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Subaru has always been a little bit plucky.
Unbothered by following trends, the company has often marched to the beat of its own drum. It’s what has made Subaru so endearing to its fans, but it’s also helped the company weather the automotive storms that have led to the demise of so many other brands in recent decades, and cleverly navigate the current tariff situation.
Still, Subaru seems to be chasing the market more now than ever, with core models like the Forester and Outback becoming less distinctive and endearingly quirky than they’ve been in the past. And now, with two new electric vehicles (EVs) joining the lineup, the company formerly known for rugged utility machines and rally-inspired performance cars will have a trio of emissions-free offerings, all of which are twinned with models from Toyota. And the 2026 Subaru Uncharted certainly ventures into new territory.
Entry-Level EV
Subaru’s two new EVs sandwich its existing Solterra. While the Trailseeker is the largest, the Uncharted is a subcompact crossover that’s ideally suited for city streets. It’s similar in size to the award-winning Crosstrek, although it’s more of a sportback style with its raked roofline that cuts a sleeker profile. Of course, the shape cuts into the overall functionality, but Subaru claims there’s more than 700 L of space for cargo behind the rear seat, and 1,685 L when the second row is folded — is more than the Crosstrek.
Impressive Interior
While legroom is decent for a subcompact crossover, the rear seat is expectedly snug in terms of headroom. Front-seat passengers have decidedly more space, however.
Other machines in the subcompact space, whether electric or gas-powered, tend to have interiors that speak to their budget-friendly intentions. The Uncharted’s design is contemporary and the materials are soft-touch where occupants interact with them, and the textures are stylish.
The low dashboard affords excellent outward visibility, but the sloped roof line makes rearward views more claustrophobic than most other Subaru models. Tested here was the top GT trim with heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic glass roof, surround-view cameras, and an upgraded stereo. There’s no natural upholstery offered here — either cloth or synthetic leather.
The 14-inch infotainment screen offers touch control along with bright, crisp graphics. The system has been lifted right out of Toyota’s parts bin, with some of the menu systems and operations (like radio channel surfing) being less than intuitive. Wireless smartphone connectivity is available through both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and the dual wireless charging pads are welcome.
A Trio of Choices
The Uncharted comes in the choice of four trims in Canada, with three different drivetrains among them. The Uncharted FWD uses a 57.7-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, powering the front wheels via a single electric motor that makes 165 hp. Interestingly, Toyota’s twin to the Uncharted, the C-HR, goes without a similar trim in Canada and jumps straight to the bigger battery. That gives Subaru an edge in terms of entry-point pricing — but more on that later.
The FWD LR, shorthand for long range, gets the larger 74.7-kWh battery pack shared with the all-wheel-drive trims. It delivers 221 hp through its single front motor. Finally, the Uncharted Sport and GT round out the lineup and feature a dual-motor setup and 338 hp as a result.
Range and Charging
The single-motor LR front-wheel-drive machine manages the greatest range at a claimed 496 km, according to Subaru. Even with their significant power bump, the Sport and GT trims are still expected to offer 438 km on a full charge.
The Uncharted comes standard with a Tesla-style charge port and can reach maximum speeds of 150 kW in ideal conditions. This will theoretically let the Uncharted go from 10 to 80 per cent in roughly 30 minutes. Like its Solterra and Trailseeker siblings, the Uncharted has a standard onboard battery pre-conditioning system to help ensure the battery isn’t too cold (or too warm) for fast-charging.
On the Road
With sporty styling (including a front end that’s arguably better-looking than the C-HR’s), very competitive range, and a clever interior, the Uncharted already looks like a winner on paper. But completely unexpected is how much fun it is to drive. The dual-motor variant provides enough oomph to launch the Uncharted from a standstill to 100 km/h in fewer than five seconds. With the immediacy of electric torque delivery, this is a properly quick vehicle. With two-thirds of the power being delivered through the front wheels, it’s possible to overwhelm them when stomping on the accelerator on anything less than grippy pavement.
The handling is also impressive, with the majority of its mass down low thanks to the battery pack. Add in its tidy dimensions, and the Uncharted is genuinely fun to hustle around on curvy roads. The steering is absent of any real road feel, but it’s quick and precise and makes driving the Uncharted feel like a video game. It’s not going to replace the BRZ as Subaru’s sports car, but it’s very rewarding to drive for a small crossover, and powerful enough to get the jump on most traffic when crossing an intersection.
This initial test took place in Southern California, where the roads tend to be in a far better state than the cratered pavement we have in Canada. But even then, the Uncharted’s suspension did an impressive job of filtering out bumps and imperfections before they reached the cabin, offering a more luxurious drive experience than expected.
And while not meant to be as off-road oriented as some of Subaru’s other models, the Uncharted still offers a respectable 208 mm (8.2 in) of ground clearance. With a suitable set of tires, it should manage to scramble through all sorts of snow, gravel, or dirt, especially with all-wheel drive that also comes with the company’s X-Mode drive systems to manage different low-traction conditions.
The Price Is Right
The Uncharted FWD with its smaller battery pack is priced at a very aggressive $42,995 before freight ($2,295) and taxes. That puts it a full $2,000 less than the cheapest C-HR, which is more closely-aligned with the Uncharted FWD LR at $46,995.
The dual-motor version starts with the Sport trim at $49,995 (a whopping $45 more than Toyota’s equivalent), and the range-topping GT ringing in at $52,995 (versus Toyota’s XSE Premium at $54,400). With the Sport trim eligible for the federal government’s renewed $5,000 incentive, it will make the Uncharted a very impressive value when it hits dealerships this spring.
Final Thoughts
Until this point, subcompact EVs have offered modest performance and range, and rather awkward styling. The 2026 Subaru Uncharted completely upsets the category with significantly more power and performance, plus an all-wheel-drive platform. Add to that its very clever interior and sporty styling, and the Uncharted isn’t just a compelling economy vehicle but a genuinely exciting one with impressive value.
