Generalized multibaker maps are introduced to model dissipative systems which are spatially extended only in certain directions and escape of particles is allowed in other ones. Effects of nonlinearity are investigated by varying a control parameter. Emphasis is put on the appearance of the critical state representing the borderline of transient chaos, where anomalous behavior sets in. The investigations extend to the conditionally invariant and the related natural measures and to transient diffusion in normal and critical states as well. Permanent chaos is also considered as a special case.