New Subaru Outback Redesign Looks Way Better As A Pickup Truck

The original original Subaru Baja was a unibody trucklet designed to offer the comfort and practicality of a car with the utility of a truck bed. It debuted for the 2003 model year, but it was only sold for a few years before it was killed due to lack of interest. But maybe the Baja was just far ahead of its time, as modern unibody trucks like the Honda Ridgeline and Tesla Cybertruck, and compact trucks like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, have been far more successful since then.

With a new Outback design debuting last week, we can now see what a render of a new Subaru Baja would look like if it ever made a glorious return.

This May Be A Render, But There’s History Behind The Idea

A new render from artist Digimods Design shows us what a modern Subaru Baja truck could look like, if it were to still be mostly based on the new 2026 Subaru Outback that debuted this month. The renders chop off the rear cargo top and extend the rear end into a truck bed to make the vehicle resemble a good mix of classic and modern Subaru.

Related

This Subaru Pickup Truck Is Perfect If You Can’t Afford A Ford Maverick

Whether you’re shopping for a primary vehicle on a budget, or a second vehicle and you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, the Baja is a fun choice.

As the Baja was originally loosely based on the Outback, it makes sense to use that model as a jumping-off point for a modern Subaru trucklet design. The old Baja measured in at six inches longer than the standard Outback of the time, which was the growth needed for the extended bed area. It was limited to just four seats, but we could see a modern design going for a rear bench, if not a double bench option, to maximize seating.

The New Looks May Be Alien To Outback Buyers, But They’re Perfect For A Pickup

The new Outback makes for a great basis for a truck because of the squared-off, bulky, and taller new design that takes it away from wagon space and firmly plants it as a modern SUV. The front lighting has now been split up into a DRL strip above a separate main light unit, with square elements in the headlights, fog lights, and grille and grille pattern, making for a very boxy look.

Related

The Time is Right To Revive The Subaru Brat Or Baja

Subaru isn’t known for body-on-frame trucks, but a crossover-based pickup could be another thing altogether.

There’s also significantly chunkier plastic contrast cladding around the lower body and wheelwells, which make the SUV look more rugged than it probably needs to be for most of its use cases, and it has adopted large exterior plastic “SUBARU” wordmarks on the Wilderness trim, as has been the trend on pickup designs from the major players lately.

With all of that in mind, could the Baja become a commercial success if relaunched today? After all, there seems to be a strong desire for affordable pickups. Let us know your thoughts below.

​​​​​​​

H/T: CarScoops