Subaru has been gently treading into the EV market over the past few years. Now, it’s ready to make a real step towards becoming a serious volume player in the space. The all-new 2026 Subaru Uncharted is the model to do just that.
It’s far from Uncharted, however, because the new compact electric SUV builds on a very familiar platform. The Subaru is based on the new Toyota C-HR, though targets a slightly different segment of the market. The latest C-HR is only available in all-wheel-drive, with a 338-horsepower electric drivetrain and a zero to 60 mph time of approximately 5 seconds. It’s rather an eye-raising spec sheet for a family crossover.
The Subaru Uncharted will offer that same drivetrain for those looking for grip and swift acceleration. Subaru actually expects a zero to 60 mph time under 5 seconds, and points out that it offers more horsepower than the Hyundai Kona EV and Kia Niro EV, with an anticipated range of 290 miles. However, Subaru will also get a more affordable front-wheel-drive version. It offers just 221 horsepower, but over 300 miles of estimated range.
While the 74.7 kWh battery offers plenty of range, Subaru has seen fit to ensure charging is as painless as possible. To that end, the vehicle uses a NACS connector for charging, allowing drivers to recharge at Tesla’s Supercharger network of 15,000 chargers across the country. The Uncharted can charge at up to 150 kW, which can take the battery from 10% to 80% in “nearly 30 minutes” according to Subaru.
Visually, the Uncharted is very similar to the Toyota that it’s based on. The front end has had some work done to bring in the Subaru badge and lighting design, but overall it’s still very close to the CH-R. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, because Toyota designed a decent modern compact SUV. Just don’t expect a whole lot of unique Subaru charm in the overall form, that’s all.
Inside, the Uncharted has all the usual modern amenities. There is a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality expected of a modern vehicle. In a nod to the times, it will ship with dual wireless smartphone chargers as standard, along with dual USB-C chargers for passengers in the back. The new model will be smaller than the current Subaru Solterra EV, up to 7 inches shorter in fact, but will still offer a solid 25 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row alone.
In classic Subaru fashion, the Uncharted will offer plenty of equipment to handle the elements. All trim levels include the All-Weather Package, which includes heated seats, heated mirrors, wiper de-icers, as well as a power rear tailgate. While it’s a more affordable option in Subaru’s electric lineup, they’re nonetheless eager to include plenty of fruit out of the box. Higher trims can be optioned further, with things like a heated steering wheel, ventilated seats, and water-repellant upholstery if you want to really get serious.
The whole point of the Uncharted is to be a cheaper, more entry-level EV to fill out Subaru’s lineup. In particular, it’s quite weird that Subaru has a cheaper front-wheel-drive model to offer while Toyota has not released such a version of the CH-R to the marketplace. It’s just strange to see a badge-engineered model offering more choice than the OEM model it’s based on.
The one critical thing we don’t know yet is price. The cheaper Subaru can make this thing, the more it’s likely to sell. The Uncharted is expected to officially go on sale in early 2026.
The world has long been waiting for more affordable EVs to go on sale, and it’s nice to see Subaru joining the fray. If the Uncharted does particularly well, especially in front-wheel-drive trim, we might even see Toyota rethinking the CH-R offering down the line. Time will tell.
Image credits: Subaru
All three of the new Subaru EVs are DOA. They’re all strange looking, charge slowly, and have shit range. In the US we’re limited in EV options so they’ll sell dozens but why anyone in Asia or Europe with access to Chinese EVs would even consider one of these is beyond me.
How is 300 miles shit range?
“If it doesn’t handle my 500 mile daily commute its a hunk of junk!” – An extremely vocal minority for some reason
“My ICE daily can go 600 miles on a fillup!”
-Person who lives withing 5 minutes of 12 gas stations, never drives farther than 50 miles from home, and fills up without ever dipping below 1/4 tank.
Wasn’t there a portion of the population that when fuel prices went crazy high in the mid-00’s that only looked at max driving range and bought giant trucks because their 36 gallon tank went farther than a civic with 10 gallons and thought that was gas savings?
I can’t remember if it was a real article or just an anecdote lol
Well the old F-150s didn’t have 2 tanks for nothing….
Lol right now all the American manufacturers are shifting towards abandoning electrification and quadrupling down on trucks. I don’t see how this could possibly go wrong! The economy definitely isn’t a couple tweets away from collapsing and having every rural and suburban household that makes 70k or whatever the median income is take out 10 year loans to afford their mandatory $80,000 trucks definitely won’t backfire. Hahahaha V8 go BRRRR SUCK IT LIBS!
As I was recounting a day or so ago, back in the 80s we had a Datsun diesel pickup with an an 80 gallon tank. So that was about 2500 miles of range, but but we never got more than 30 miles from home, and Chevron delivered gas and diesel to our farm anyway, so range was completely pointless. It hadn’t even occurred to me until I wrote that.
Americans seem obsessed with preparing for unlikely scenarios like whatever those preppers are prepping for, and ignoring totally inevitable things like bad weather or building cities where there’s no water.
Come the apocalypse, a small EV and a big solar panel might be the thing. Then again, where do people think they want to drive to after everything goes to hell? I guess getting the hell out of Phoenix would be a good idea,
My favorite is the hoarding of gold for the apocalypse. If society collapses, no one is going to want gold lol
Yeah weird.
I just found a half pound of gold coins that were stuck in a drawer back in 1980. I went to look up the price of gold, and apparently the the folks who buy gold because the apocalypse is nigh really think Trump is going to end civilization. Which is funny because I was under the impression that the gold hoarders were the ones that voted for him.
Geez, I just checked it and gold price in US dollars is up 1.6 percent in the last there days, you suppose Trump’s shitposting over the weekend might be something more than just correlation?
Granted, before someone mentions it, the fall of the value of the dollar is a factor too.
IT NEEDS TO GO 500 MILES IN DEATH VALLEY AND NORTH OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE AND TOW 10,000 POUNDS UP A 45 DEGREE GRADE WITHOUT LOSING RANGE!!!! It can’t do that? USELESS! ICE SUPREMACY REIGNS SUPREME! THE ONLY TOOL FOR THE JOB IS A SUPER DUTY TRUCK WITH A NATURALLY ASPIRATED V8!
…obviously there’s more than a hint of sarcasm here, but I still find this shit exhausting. I’m not even an EV stan. I currently drive a loud and inefficient ICE vehicle and there are plenty of use cases that a BEV isn’t good for. But the constant shitting on them is just getting ridiculous.
Thanks to the current administration’s war against the environment anyone in the US will be able to buy whatever loud, massive, inefficient, high emissions, overkill vehicle they want for the next 3 years. Apparently that’s the meaning of freedom and it should be celebrated, or something.
But I’m happy some of these manufacturers are still making advancements with BEVs. They’re the future, whether you like it or not…and the rest of the civilized world knows this and is adapting. Knowing that my next car is going to need to be ultra practical I personally find the interesting packaging of this and the CHR to be appealing because I’m a weirdo who prefers smaller vehicles.
I also think it’s more important than ever for all of us to do what we can for the environment since our government is actively trying to mutilate it to own the libs….
As a fellow small vehicle lover I think in general things will be going more into our favor. No manufacturer is exclusively American in market and they will continue to develop their EV tech for every other country. I was really interested in the new MINI Cooper 2 door EV as a DD but now we’re not getting that here in the states. The plan was the Cooper EV and a GR86 but now I’m not sure what I’ll get. Maybe the new Prelude will scratch the itch
I’m am not EV hater. I own a Mach E and love it . The issue with the new Subarus is they have specs of a new EV from five years ago. On top of that this thing while it says 300 miles of range it’s get less in real life, it’s fwd, doesn’t have a heat pump, charges slowly especially compared the the latest American, European, and Chinese car companies. Toss in the EV credit going away and I just can’t see this being successful. It would have sold well if this what they brought out instead of the BZ whatever. This isn’t anti ev, it’s pointing out that this lineup is DOA. EV sales have already dropped in the US this year and all analysts point to that trend continuing for at least the next few quarters. Oh and I’m sure this will end up being 40k if not more right? I wish an ERV Crostrek would have been way cooler and would actually sell
It’s 2025 and a new ev only charges at 150kw? Not great…. 300 mile range? Nope it’ll be 250ish in real world conditions and it’s only FWD. The other new Subaru EV will charge even slower and will get a max range of 260. I have an EV (Mach-E) that gets better range, is all wheel drive, and was designed 5 years ago. This is new and the best they can do? I’m all in on EVs but this thing will need to be sub 40k to start to even get any notice and with the ev tax credit dead this and its cousins are not going to sell. Subaru should be cranking our EREV Outbacks or Foresters, not these things.
When Toyota needs a fun car they turn to Subaru and when Subaru needs a boring family transportation appliance they turn to Toyota. It fits so well, like all is right with the world now in spite of, you know, everything else.
What are the Forester and Crosstrek (throw in the Ascent and Outback as well), if not “boring family transportation appliances”?
I didn’t say they turned to Toyota every time. Both of these companies only make one car that I like and it’s the same car.
Subaru should have a version of the Sienna but with Subaru’s AWD
THIS is the Subaru they bring back FWD for? Really?
An EV would be easier to be AWD since you can have dual motors, one driving each set of wheels.
Subaru still sells a FWD Impreza in Japan and possibly other markets. Subaru’s AWD is thirsty without a CVT, but that is moot with an EV because there is no gasoline.
What it really needs is the giant sunroof from the Forester 😀
The name seems a bit odd, but I could see my girlfriend checking this out next year. She’s in the market for a small-ish SUV sometime in the next year.
20 mile commute to work, occasional trip 2hrs to visit kiddo in college straight up I-75. She likes her 500X but it’s getting up in miles & little things are adding up. She likes my Crosstrek except for the headroom in the back seat. Which I think I’ve used 5 times in 6 years, mostly for parades.
Subaru’s product announcement was delayed as its engineers worked overtime to design the first electric car with leaky headgaskets.
“…the orange paint and black roof is an excellent aesthetic”
It’s giving Halloween vibes.
Toyota C-HR: “Look at me – I’m a Subaru!”
I can’t wait for Doug DeMuro’s review of this, just so we can hear him make fun of the name.
Seems like a nice little ev, but with the tax credit going away the ev market is going to tank here by fall.
Some of these newer Toyota dashboards seem all wrong to my eyes.
I love the orange, and I actually think this is better looking than the CHR, so given the choice between the two I would go here if the price was right. I think the FWD with over 300 is a very smart idea too, I have no use for AWD, but would want the longer range so that’s the version I would most likely go for. I hate FWD for fun cars, but for a commuter, practical family car, it’s probably the best option.
I like the CHR and I like this too. It’s a compelling little package. Despite the swooping shape it has plenty of cargo and backseat space, it has over 300 horsepower, 300ish miles of range, and the correct charging port, which makes road tripping a breeze.
I’m low key kind of excited for some of these second gen BEVs to start rolling in. I think they’re going to see some success and I’m happy that manufacturers are still planning on selling them here despite the current administration’s violence against the environment.
I’ll probably at least look at this and/or the CHR when I need to get my dad car. Since they can charge at Mecha Hitler’s stations they’re usable for every single trip we make with regularity. I’ll bet the instant torque, low center of gravity, small size, and sub 5 second 0-60s will make them reasonably fun to drive as well.
Well, I like the orange color.
There, I said something positive for the day.
That does not look dog friendly. Pass.
But…if there is a FWD model, how is that going to sell when Subaru’s tagline FOREVER has been all about their AWD…?
That ship sailed with the BRZ.
And all the 2wd models they’ve been selling in Japan all along
They probably are going to offer Snow mode and sell based on that
AWD is nothing special anymore, basically every boring crossover on the market can be had with it now.
“Note the spelled-out badging on the rear, a classic Range Rover thing that everybody is doing these days.“
L o t u s were doing that on production cars before R a n g e R o v e r.
Nothing adds lightness like a massive gap between letters.
It’s all about the a e s t h e t i c
I think it’s a perfectly fine aesthetic. Does it look great here? IDK. The car as a whole is pretty whatever and changing to a Subaru star symbol wouldn’t really move the design any direction for better or worse.
And to be fair, Subaru also did it like 30+ years ago. Both the 2nd and 3rd gen Legacy’s had S U B A R U in big, spaced letters, centered on the rear in whatever that faux tail light looking bar thing is called. Tons of companies have done it on and off like Ford, Chevy, Toyota, or Citroen. I don’t get the hate or the constant comparison to Range Rover, it seems like Porsche has probably done it more regularly and for longer than anyone else.
“centered on the rear in whatever that faux tail light looking bar thing is called.”
It’s called a heckblende. Don’t let Torch find out you didn’t know.
Given the jackolantern look, let’s call the spacing “Candy Kern”
Underrated comment right here.
That unbearable lightness of being?
Knowing typical British build quality, it was probably just a kerning issue they never fixed.
I bet a solid 10% of cars left the factory with S L U T O written across the back.
Probably employee cars.
Who’ll buy Subaru in the future? This is the third badge engineered Subaru / Toyota ev and Subaru has yet to launch their own ev. Toyota has a bigger dealer network and good service packages and deals. Why not go all the way and scrap Subaru altogether as a stand alone brand and just use Subaru as a Toyota sub-brand for the more rugged offerings?
I believe Toyota has a 20% stake in Subaru. Subaru is not a “brand” of Toyota.
That’s right, they are an independent member of the Greater Toyota Co-Prosperity Sphere
Correct. 21% is the threshold
Are you kidding? The real Subarus, the Outbacks and Foresters and CrossTreks, have a brand loyalty that is second to none in the modern mass market. Subaru’s base is different than Toyota’s.
Who’ll buy Subaru in the future?
Toyota shoppers that don’t want to wait 6 months for inventory.
It looks okay. Wordmarking on the back appears to be pretty big these days. I don’t hate it, but it’s also an indication that there is not a distinctive styling element that defines a brand, just by looking at it. In a way, I don’t care. The upcoming Tesla YL previously shown on this site, might be the most obnoxious example (and wow… that back end!). It used to be you could tell a brand at a glance, but that’s getting more difficult. I do think Chevy is doing a decent job at it.
The thing I really want to know is whether it has the cushy long, soft suspension travel that Subarus (and Peugeot) are known for? I have a couple of friends with long in the tooth Subies that are still pretty impressive. My Peugeot got destroyed before I could see how far it could go. (But I’ve read stories.)
Otherwise, yeah, it would be good to know what it’s going to cost.
And are they going to have an EREV version.
I think I’ll be fine with a PHEV/EREV version of something like that as maybe my next car. Otherwise, I’ll stick with my ’17 Accord that will likely outlive me.
Uncharted. Like stranded. “The ship washed up on the shore of this uncharted desert isle.” Doesn’t inspire confidence.
The name is wrong since you definitely want your journey in this car to be charted
Good luck finding an uncharted charger.
They exist. But like the locals-only watering hole, you have to know someone.
Unsharted.
So if ‘sharted’ is an accidental expulsion of faeces along with an expulsion of intestinal gas, ‘unsharted’ must be the recapture of said faeces… I assume the gas is gone?
Well, it’s an EV so yeah, no gas, no poop.
When a native of the country that’s home to the platypus – a semi aquatic mammal featuring a duck bill, a beaver tail, venomous spurs on its hind feet and, oh yeah, lays eggs instead of live birth – says something is weird, he ain’t fooling around. The CH-R is already an odd duck of a car, so I guess the Uncharted is the odd duck-bill platypus of a car.
It’s cute.
No, it’s a bad ass adventure EV that will take you anywhere. Especially where theres no service and your trip is UNCHARTED
Unfortunately way uglier than the surprisingly decent looking Toyota.
Subaru offering a FWD model is just terrible.
I mean, it’s basically just a modern equivalent of the Leone, right? Those were always FWD in base form.
Why? In half the country AWD is as useful as a bevy of ex-wives.
In a non-snowy climate, but with lots of hills and rain, I really like AWD even if I don’t technically need it. Inadvertent FWD burnouts suck to the point I have to be careful that my front tires aren’t on the painted white strip at the stop sign.
All that to say, there are plenty of good FWD cars, just none where I wouldn’t pay an extra $1,500 (and lower speeds/economy) for the option to drive the rear wheels, too.
You need better control of your right foot. <shrug> Or RWD.
With very rare exceptions, I see no need for AWD on pavement even in places where the pavement gets covered in snow and ice – that requires the proper tires and a brain, not more driven wheels. AWD only helps you go, and often makes it too easy to end up rather farther into the scenery when it helps you go faster than the conditions warrant.
Too many are hung up on what people “need”. Most of us don’t need anything more than a basic Corolla. But people like nice things. AWD is a nice thing.
It’s not about whether it’s “useful” or what you think people need.
It’s a brand thing. Subaru is basically synonymous with AWD at this point. Releasing a FWD car (particularly when the Toyota twin is AWD only) is a stupid move, marketing-wise.
Say what you want about the usefulness of AWD, but many Americans feel like they need it and AWD sells cars. Subaru leaned on that perception to great success – and this is tarnishing that reputation.
When thinking about Americans, realize that half are below average, and the average isn’t very high to start with.
Subaru sold TONS of non-AWD cars in the past (including my first car). They even sell one today. Is the BRZ tarnishing their reputation? I would argue it puts them at a competitive disadvantage ONLY selling AWD cars in places where AWD is simple an expensive non-necessity.
Any time I start to argue that China’s EV advantages are somewhat overblown, I should come back to this being launched in 2025.
2026
150kw charging? In 2025? I give GM shit for this because they are releasing cars designed 3-4 years ago, but come on! 250kw charging makes road trips and usability halfway decent.