The 2026 Subaru Uncharted Is a 338-HP Small Electric Explorer
Known as the 2026 Subaru Uncharted, the new compact electric crossover shares its platform with the re-launched Toyota C-HR, which was revealed in May. The Uncharted will be Subaru's first electric, compact crossover and is set to be offered in three trim levels—Premium FWD, Sport, and GT. Riding on the same TNGA-C architecture as the C-HR, the Uncharted gets its energy via an identical 74.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
Sport trim and GT trim units of the Uncharted are propelled by a pair of electric motors with a total output of 338 hp. This makes the upscale trim levels of the Uncharted AWD, but Subaru is quick to point out that the Uncharted is not an exact copy of the Toyota. Keen readers will notice that the Subaru Uncharted is also available in front-wheel-drive form, departing from the Toyota C-HR's standard AWD configuration. Premium FWD units of the Uncharted are down significantly on power—221 hp is fed through a single e-motor upfront—but benefit from a middling range increase. This will make it the only Subaru outside of the BRZ on sale today in the U.S. that doesn't come standard with AWD.
Subaru says AWD versions of the Uncharted will be able to go 290 miles on a single charge. Front-wheel-drive versions will go the distance at over 300 miles of range, though Subaru declined to give specific mileage figures ahead of official EPA testing. Charging will be accomplished through standard NACS charge ports at speeds up to 150 kW. Subaru claims the Uncharted will be able to juice up from 10 percent to 80 percent in nearly 30 minutes. Affordability, long-range accessibility, and a relatively small difference in manufacturing needs are likely behind Subaru's decision to offer a FWD version, but it is curious that Toyota's initial market entrance for the C-HR is a more premium one.
"During benchmarking, we brought some of the competitors into two groups — the normal, let's say daily use cars, and the premium cars. Now, we are in the premium group," Daisuke Ido, chief engineer of the bZ and C-HR lineup, said in an interview with Road & Track earlier this year.
Another difference between Toyota's C-HR and the Subaru Uncharted is in the suspension. Subaru says its own engineers tuned the suspension on the Uncharted to better meet its customers' needs, including those who plan to drive on loose surfaces such as gravel, dirt, and snow. The adventure-forward brand even went as far as to say the Uncharted would offer dynamic performance "on and off road." City dwellers less concerned with performance will find the Uncharted has a nearly identical turning radius to the Crosstrek, which isn't all that impressive to begin with.
The interior of Subaru's Uncharted will be a familiar blend of Subaru and Toyota technology, akin to the rest of the joint-venture born Japanese EVs. A 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, dual USB-C chargers, and an All-Weather package are standard on all Uncharted models. That means heated front seats, windshield wiper de-icer, and a power rear gate are equipped on even the base model Uncharted. Sport trims add Subaru's characteristic X-Mode traction system, a heated steering wheel, and StarTex upholstery. Top-of-the-line GT models add on a panoramic moonroof, 20-inch wheels, ventilated front seats, and a Harmon Kardon audio system.
The 2026 Subaru Uncharted will arrive at dealerships nationwide by early 2026. Prospective buyers may cross-shop Hyundai's Kona EV and the Kia Niro EV, but we can't say how competitive the Uncharted will be without specific pricing details. We suspect it will start around $35,000, or perhaps even lower for the Premium FWD trim, but we'll have to wait and see just how affordable Subaru's newest EV will be.
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