Will Subaru Bring Back The Baja?

Compact pickups are getting more and more popular these days, so every major carmaker is trying to offer something interesting in this segment. We are also witnessing a couple of comeback of famous nameplates, trucks like Ford Ranger. Therefore, Subaru wants its piece of cake. Car enthusiasts definitely remember the interesting Subaru Baja coupe utility, which was in production for about four years, between 2003 and 2006. However, this model never managed to position itself on some good position on the market. Therefore, a discontinuation was certain. However, things are a little bit different these days. So, the Japanese manufacturer is about to offer a pickup truck once again. According to a few reliable sources, the new truck got a green light and development should start soon. The exact name hasn’t been specified yet, though most of us believe it will come with the familiar Subaru Baja name.

Subaru Baja Design

Unlike the original model, the new Subaru Baja will be a genuine pickup. The question that probably bothers you most is in a matter of the platform. Two scenarios are possible at the moment. If you are familiar with Subaru’s business in the past few years, you knew that this company has a very successful cooperation with Toyota. Two companies have developed a couple of models already. This leads us to the conclusion that the new Subaru Baja could borrow some design solutions from the Japanese most popular manufacturer. This would mean the same body-on-frame platform that undeprints the legendary Hilux.

However, we believe that the new truck will be designed in a completely different manner. It will be a unibody pickup truck. Such a design solution is still a rarity among pickup truck and the only model that features such design at the moment is Honda Ridgeline. Such an approach has a lot of benefits. First of all, this guarantees crossover-like driving characteristics, which in practice means superior comfort, dynamics, and overall experience.

Of course, there are some bad things too. First of all, the Subaru Baja towing capacity would be lower compared to classic body-on-frame trucks. For comparison, the Ridgeline can tow up to 5.000 pounds, while models like Chevy Silverado, Toyota Tacoma, and others easily go over 7.000 pounds. Still, we won’t take this as a too big drawback. It’s a rare thing to see someone who pushes a mid-size truck to its limits. After all, those who have such high demands in town would rather go for full-size pickup trucks.

Is there a chance to see some hi-performance version?

Yes, definitely. The new truck will surely come in several trim levels. One of them should be Subaru Baja off-road performer. This one would come with lots of upgrades over standard models, mainly in terms of mechanics, suspension if you want to be concise. Those who remember the original utility coupe are probably familiar with the Subaru Baja lift kit, so you may presume in which direction would new model go.

Subaru Baja Styling

In this aspect, we have no doubts about which way the new model will go. The Japanese manufacturer presented a concept called Viziv recently. It is a modern crossover, which will serve as inspiration for all future SUVs, including models like Outback and Forester. One SUV based on this concept already came. It is the new Subaru Ascent and it is the model with which the new Subaru Baja should have most in common. Of course, a bold and angular styling approach is the first thing that comes to our minds.

In terms of dimensions, some reports suggest that the Subaru Baja will be slightly bigger than its future rival, Ridgeline. This clearly indicates that a double-cab layout will be the only one to be in the offer. Count on a spacious cabin, as well as a decent-size cargo bed. Speaking of the cabin, count on the same layout as in the new Ascent, which involves lots of quality materials and an impressive list of standard tech and safety features.

Subaru Baja Engine

This is probably the only aspect of the truck where we don’t have any doubt. The company has developed a completely new engine recently and it will power pretty much a complete lineup. Although with four cylinders only, this unit is in all parameters on par with larger six-cylinder engines that power competitors. This engine features 2.4 liters in displacement and delivers a max output of 260 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Just like in all models from the amazing manufacturer, all-wheel drive will be a standard feature.

Subaru Baja Release Date and Price

Although many reports claim that the new truck is already got a green light, we haven’t heard anything from the officials yet. Despite that fact, we expect to see this truck in the near future, probably in a couple of years. When it comes to the Subaru Baja price, base models will probably go around 30.000 dollars, roughly.