The 2026 Subaru Uncharted Is Weird

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

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