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
I have never in my two decades of reading car sites seen this much negativity directed at a vehicle this banal. What the heck did this car do to y’all, and why didn’t it wear a condom?
If this offends you so much, I hate to see what you think of an actually bad car. It’s a Toyota with a badge job, we’re not breaking new ground here, people.
It’s “Uncharted” territory how ugly this pointless “CUV” is. It just looks awful. What a stupid name too. I have absolutely zero interest in Subaru
That’s the best looking Subaru they make right now. shame.
If the sport trim is like 36k, this could actually be an amazing car. The current Solterra starts around 38k so it seems in the realm of possibility that it could be in the mid 30s range.
But … will there be an “Uncharted Wilderness” model?
Weird to offer a Subaru version in FWD and the Toyota version in AWD only.
truly uncharted territory.
Looks like a Peugeot.
It’s a nice looking vehicle, but the name is stupid.
Subaru UNinspired
The fwd one is perfect for those potential Subaru buyers who want to be seen as “outdoorsy” Subaru owners but have zero intention of actually going offroad or in the snow.
It’s meh. Aside from the dash, there’s a lot of cheap plastic. The bit around the center buttons reminds me of mid-00s Subarus’ center console plastic and I can still hear it rattling from when I had one.
Speaking of the dash, how the heck are those dual wireless phones gonna stay put in this ‘adventure’ vehicle? I presume they tested them on the 0-60 in 5s situations? My wife’s phone has a habit of sliding out of the center cubbie when she takes off in her low power Crosstrek.
I would have called it the Subaru unsharted
If I ever end up with one, I’ll have to remember to change the “C” in the badge on the back to an “S”
Just a quick point of order that spelling out the name in individual letters was a “just about every Detroit car at some point or another” thing in the 50s and 60s long before Range Rover even existed.
Even my 1972 Super Beetle has a badge on the decklid that spells out “Volkswagen,” in case someone forgot who built their Beetle.
I have nothing of value to add except the name always reads as “Isharted” to me.
It might look better than the C-HR, but can’t say for sure until Toyota puts out photos that were taken earlier in the day than just before dusk.
It wouldn’t bother me personally if I were shopping, but a FWD option is surprising given how core AWD has been to their image. Yeah, the BRZ is RWD, it’s not a mainstream model like this. I don’t think the average Subaru buyer is paying close attention to the BRZ and may not even realize it, just like they aren’t combing the Subaru Japan website to know that there are FWD models on offer.
But, it seems like it’s strictly for marketing purposes so they can advertise a 300-mi range. The press release is not shy about saying “the entry-level Uncharted Premium FWD model will be offered in limited numbers.”
Well, the Sambar is also available in RWD. And the Pleo Plus, Chiffon, Stella, Justy and Impreza all come in FWD in Japan. I’d say the majority of Subaru’s nameplates worldwide come in both 2WD and AWD versions, the AWD-only thing is really just their North American strategy since the ’90s, but the company as a whole isnt really married to it
Right, that’s why I said average buyers aren’t looking at the Subaru Japan site to know that other nameplates aren’t all AWD. It’s been a powerful marketing tactic here for decades, even when it put them at a disadvantage in efficiency.
Guessing there was some market research to determine a 300 mi range carried more weight than standard AWD on an EV, which I think it does. But since it’s not intended for volume anyway, probably will end up a smaller blip.
There are multiple CHR videos on YouTube that do a full walk around and interior portion. It’s a very attractive car.
Oh I know, more just poking fun at the fact that for the US spec launch they showed an orange car in the shadows as the sun went down, as though they forgot to get photographs before the press release went out the next morning.
As a Subaru owner, I am not a fan of this vehicle. I find it odd that Subaru will be offered with FWD given that AWD is the absolute core of Subaru’s identity. Looks are subjective, but I find it to be quite unattractive. And the name… It’s just a very bad name, and totally ridiculous that a painfully banal EV urban runabout is called “uncharted”.
Thank goodness for back-up cameras.
I kind of get the name, though. Toyota C-HR = Subaru UnCHaRted
I….I….I don’t hate it. For someone looking for something in this segment for a daily/gear hauler it finally looks like something from Subaru that might interest me compared to competitors (current Subaru fanboy who probably isn’t going to get another Subaru if I were to buy now).
Only slightly joking request….Subaru, please offer range figures with roof rack as well. Actually, no, I’m not joking. Seriously. Subaru, do this.
While probably not feasible (and also probably to the detriment of range if it was) I think putting this drivetrain in a Crosstrek would have made a much more compelling vehicle. One of the best things Subaru does is having airy cabins with a good amount of passenger and storage space. This doesn’t seem to really have any Subaru-ness. I don’t see who this car is really for, unless you’re one of the few people that really wants a Toyota but your Subaru dealer is better than your Toyota dealer then this is for you? I guess it’s probably the same couple hundred people that also bought a Solterra?
An EV crosstrek wagon would be basically exactly what I would want for a primary vehicle, especially with the front overhang lopped off. Other than to fit a frunk, I really don’t get why an EV like this would have a large, blunt front end with a high hood. The jacked up coupe look doesn’t seem like it would be very airy indeed.
My wife would go for an EV version of her Crosstrek. She was curious about the Mach E until she saw how big they are in person.
This will sell well. This exactly the size of EV I would get asked about when I worked at Subaru. “Electric Crosstrek” was a common statement among customers. I do think the FWD version is just there to advertise some entry level price point and will probably disappear in a year or two.
It’s a very weird car. It looks nothing like any other Subaru – which is not to say it’s groundbreaking, just that it looks like a Nissan. It’s also odd that they introduced this after they introduced the other thing based on the Bz4x or whatever it’s called now. Just a very weird strategy all around.
What’s weird? The other Toyobaru is a segment up. The upcoming Trailseeker above that.
I’ll never get in the “yoke” steering wheel camp.
That’s not even remotely a yoke.
Okay, squircle.
I can get onboard with that…..
Yeah, not a yoke. Like you, I do hate it when it’s flattened like it is, but not a yoke. Just give me a darn circle.
You misspelled “joke”.
And here I was hoping their new EV would be a car-truck called the XcX.
Only available in an annoying day-glo green.
Or XtC
That would indicate that they’re only making plans for Nigel
Fixed that for you.