Before there were the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz trucks, there was a Subaru Baja. The Baja was made from 2002 to 2006 and was ultimately a flop. But, with the resurgence of compact pickup trucks, could now be the time for Subaru to bring back the Baja in modern form?
Why was the Subaru Baja discontinued?
Because the Baja was not selling well, Subaru decided to cancel its small truck in 2006. At the time, it was quite expensive but didn’t offer the kind of equipment consumers would expect for its MSRP.
When all was said and done, Subaru built 30,000 Bajas. And even after it was discontinued, there were still a few Subaru trucks in dealerships. For whatever reason, the Baja just didn’t resonate with the buying public. However, it seems that the market has now changed. And maybe a quirky little truck from Subaru might work just fine.
A new Baja would have standard AWD
If you’re familiar with the Subaru brand, you know that most of their vehicles come standard with AWD. This means you get power to all four wheels with an even 50/50 distribution. Today, small trucks like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz offer AWD. But it is an option for which you have to pay extra.
Additionally, Subaru vehicles are designed from the ground up to include this feature. This can improve the overall functionality of AWD. Also, you don’t have to worry about paying extra cost for it.
A Subaru truck would be quirky
There’s no way to avoid it; the Subaru Baja is a peculiar truck. It looks fun and the interior is full of weird little features. The Baja may not have been especially practical, but that hasn’t stopped people from buying a vehicle in the past.
According to some potential representations in carcoops, it’s unlikely that a new Subaru pickup would look this weird. It somewhat evokes the look of the Holy Cross, which has sharp lines.
America needs more small trucks
In a world filled with large pickup trucks, the smaller the trucks, the better. These models offer better fuel economy, are practical for urban environments, and are more economical. With the average new truck transaction costing more than $60,000, being able to get the utility of a truck for less than $30,000 is a great thing.
Sure, you could give up some capability. But according to unit, most truck owners don’t actually do truck stuff. Which means that transporting and towing things with a truck is pretty rare.
So why pay more for capacity you won’t actually use? Well, America is a free country, and if we want excess, we can have it. But it’s nice to have a truck that’s priced like an economy car, even if a new Subaru truck would probably be more expensive than something like a Ford Maverick.