2004 Subaru Baja Consumer Reviews
Most Helpful Reviews
Positive Review
This is a cult vehicle. Often makes top ten lists of worst looking cars ever made. But if you "get it"...if you understand it's versatility and capabilities, then you may enjoy owning one. I bought my '04 Turbo automatic Baja in 2013 used with 132,000 miles. Bought it instead of an Explorer SportTrac, or F-150. GREAT choice for my purposes: Yardwork at the house and light hauling from Home Depot and Costco. Mini truck bed (4 1/2 feet) is great for mulch, pinestraw, plants & flowers, landscape bricks and stone, wood, outdoor furniture, indoor furniture, and backyard grills. Everything just slides in easy, bed extender is very useful, and for longer items the 'pass-through' to the rear seat area can be opened and the rear seat folded forward and flat. As a workhorse for light-medium yardwork it is a perfet 10. Good (not great) roadtrip vehicle. Optional tenneau cover (I have one) covers the bed and allows for bed use in the rain...but eliminates hauling of tall items. Leather seats, sliding sunroof, auto trans all add some luxury to an otherwise utilitarian interior. Turbo engine is STRONG and turns this little truck into a rally beast (no, it's not a WRX) but with 325lb-ft of torque it can get up and go...just flat out fun when you are 'in the turbo'. Price you pay is at the pump: the turbo requires premium fuel and only gets 16/21 mpg (I routinely get 18.5 in combined driving). If you are buying used make sure the VERY expensive 100,000 service has been done addressing head gasket work, timing belt, water pump, and possible turbo replacement (most turbos will be replaced before 120,000). After that it should sail through to 200,000. The only thing I did maintenence-wise was replace the radiator and related cooling items at 145,000. This Subaru truck earns it's keep every month around the home with yardwork and hauling. It is VERY versitile and I happen to LOVE the way it looks. I get questions and compliments about it often. I have owned it for 2 years and will keep it 1 more at least. I will likely sell it for only $1,000 less than I paid for it....meaning a very low cost of ownership.
VS
Critical Review
I have owned my Baja for more than 8 years and have had numerous mechanical problems. At 20,000 miles it needed a new transmission, which was covered under the warranty. Before the warranty expired Subaru put head gaskets in the car 3 times. This past year I paid to have head gaskets put in twice and the car only has 73,000 miles on it, and it has been well cared for. I am now looking for a different car and not a Subaru. I purchased the car with high recommendations for how long they run, but I haven't seen it. In addition, when you have to pay for the parts out of your own pocket they are expensive.
2004 Baja Reviews
Showing 8 of 216 reviews.
Comfortable, fun to drive, handles well
Reliability, Fuel econ, maintenance
My parents bought me this car for Christmas in 2020 and ever since, I've enjoyed the car. I will say however, about a few months after at about 117,000 miles I started to have problems. I had to take it back to the place we bought it from due to wheels being unbalanced. At about 120,000 miles I had to get one of my rear struts replaced due to it rusting off. Around 130,000 miles I had to get the power steering and rack replaced because it was way to hard to turn when I started the car. Now the car is at about 134,000 miles and I had to get an entire exhaust pipe replaced due to it rusting off. I've had mechanical issues since the 120,000 mile mark. The car is definitely a great first car, but in my opinion I would not buy this car if its near the 120,000 mile mark.
Driven average of 4,255 miles/year. Looks good
Compact car, so not big
Subaru: a Japanese name. Factory: built in Lafayette, Indiana. So is the Baja an American car or a Japanese import? I don't know. I know only that our Baja just turned 19 years old
Plenty of space. Love the loading capabilities.
Noisy interior. Windows make a lot of windy type
This vehicle has done everything I’ve wanted it to and then some! Only major problem I’ve had is replacing the center diveriential. Costly and disappointed in the Subaru name.
Quirky, sparks conversation, resell value. Low pro
It doesn't like to keep rear struts long.
I've owned this Baja for 9 years as the second owner, she has just about 300,000 miles and you would never know it. This specific car has had some modifications to the engine to help make it a bit better for her weight, factory 2.5l engine blew up early with the 1st owner in the 125k range when they added a 2.0l block and kept the 2.5l heads. i opted for larger cams when I did the headgaskets last, at around 200,000 miles And it gave it some better lower end grunt, and holds the power through the whole band a bit better than the 2.5. Its also a 5spd car which makes it alot more fun and more universal for towing. I've added almost 200,000 miles to this car and loved every minute. Its been to 12 states for travel and countless trips to work daily. This has been the most reliable car I've ever owned. Never not started and never has broken down. This set up gets about 30mpg out on the highway. Getting ready to do timing and headgaskets again so its not ever a problem. Wish they made a anniversary addition or something cool. I'd buy.
Reliability, cost to own, versatility, mileage.
Could have used more horsepower in the Sport model
I bought this car new in September 2005. It has done everything I wanted and more. I love this car and hate to replace it but it's time. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if they still made them. Moving on to a Honda Ridgeline. I will miss the Baja size as it is perfect for my needs. Such a great design. Wish it would have been continued. Subaru is a fantastic make. We've had 7 ....... So far.
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Super fun to drive, good vision
I have to turn off the air to excellorate!
Paid off my Silverado Diesel and wanted a daily driver that I could throw a bale of hay into. 150,000 miles later(I bought it used), I only put the key in the diesel to haul the horse trailer. I can fit 2 bales of hay and several bags of feed before I can even feel it. It's been a great workhorse of a vehicle. It's fun to drive, I squeeze into small parking spaces, drive over boulders in the Sierras and it's never left me stranded. If they still made them I would replace it with a newer one.
Intelligent AWD, open bed with switchback system.
Poor acceleration
With the AWD, this car drives like it's on rails. Good gas mileage and fun to drive for commuting to work. Open bed for gardening trips on weekends. Roof rack for hauling kayaks and bikes on camping trips, plus good ground clearance. Truly a Swiss army knife of a car. Only drawback is a bit underpowered.
