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Subaru Baja Turbo Road Test
A delight. That sums up our
test of the very usable and highly entertaining turbocharged Subaru Turbo. Make
sure you understand that we are talking about the turbocharged version. The
reason is obvious since the standard 165 hp boxer-style engine just does not
have the juice to make the Baja interesting when it is fully loaded. The
turbocharged version gets a much more user-friendly engine that produces 210 hp
and 235 lb. ft. of torque. In fact, if you want an absolutely great utility
vehicle order the stick shift with the Baja and celebrate your diversity with
some Porsche Boxter type acceleration for about $26,000 US.
Mom's view:
When it the last time an entire family agreed on anything. That is exactly what
happened with our test of the Subaru Baja. It had something to offer everyone.
Of course, it was not perfect. When the sunroof was down the noise was terrific.
And, the wind noise through the door seams was also loud. This may have been due
to the fact that our test vehicle was long in the tooth and had gone through
10,000 miles of hard journalistic use, which is the equivalent of five human
years of ownership. Fuel economy was only 19mpg on premium with the automatic
and the government states that is essentially the same mileage as you get from
the five speed standard transmission. Children have difficulty with the rear
seat belts due to their placement, the stereo is average at best, the interior
night lighting was just adequate, and the horn was way to quiet. I could yell
louder than the sound that horn made. Of course, being a mom, I have had a lot
of practice.
Inside the Baja everything just feels right. Nothing special and that is the way
it should be for a car meant for heavy-duty use. This isn't a pretty boy
interior, but it isn't a study in cheap plastics either. I would call it family
room style; functional and easy to clean.
The six-way power driver's seat
is comfortable and the dash layout is easy to use. Because of the height of the
Baja you can just slide in making entry the easiest I can remember for any car.
Safety wise, you get ventilated front disc with solid rear disc brakes
four-wheel ABS front seatbelt pretensioners rear door child safety locks, child
seat anchors, daytime running lights and excellent government crash test
results.
Buying this Baja is a difficult decision. It is not pretty, certainly not well
priced, and the small bed limits it useful nature. Add to that the not so good
gas mileage, the added expense of insuring an all wheel drive vehicle, and the
weak resale and you have more hurdles on your path to ownership. That certainly
does not mean I did not enjoy my time with the Baja and my willingness to own
one is significant. It just boils down to what you really need. I think that
many people thinking of buying larger, gas guzzling, dangerous, and bulky SUVs
should look at the Baja or its sister, the Forester first. They certainly would
be my first choice.
Dad's view:
A very smooth turbocharger kick-in makes living with the Baja first rate. The
transmission and engine work well together, although I would personally buy the
standard version and have a lot more fun on my way to work.
Utility is what the Baja is about. To that extent, the back seats fold down
easily, the rear bulkhead opens in seconds, and the tailgate is low and light so
loading is simple. We didn't try to use the roof racks, but they appear
substantial. You can carry four adults without much problem. The pickup box is
41.5" long by 49" wide, but you can gain an extra 30 inches by opening the rear
bulkhead door and folding the rear seats down. An optional bed extender (US$300)
that uses the tailgate as a floor provides enough room to carry a six-foot
ladder.
It is amazing the way this
Subaru quickly grows on you. We have owned and enjoyed Subarus in the past, but
this was the best. The automatic transmission works with a Variable Torque
Distribution all wheel drive system with 55 percent of the power going to the
rear wheels under normal driving. This makes the Baja a very car like handler.
Cornering is not a concern and the ride is pleasant over all terrains. However,
this is not a serious off-road vehicle due to its limited ground clearance.
A few nits did come to the surface during our evaluation. The engine does not
always idle smoothly. The hood support rod gets so hot that we advise you to
never use your bare hands when touching it. The towing capacity of the Baja is
only 2,400 lbs. Resale has been dismal for the non-turbocharged version as most
people opt for the better-advertised Forester. And, the interior just looks too
spartan for my taste in a vehicle in this price range.
To summarize, I really fell for the Baja and if it was priced better I just
might take one home so the family could argue over it on a daily basis. However,
the as tested price of over US$26,000 is a bit dear for us since we don't live
where the all wheel drive system could be utilitized to its full extent.
Young working woman's view:
Not very pretty, and a bit expensive, the Baja's big attraction to me was its
performance. It just plain surprised everyone with its perky nature. I most
likely would opt for the Forester myself, as I see no need to have an open
pick-up bed that quickly fills with leaves and debris since it does not have a
cover. I also thought that the 16.9 gallon tank was too small and limited trips
to about 250 miles as I am on the cautious side. The hand-operated parking brake
on the center console between the bucket seats wasn't a problem unless you were
wearing a skirt.
Just too plain, was the way I would describe the interior. I just didn't give me
a sense of pride. The leather was nice, but not great, the plastic adequate, but
nothing special considering the price.
Elsewhere, the exterior looked
a bit quirky with too much Chevrolet Avalanche body cladding to suit my
understated taste. The only area that I really liked about the Baja was its
ride. So I would pass on the Baja as many of those in my age group are doing.
But, I would not pass on the Forester and would recommend it highly.
Young working male's view:
I am working as a dispatcher for a deliver service now which shows the value of
a computer education. Anyway, the Baja is just not a babe magnet. It reminds me
of a cartoon car where you don't know if it is going forward or backward. So, I
was put off by its appearance big time. Next, since I owned a Subaru Outback
wagon, I like a covered cargo area. Even though the Baja is six-inches longer
overall than the Outback wagon, and the wall separating the cargo bed from the
cabin has a panel that folds to create a pass-through beneath the fixed rear
window, the inability to cover or lock my belongings in the bed area prevented
me from using it. I just don't trust people to not help themselves to my sports
equipment. A locking cover would solve this problem and Subaru might make on
available.
I am used to the noise the Subaru engine under heavy acceleration so it was not
upsetting, but some might think it a bit coarse. The turbocharged 2.5-liter H4
engine is reliable, and the Baja comes with a lot of standard equipment. You get
an AM/FM/CD player, an outside-temperature indicator, a roof rack, a power
sunroof, leather-wrapped steering wheel, keyless entry, fog lights, leather
upholstery and a 6-way power driver seat, power locks and windows, and a raised
ride.
Since just got a job it is nice to know that the Baja comes in three price
versions. The Baja Sport, Baja and Baja Turbo all offer the same body, but
different features. The Sport is the base model. Subaru adds a six-way power
driver seat and leather-trimmed upholstery, as well as a leather-wrapped
steering wheel and shifter handle to the more upscale Baja version. At the top
of the credit food chain was our test model, the Baja Turbo. We had the upgraded
six-speaker audio system with an in-dash CD changer and the very worthwhile
turbocharged engine for $26,000 US. Options include the bed extender, a
bed-mounted bike rack, and heated front seats, and the automatic transmission.
Family conference:
Slow sales have prompted Subaru to consider ending the Baja ironically making
its reign similar to its early ancestor, the Subaru Brat, that also ended its
public fling after a short public exposure.
Although it appeals more to adults than the more youthful crowd, the Baja is
ideal for a family of any age. Great deals are being offered and look for Subaru
to even offer more options such as a hard bed cover and less body cladding to
gain new sales. As it now stands, this is worth a long test drive.
Got it right:
Power, ease of handling, visibility, utility, comfort, stick shift availability,
safety rating
Needs improvement:
Pricing, stereo, wind noise, child seatbelt links, fuel economy, horn
Written by The
Car Family
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