2021-2022 Subaru Baja Pickup Truck: price & release date!

Last Updated on March 19, 2023 by Victor A

Compact pickup trucks are rare today, we are used to seeing massive trucks around the roads and as new ones are being introduced into the market we all wonder, why don’t we get smaller ones?

Well, there is some good news. It seems like Subaru is about to shake things up with the 2021-2022 Subaru Baja, and that’s not all, some reports point out that we could get it soon.

If you want to find out everything about the upcoming 2021 Subaru Baja continue reading as we go over the specifications, the design, and the pricing.

The new Subaru Baja will be co-developed with Toyota

The new 2021 Subaru Baja is very likely to be co-developed with Toyota, like the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86.

The two brands have some experience working together and releasing solid automobiles, however, this will be their first co-developed pickup truck.

Toyota’s latest compact pickup truck, the Toyota Hilux has been experiencing good sales around the world, except in the US where it is not sold due to the “chicken tax.

The chicken tax made non-US manufacturers think twice when importing compact trucks that were built in other countries, as the US government imposed a 25% tariff tax.

Nevertheless, many reports are noting that Toyota is working on a new version with an upgraded diesel engine that runs more efficiently and with more power.

It seems like Subaru will utilize the new Toyota Hilux as a base for the new Baja.

But due to cost-sharing, Toyota and Subaru can build the new Baja and the Hilux in the US and sell them domestically.

The exterior design of the 2021 Subaru Baja

In terms of design clues we can look at the recent Subaru models to get an idea of how it looks by adding those design bits to the already-existing Toyota Hilux, this results in the render we have made which can be found above.

Since the 2022 Subaru Outback is an SUV that focuses on offroading, will likely serve as an inspiration for the new Baja, as it’s likely the headlights, grille, etc will transfer to the pickup. 

We can already know the exact dimensions since we got the Hilux ones, therefore:

The 2022 Baja will likely retain the exact dimensions of the Toyota Hilux, as both cars will be almost identical.

Subaru pickup truck interior design and features

To imagine how the interior of the new Subaru Baja will be, we have to see what’s found in the 2021 Hilux. 

And by doing that we find a modern interior, with high-quality materials, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and comfortable seats.

A more than a welcome feature that many future buyers will celebrate, is the compatibility with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, where the infotainment can connect to either of those and have all the up-to-date features for future-proofing.

Engine Options and specifications (specs) for the all-new Subaru Baja

Subaru is likely to employ the Toyota Hilux´s 2.8-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder unit in the 2021 Baja. Which has been praised for its efficiency and reliability. 

Like its sibling, the Subaru Baja will be available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

But the best news is found in its consumption and its towing capacity, where this engine gets 30 mpg combined. And for towing, it can tow up to 7,700 lbs, while it is also capable of carrying a payload of up to 2,220 lbs.

Having that amount of towing capacity while still getting a decent consumption is hard to find in today’s pickup market, it’s clear that the Baja could make a statement.

Some characteristics of the Hilux that are likely to be passed on the 2021-2022 Baja are its shock absorbers, the enhanced leaf suspension design, and the skid plates.

Pricing! how much does the 2021 Subaru Baja cost?

There’s a considerable possibility that the pricing will be set around MSRP $25,000, at least it will start there while the higher trim levels could increase its price to up to $35,000, as this is the market where the Hilux is targetting.

In Europe the Hilux is sold at around 25,000€ (roughly 28,800$ as of today), so that could serve us an idea of what prices to expect for the North American market. Since the car will be manufactured in the US, we can imagine that the price will be slightly lower.

The cost-cutting gained by platform sharing with Toyota will allow Subaru to price the pickup according to the market needs and to still retain a decent margin. If the demand is high, we might see soon how many manufacturers start making new smaller pickups.

Release date of the 2021-2022 Subaru Baja

As the end of 2021 is approaching, we are confident that if the all-new Subaru Baja is not unveiled at the end of the year, we will get it at mid-2022, likely around March or April, as those months usually experience important releases.

However, note that officially there isn’t much disclosure and most of the information you will find online will be pure speculation.

Once the Japanese automaker releases any official statement this article will be updated to always be up to date.

It’s not the first time that Subaru markets a pickup in the US

Some people might not remember this, but a long time ago, Subaru had two pickup trucks in the US.

Back in 1978, Subaru introduced the Brat, an open-bed variant of the Subaru Leone, and that was on sale until 1994. The Brat remains a loved vehicle by Subaru’s fans, and some people still wish that the brand will release a 2022 version of the vehicle.

Afterward, Subaru manufactured the Subaru Baja (the Subaru Brat successor) from 2002 until 2006, the Baja was based on the Subaru Outback wagon, and it introduced new variants and its iconic yellow paint scheme.

However, due to the high costs, and not-so-great sales, Subaru decided to discontinue the car, and forget about it for a while. 

Thankfully, this new opportunity of introducing a compact pickup into the US market is something that Subaru is interested in, and it’s a matter of time before we see the all-new 2021-2022 Subaru Baja introduced in the market.