Subaru Baja
| Subaru Baja | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Subaru |
| Production | 2002– |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Midsize car |
| Body style | 4-door pickup truck |
| Related | Subaru Legacy |
With characteristic unconventionality, Subaru introduced the Baja to the US market in 2002 under the marketing tagline "Civilized Versatility." Combining features of both a car and a pickup truck, Subaru based the Baja heavily on their existing Legacy and the Legacy-derived Subaru Outback wagon, building the vehicles along side each other in their Lafayette, Indiana plant once shared with Isuzu.
The Baja features an almost convential four-door passenger compartment along with a 41" open bed and drop-down tailgate. A system marketed as the Switchback allows the rear passenger seat to fold down along with a small thru-hatch to the bed -- thereby allowing an extended length of 75" to the end of the open tailgate.
The Baja targeted a market once occupied by significantly larger domestic car-based pickup-like vehicles, especially the Ford Ranchero and the Chevrolet El Camino. Focusing on an "active-lifestyle" demographic that would appreciate the vehicles strong fuel economy and all-wheel drive, the Baja's reception in the market might not have been helped by a heavy pricetag and an especially ungainly use of lower-body plastic cladding -- not to mention a heavily promoted and initially pervasive color scheme of brilliant yellow and silver.
Despite recalling a similar Subaru concept from the 1970's, the two-door Brat, and despite reaching a steadfastly loyal subset of Subaru's US following, the company only advertised the Baja modestly and the vehicle never managed to reach even half it's initial sales projections of 20,000 per year.
To the consternation of Baja owners, Subaru quietly discontinued Baja production in April, 2006. In September, 2006 offered current Baja owners a discount on one of the last 2006 Baja's with an accompanying letter:
2006 will be the final model year for the Subaru Baja. Baja, successor to the Subaru Brat of the 1970s and 1980s, has added a fun, new choice to our Subaru line-up and brought wonderful new customers to Subaru for five years. Baja owners such as you have been delighted with the car - providing Subaru with it's highest owner loyalty. In 2007, due to increased demand on other Subaru models the Subaru of Indiana (SIA) assembly plant will be concentrating it's production on Legacy, Outback, and Tribeca. We believe this car is destined to become a collectors vehicle - similar to the Subaru Brat and other Subaru models after their final year of production.
By that writing, Subaru had already consolidated it's production at the Lafayette plant to make room for Toyota Camry production.
Model Year Variations:
The intial 2003 model featured leather seats, power driver's seat, and sunroof. In response to perceptions of a heavy intial price, a more economical Sport model, equipped with cloth interior and manual seats, followed later in the production year.
2004 offered a new 2.5 L Turbo model with cloth or leather interior and manual or automatic Sportshift transmissions -- and externally differentiated by a large hood scoop and color-matched exterior door handles and side mirros. The Baja Sport offered different paint and trim options but remained much the same as 2003.
New color options and just a few minor changes were made for the 2005 model. All models were given a power outlet in the center console, rear seatback net pocket, and Turbo models with leather offered a new tonneau bed cover.
2006 saw color options reduce to only three monochromatic schemes. The Turbo received an optional package that included leather trimmed upholstery, heated seats, special alloy wheels, a hard bed cover, and the sport-mode automatic transmission.