It’s hard to walk past a Subaru Baja without doing a double take. Was it a car? A truck? An Outback with a bed surgically attached? The answer is “yes.”

And that’s exactly why it still has a cult following. Two decades after Subaru quietly retired the Baja, clean low-mileage examples like the one currently up on Bring a Trailer get enthusiasts talking and bidding.

This week, a 2006 Subaru Baja Turbo in Atlantic Blue Pearl is on the block, and the listing shows why these quirky half-truck Subarus refuse to fade away.

The short, colorful life of the Baja

Subaru built the Baja for just four model years, from 2003 through 2006.

The idea was simple: create a sporty, versatile ute for drivers who wanted Subaru’s trademark all-wheel drive and wagon practicality but also wanted (needed?) an open cargo bed. The concept drew inspiration from the old Subaru BRAT of the late ’70s and early ’80s, though without the lawn-chair-style rear seats that skirted U.S. import rules.

At the time, the Baja’s competition wasn’t exactly thick. Honda’s Ridgeline didn’t arrive until 2006, and small pickups like the Toyota Tacoma or Ford Ranger catered more to work truck buyers than outdoorsy lifestyle types.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz didn’t arrive until 2021…a full 15 years after Subaru pulled the plug on the Baja. Hyundai teased the idea earlier, showing a concept in 2015, but it didn’t reach production until much later.

The Baja instead tried to blend wagon comfort with light truck utility, though its high price and unusual looks limited sales

When it launched in 2003, the Subaru Baja’s MSRP started around $23,000 and climbed past $27,000 for a Turbo with options by 2006. That was not cheap for the early 2000s.

To put it in context:

A Toyota Tacoma 4×4 Xtracab V6 in 2003 started around $19,000 to $21,000, depending on trim.

A Ford Ranger XLT 4×4 SuperCab was in the $18,000 to $20,000 range.

Even the brand-new Honda Ridgeline in 2006 had a starting price of about $27,700, but it was a larger, V6-powered truck with more towing and payload capability.

So the Baja often cost more than a compact pickup with more utility and nearly as much as a larger truck with more power. Subaru was basically asking buyers to pay a premium for quirkiness, AWD, and lifestyle branding.

The automaker sold just over 30,000 Bajas across all four years, making it rarer than most people realize.

For those who “got it,” though, the Baja was a revelation

It could haul camping gear, mountain bikes, or a load of mulch while still serving as a daily driver that handled winter roads with ease. That combination of quirk, utility, and Subaru’s loyal fan base is why surviving examples continue to draw attention today.

The Baja’s following comes down to character. It isn’t a traditional truck, but it also isn’t just a wagon. Owners praise the car’s ability to do a bit of everything while standing out in a sea of anonymous crossovers.

The Baja Turbo, in particular, brought some real performance to the table, packing Subaru’s 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four rated at 210 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque

Pair that with symmetrical all-wheel drive and a raised suspension, and you had a vehicle that could tow a small trailer, hit the trails, or blast through snowy backroads. All while carrying four adults in relative comfort.

It didn’t hurt that Subaru built them with the same rugged underpinnings as the Legacy/Outback platform, which gave the Baja a reputation for durability. Mix in quirky features like the bed extender, integrated bed liner, and available sport bars, and you’ve got the recipe for a car that still feels different in 2025.

A closer look at BaT lot #211207

The one currently listed on Bring a Trailer is a 2006 Subaru Baja Turbo showing just 55,000 miles. That’s unusually low for a nearly 20-year-old Subaru, and it should be a big selling point for bidders.

According to the listing, it has traded hands a few times recently. First sold on BaT in 2021, again in 2024, and now appearing for its third round in 2025. That pattern raised some questions in the comments, but the selling dealer, based in Jackson, New Jersey, insists it’s been well cared for.

This Baja wears Atlantic Blue Pearl paint and rides on 16-inch five-spoke alloys wrapped in Bridgestone Blizzak tires

The exterior shows all the quirky Baja touches: hood scoop, chrome sport bars, sunroof, roof rack, mudguards, tonneau cover, and that famous short pickup bed with an extender.

The body sits on Subaru’s independent suspension, with four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes providing stopping power.

Inside, the gray cloth seats with light inserts carry Baja logos, and the rear bench folds down with a pass-through for longer cargo.

Amenities include air conditioning, cruise control, keyless entry, power windows, and a sunroof. 

The original head unit has been swapped for a Power Acoustik system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. That’s a nice upgrade for daily usability.

The gauge cluster includes a 150-mph speedometer and 7,000-rpm tachometer, plus a steering-column-mounted boost gauge to remind you this isn’t just a quirky cruiser.

The odometer confirms 55,000 miles, with about 6,000 added by the current owner.

Under the hood, the 2.5-liter DOHC turbo flat-four delivers its 210 horses through a four-speed SportShift automatic and Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system with a limited-slip rear differential.

The seller notes that an oil change was performed in April 2025. Some underbody corrosion is visible in the photos…a common issue for cars that have lived in the Northeast.

Documentation includes the original window sticker, manuals, service records, a clean Carfax report, and a clean New Jersey title. Carfax also shows no reported accidents, though it does note five previous owners.

The market and what it might be worth

Bidding sits at $5,250 with five days left, and 266 watchers are keeping an eye on it. For context, prices for clean Subaru Bajas have been climbing steadily over the past five years. 

A quick look at recent BaT sales shows well-kept Turbo models with mileage under 100,000 often selling in the $15,000 to $20,000 range. Exceptional, one-owner, ultra-low-mileage examples have stretched higher in the last 12 months.

This car’s 55,000 miles put it in desirable territory, though the automatic transmission and the noted underbody corrosion will hold back the price compared to a pristine manual example.

Still, given its clean Carfax, tasteful upgrades, and rare color, it wouldn’t be surprising to see this one hammer in the low- to mid-teens by auction close. In today’s market, that feels about right.

The Baja has long been a car that people either love or don’t understand, but for enthusiasts, that’s part of the charm

Subaru took a risk, built something nobody else dared to build, and created a vehicle that remains instantly recognizable 20 years later. Cars like the Baja remind us that practicality and personality don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

If you’re the sort of driver who needs a light-duty hauler but doesn’t want to give up the comfort of a car-based chassis (or if you just want something nobody else at the trailhead is driving) this 2006 Turbo might be worth a serious look.

For now, it sits at just over five grand, but don’t expect it to stay there.