Subaru Baja 2025: Everything You Need to Know About the Rumored Compact Pickup – Subaru is known for making strange and exciting cars. The Baja, a small pickup truck based on the Outback wagon sold from 2003 to 2006, was one of its most unconventional designs. The Baja was a niche vehicle with all-wheel drive, handled like a car, and could carry many different things. It had some problems, though, like a small bed, inability to pull much, and a style that divided people.
The Baja was taken off the market because it didn’t sell well. Still, small pickup trucks like the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz have made people interested in them again in recent years. These single-body trucks have some of the same great features as the Baja but are more up-to-date regarding technology, style, and features.
Could Subaru return the Baja name and enter the small truck market? There has yet to be an official word from the Japanese carmaker, but reports and sketches have made it look like a new Baja could be coming out in 2025. Here is all the information you need about the Subaru Baja possibly coming back.
What’s New for 2025?
If Subaru chooses to make the Baja again, it will probably be built on the platform used for the Outback. The Outback is part of the Subaru Global Platform (SGP), used for most of Subaru’s models. The SGP is made to work with various body styles, powertrains, and technologies. This makes it a fluid and adjustable framework for a possible pickup truck.
Subaru’s newest design language, which has clean lines, moving headlights, and contrasting panels, would also look good on the new Baja. Some drawings have tried to show what a 2025 Baja might look like using parts of the Outback Wilderness version, like the black grille, tough fenders, and hood scoop. With unframed windows, a sloping ceiling, and a short bed, the new Baja could also look better proportioned and sleeker than the old one.
Design: Exterior and Interior
The new Baja would look like the Outback on the outside, but it would have some unique features that make it stand out as a pickup truck. The front end would look solid and threatening with a prominent triangular grille, LED headlights, daytime running lights, and fog lights. There would be a scoop in the hood that would work to bring air to the intercooler of the turbocharged engine.
The Baja has a four-door cab that can fit up to five people, and the side view shows how small it is. For a sporty and open look, the doors would have windows that aren’t framed. The back doors would have a cutline inside the window glass to make it easy to get to the bed. The bed would have high sides and be short, but it would be more beneficial because it would have a pass-through window, storage spaces, and a bed box that could be customized.
The back would have LED headlights around the fenders, a spoiler built into the trunk, a backup camera, and two exhaust pipes. There would be black trim and lights on the bumper. The body and roof of the new Baja would come in different colors, and the wheels would come in various styles and sizes.
The new Baja’s cabin would look like the Outback’s, but it would have some changes and improvements. The panel would be laid horizontally and have an extensive tablet infotainment system that works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The instruments would have a digital screen showing essential data and features that help the driver. A rotary dial would let you choose the drive mode, and there would also be cup holders and storage areas in the center panel.
The seats would be supportive and comfy, made of leather, with choices for warmth and cooling. The back seats would fold to make more room for goods, and there would be enough width and headroom for adults to sit there. There would be a Bluetooth charging pad, a Harman Kardon music system, and a Wi-Fi hotspot in the new Baja.
Powertrain
A naturally aspirated 2.5-liter flat-four engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque would likely be available in the new Baja. A turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque would also likely be available.
Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel-drive system would send power to all four wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Both engines would be paired with this system.
The new Baja would also have an X-Mode feature that changes the engine, transmission, brakes, and stability control to work best on different types of terrain and weather. The 9.2-inch ground clearance of the new Baja would be higher than that of the Outback and about the same as that of the Maverick and the Santa Cruz. The new Baja would also be able to pull up to 3,500 pounds, less than the Maverick but more than the Santa Cruz.
Release Date and Price
Subaru hasn’t said anything official about the new Baja, but some people think it might come out in late 2024 as a 2025 model. Other small pickup trucks that might come out would be up against the new Baja, the Ford Maverick, and the Hyundai Santa Cruz. The starting price for the fresh Baja would be about $25,000. This is a little more than the Maverick and Santa Cruz, but many could still afford it.
The new Baja would be a great addition to Subaru’s range. Fans of the first model would love it, and so would new customers who want a pickup truck that is flexible, strong, and fun to drive. The new Baja would also show how innovative and creative Subaru is and how dedicated it is to quality and safety. The new Baja would be an excellent follow-up to the cult’s fantastic first Baja.