Legacy/Outback
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,649 mm (104.3 in)
Length4,905 mm (193.1 in)
Width1,781 mm (70.1 in)
Height
  • 2003–04: 1,631 mm (64.2 in)
  • 2005–06: 1,654 mm (65.1 in)
Chronology
Predecessor Subaru BRAT

The Subaru Baja is an all-wheel-drive, four passenger, four-door utility, UTE. Manufactured from 2002 to 2006 by Subaru and marketed for model years 2003 to 2006. The Baja combines the handling and passenger carrying characteristics of a traditional passenger car with the open-bed versatility and load capacity of a very small pickup truck.

Contents

The unibody design borrowed heavily from the existing mechanicals, platform and sheet metal of the Subaru Legacy/Outback wagon. [1] Production began on July 18, 2002 [2] as a 2003 model at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. factory in Lafayette, Indiana.

The name Baja derives from the Mexican peninsula of Baja California; home to the Baja 1000 off-road race.

Design and engineering

Baja 1000 Rally Truck Trophytruck.jpg
Baja 1000 Rally Truck

Working with technical support from Subaru Japan, a team led by Peter Tenn, [3] Subaru senior designer, penned the Baja in the United States. According to an August, 2002 interview [3] with Tenn, "the Baja's jarring look is homage to rally-race trucks. It's supposed to look funky, look different. It doesn't fit any category, and we knew that going in. It's not like anything else on the road. And that's important to a lot of people."

The Baja followed closely Subaru's ST-X (Sport Truck X-perimental) concept vehicle presented at the 2000 Los Angeles International Auto Show [4] and also designed by a special Subaru America design team. The ST-X offered a greater complement of features than the production Baja (power rear window, under floor storage compartment, tailgate cup holders), but nevertheless set the production groundwork for an Outback-based, four-door, car-truck hybrid.

In a package 150 mm (6 in) longer than an Outback, [1] the Baja featured a four-door passenger compartment along with a 1,040 mm (41 in) open bed and drop-down tailgate. A system marketed as the Switchback [5] allowed the rear passenger seat to fold down and a small hatch from the open bed to fold inward, allowing an extended length of 1,900 mm (75 in) to the end of the open tailgate. A light in the instrument cluster signaled an "open" status for the Switchback. The design featured two stainless steel exposed buttresses [1] behind the passenger compartment, marketed as Sports Bars, providing structural reinforcement for the open bed.

Feature included tinted rear door windows and rear window; an integrated bed liner; a dual-illumination bed light; four bed tie-down hooks; molded-in recesses to receive standard 2x4's to enable customized (e.g., bi-level) storage; standard roof rails with cross bars; a tow rating of 2,400 lb (1,089 kg), a rear seat center position rigid hinged storage compartment with integral twin cupholders, rear-seat power supply, rear-seat center storage net, map-pockets at rear of each front seat; an under-bed mounted spare tire, operable via a cable winch accessible from an access panel in the bed, and a fold-down license plate holder allowing the plate to be visible with the tailgate down.

Marketing and sales

Rear view 2006 Subaru Baja, rear left.jpg
Rear view

Subaru marketed the Baja in the United States, Canada and Chile. In the United States and Canada, Subaru marketed the Baja as a "multiple-choice vehicle." Limited advertising, late arrival of the turbo-charged model, heavily styled lower-body plastic cladding and a yellow-and-silver introductory color scheme discouraged broad appeal. James Healey, writing for USAtoday at the time of the Baja's introduction called it a "controversial fashion statement with limited utility". [3]

The Baja received the 2003 and 2004 J.D. Powers's APEAL (for Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study) Award—measuring owner satisfaction with the design, content, layout and performance of their new vehicles for "Most Appealing Compact Pickup" and the Consumer Reports 2006 highest score for reliability in the pickup truck category. [6]

With Subaru projecting to sell 24,000 per year, [7] [8] 30,000 were marketed over four and a half years.

Subaru discontinued Baja production in April 2006. Subaru stock-piled an inventory of 2006 models before discontinuing production, allowing dealers to continue to sell 2006 models as late as February 2008. [9] The Baja was removed from the Subaru USA website on July 31, 2007, following its removal from the Subaru Chile website in April 2007.

In 2007, Subaru of America reached agreement with Toyota Motor Corporation allowing Subaru Indiana to manufacture Camrys to meet Toyota's excess demand using surplus manufacturing capacity from its former Baja production line. [10]

Model year changes

2003 Subaru Baja Subaru Baja 2.5 2003 (13155493485).jpg
2003 Subaru Baja
2005 Subaru Baja Subaru Baja 2.5 2005 (15491055182).jpg
2005 Subaru Baja

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subaru Forester</span> Motor vehicle

The Subaru Forester is a compact crossover SUV that has been manufactured by Subaru since 1997. The first generation was built on the platform of the Impreza in the style of a taller station wagon, a style that continued to the second generation, while the third-generation model onwards moved towards a crossover SUV design. A performance model was available for the second-generation Forester in Japan as the Forester STi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pickup truck</span> Light-duty truck with an enclosed cab and an open cargo area

A pickup truck or pickup is a light-duty truck that has an enclosed cabin, and a back end made up of a cargo bed that is enclosed by three low walls with no roof. In Australia and New Zealand, both pickups and coupé utilities are called utes, short for utility vehicle. In South Africa, people of all language groups use the term bakkie; a diminutive of Afrikaans: bak, meaning bowl or container.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Station wagon</span> Auto body-style with its roof extended rearward

A station wagon or estate car, is an automotive body-style variant of a sedan with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door, instead of a trunk/boot lid. The body style transforms a standard three-box design into a two-box design—to include an A, B, and C-pillar, as well as a D-pillar. Station wagons can flexibly reconfigure their interior volume via fold-down rear seats to prioritize either passenger or cargo volume.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subaru Outback</span> Japanese automobile model

The Subaru Outback is an automotive nameplate used by the Japanese automaker Subaru for two different vehicles: a crossover station wagon, the Outback, and an Impreza-derived hatchback, the Outback Sport (1994–2011).

The Subaru BRAT was a light-duty, four-wheel drive coupé utility, version of the Subaru Leone originally introduced in 1977. The BRAT was developed directly from the company's four-wheel drive station wagon model and was first introduced as a 1978 model – following the concept of coupe utilities such as the Chevrolet El Camino and the Ford Ranchero. The BRAT is also known as a Brumby, MV Pickup or Shifter depending on where it was sold. The vehicle was sold from 1978 until 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet S-10</span> Motor vehicle

The Chevrolet S-10 is a compact pickup truck produced by Chevrolet. It was the first domestically-built compact pickup of the big three American automakers. When it was first introduced as a "quarter-ton pickup" in 1981 for the 1982 model year, the GMC version was known as the S-15 and later renamed the GMC Sonoma. A high-performance version of the latter was released in 1991, called "Syclone." The pickup was also sold by Isuzu as the Hombre from 1996 through 2000, but only in North America. There was also an SUV version, the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer/GMC S-15 Jimmy. An electric version was leased as a fleet vehicle in 1997 and 1998. Together, these pickups are often referred to as the S-Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Tacoma</span> Mid-size pickup truck

The Toyota Tacoma is a pickup truck manufactured by Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota since 1995. The first-generation Tacoma was classified as a compact pickup. The second generation and third generation models are classified as mid-sized pickups. The Tacoma was Motor Trend's Truck of the Year for 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota 4Runner</span> Sport utility vehicle manufactured by Toyota

The Toyota 4Runner is an SUV manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota and marketed globally since 1984, across five generations. In Japan, it was marketed as the Toyota Hilux Surf and was withdrawn from the market in 2009. The original 4Runner was a compact SUV and little more than a Toyota Hilux pickup truck with a fiberglass shell over the bed, but the model has since undergone significant independent development into a cross between a compact and a mid-size SUV. All 4Runners have been built in Japan at Toyota's plant in Tahara, Aichi, or at the Hino Motors plant in Hamura.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Bronco</span> American sport-utility vehicle

The Ford Bronco is a model line of SUVs manufactured and marketed by Ford. The first SUV model developed by the company, five generations of the Bronco were sold from the 1966 to 1996 model years. A sixth generation of the model line was introduced for the 2021 model year. The nameplate has been used on other Ford SUVs, namely the 1984–1990 Bronco II compact SUV and the 2021 Bronco Sport compact crossover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Explorer Sport Trac</span> American pickup truck produced 2000–2010

The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a pickup truck that was manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company for the North American market. The first mid-sized pickup truck produced by Ford, the Sport Trac was marketed from the 2001 to the 2010 model years. Sized between the Ranger and the F-150, the Sport Trac largely competed against crew-cab variants of the midsize Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon, Dodge Dakota, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonneau</span> Open automotive bed

A tonneau, bed or tray is an area of a car or truck open at the top. It can be for passengers or cargo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trunk (car)</span> Part of automobile

The trunk or boot of a car is the vehicle's main storage or cargo compartment, often a hatch at the rear of the vehicle. It can also be called a tailgate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ute (vehicle)</span> Short for "utility" vehicle

A ute, originally an abbreviation for "utility" or "coupé utility", is a term used in Australia and New Zealand to describe vehicles with a tonneau behind the passenger compartment, that can be driven with a regular driver's licence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subaru Legacy</span> Motor vehicle

The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car built by Japanese automobile manufacturer Subaru since 1989. The maker's flagship car, it is unique in its class for offering all-wheel drive as a standard feature, and Subaru's traditional boxer engine. The Legacy was sold as the Liberty in Australia out of deference to Legacy Australia, an organisation dedicated to caring for the families of military service veterans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subaru Legacy (second generation)</span> Motor vehicle

The second-generation Subaru Legacy was marketed in Japan from October 1993, and July 1994 marked the second generation in North America with a full body and chassis revision. The exterior was designed by Olivier Boulay in 1991, during his tenure at Subaru. The tail light appearance on both the sedan and wagon was influenced by the taillights on the SVX.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subaru Legacy (fourth generation)</span> Motor vehicle

The fourth generation of the Subaru Legacy was introduced in 2003 and saw a complete redesign of the Legacy on an all-new platform. Development began by the beginning of 1999, with styling freeze in early 2001 and engineering sign-off in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subaru Legacy (fifth generation)</span> Motor vehicle

The fifth-generation Subaru Legacy was originally unveiled as a concept car at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the model, and the production version was introduced at the 2009 New York International Auto Show. Production of the fifth generation started on 29 May 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coupé utility</span> Automotive body style

A coupé utility is a vehicle with a passenger compartment at the front and an integrated cargo tray at the rear, with the front of the cargo bed doubling as the rear of the passenger compartment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honda Ridgeline (second generation)</span> Motor vehicle

The Honda Ridgeline (YK2/YK3) is the second generation of pickup truck manufactured by Honda under the Ridgeline nameplate. The second generation Ridgeline took a different approach in design from the first generation Ridgeline by using Honda's new "global light truck platform," found in the third generation Honda Pilot as well as other large Honda vehicles, and made modifications including:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Maverick (2022)</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Maverick is a four-door, compact pickup truck manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company. It was unveiled on June 8, 2021, as Ford's smallest truck, slotted below the mid-size Ford Ranger.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "First Drive: 2003 Subaru Baja". PickupTruck.com. August 9, 2002.
  2. "Subaru of Indiana History". Subaru.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  3. 1 2 3 "Subaru makes another bold move with Baja". USAtoday, James R. Healey. August 19, 2002. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  4. "Subaru Subaru ST-X Sport Utility Pickup Concept". Pickuptruck.com.
  5. "One More Time". Ward's AutoWorld, Sep 1, 2002. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009.
  6. "Subaru makes another bold move with Baja". CNNmoney.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  7. "Subaru confirms production of new crossover vehicle: ST-X By Michael Binstock". Ward's AutoWorld, September 1, 2002. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008.
  8. "Subaru confirms production of new crossover vehicle: ST-X". The Acorn, February 1, 2001, Michael Binstock. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008.
  9. Subaru of America, Inc. Announces Increase in Sales. Press Release, Subaru of America, Inc., March 3, 2009.
  10. Fuji Heavy Industries Starts Producing Toyota Camry in U.S. Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. Press Release April 21, 2007