Preview: 2026 Subaru Uncharted Electric SUV Is Small in Size, but Not in Range

An electric Toyota C-HR by any other name is an Uncharted, although Subaru’s FWD version makes it even cheaper

By Stef Schrader
Content Creator, Autos

July 17, 2025

2025 Subaru Uncharted front view in the woods — The 2026 Subaru Uncharted has subtle differences on the outside from its Toyota C-HR twin, but a less expensive drivetrain option makes it worth a separate look.

If you’ve been holding out for an electric counterpart to the Crosstrek, the 2026 Subaru Uncharted may be the answer, provided you’re fine with it being occasionally mistaken for a Toyota. The new Uncharted is a small electric SUV that slots just below the Solterra electric SUV in size and has a nearly identical spec sheet and shape to its twin, the redesigned 2026 Toyota C-HR.

With up to 338 horsepower and an estimated maximum driving range of over 300 miles, the new Uncharted offers an impressive amount of power and range in a small package. Maneuvering around town should be as easy as it is in Subaru’s smallest gas-powered crossover, too, as Subaru claims the Uncharted has roughly the same turning radius as the Crosstrek.

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2026 Subaru Uncharted: CR's Take Outside Inside What Drives It Safety and Driver Assistance Systems

CR's Take

While exact pricing has yet to be announced for either the Uncharted or its Toyota twin, the C-HR, it’s hard not to get excited about another budget-friendly EV with desirable specs.

One thing is for certain: if real-life driving ranges come anywhere close to Subaru’s estimates, owners will be able to chart a bit more territory than many of the small electric crossovers it competes with. Most of the Uncharted’s competition, save for its Toyota twin, Chevrolet’s slightly larger Equinox EV, and the longest-range, 303-mile 2026 Nissan Leaf, offer maximum range distances in the 250s or 260s.

Whether the Subaru Uncharted or the Toyota C-HR is the best choice will likely depend on which one delivers the most desirable features for the price, because they’re so similar, save for one exception: the Uncharted’s base Premium FWD trim. This 221-hp version offers shoppers an even less expensive option that won’t sacrifice too much in terms of standard equipment and power. It’s also the longest-range version, with a Subaru-estimated range of over 300 miles.

2025 Subaru Uncharted rear driving in dirt — Like the C-HR, the top-trim Subaru Uncharted offers a color-contrasting roof to help it stand out.

Outside

It takes more than a passing glance to differentiate the Uncharted from the C-HR, as both have a sleek fastback roofline, a full-width light bar below the angled rear glass, and black cladding along the rear of both sides. Subaru made a few subtle changes to the front and rear lighting, however, moving away from the C-HR’s Prius-like boomerang headlight design to a more conventional look and adding an illuminated Subaru front badge. To help give it even more of a Subaru vibe, the Uncharted also has a more aggressive-looking black front bumper underneath its vestigial “grille” panel as well as a silver panel on the rear bumper that invokes the idea of an off-road skidplate without actually being one. The Uncharted is available with 18- and 20-inch wheels.

2025 Subaru Uncharted interior from side angle — The Uncharted features a relatively large touchscreen for a small SUV and two wireless phone charging mats.

Inside

The Uncharted’s orange-accented interior doubles down on modern conveniences, with a massive 14-inch central infotainment touchscreen taking up a significant portion of the dashboard. Below it sits an open center console design with two prominently located wireless charging pads for the driver’s and passenger’s phones. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay also come standard, as do dual USB-C ports for rear passengers to keep their devices charged.

2026 Subaru Uncharted adaptive cruise display on screen — The digital instrument display in front of the driver is a smaller rectangle within its housing.

While most controls are on-screen, some of the most basic functions remain as physical controls, including two temperature adjustment knobs for the driver and front passenger plus a volume knob for the stereo. The interface looks very similar to what we’ve tested in recent Lexus models, such as the RX. The driver also gets a digital information display behind the steering wheel as well.

In addition to room for five people, Subaru says that the Uncharted offers over 25 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. That’s more than the Solterra’s 23.8 cubic feet despite the Uncharted being 7 inches shorter in overall length.

2026 Subaru Uncharted driver's seat — The Subaru Uncharted features thickly bolstered, heated front seats as standard equipment.

What Drives It

The Uncharted comes with two drivetrain options: a dual-motor AWD version on the Sport and GT trims, and a single-motor FWD layout for the entry-level Premium FWD trim. The FWD Uncharted has a single motor on the front axle that is good for 221 horsepower. One motor on both the front and rear axles gives the dual-motor version AWD, and it’s the most powerful drivetrain on offer, with 338 horsepower and a claimed 0-to-60-mph time of under five seconds. Dual-motor versions come standard with Subaru’s X-Mode, which optimizes the car’s power delivery and AWD system when enabled for extra traction in tricky situations, such as icy inclines or deep sand.

2026 Subaru Uncharted back seat — The Uncharted’s rear seats include a pull-down armrest in the center.

All Uncharteds come with a 74.4-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery that sits under the floor. Subaru claims it can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in about 30 minutes on a public DC fast charger, even in cold conditions when using its battery preconditioning system. The Uncharted comes standard with a NACS charge port, enabling it to use Tesla’s Supercharger network, and is capable of DC fast charging speeds of up to 150 kilowatts. An 11-kW onboard AC charger should provide relatively fast Level 2 home charging speeds.

Buyers will need to opt for the Premium FWD trim to get the longest Subaru-estimated range of over 300 miles, but the dual-motor drivetrain isn’t far behind, offering up to 290 miles of Subaru-estimated range. (We’ll have our own report on the real-world range in due time.)

2026 Subaru Uncharted rear door handle — Like the previous-generation Toyota C-HR, the Subaru Uncharted hides its rear door handles near the top corners of the rear doors.

Safety and Driver Assistance Systems

Subaru’s EyeSight suite of active safety and driver-assist features comes standard, which includes automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, lane departure warning, front cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. It also features emergency stop assist, which can safely bring the car to a stop and turn on the hazard lights if the driver becomes unresponsive while cruise control is engaged. Additionally, Subaru’s standard DriverFocus distraction mitigation system uses sounds and visual warnings to ensure the driver stays alert and is paying attention to the road. Available upgrades include a surround view camera, lane-change assist, and traffic jam assist, the last of which can take over steering in a traffic jam.

2026 Toyota C-HR driving, front — The Toyota C-HR returns as the sibling to the Uncharted, much like the relationship with the Toyota bZ and Subaru Solterra twins.

Stef Schrader

Stef Schrader is an automotive reporter who joined Consumer Reports in 2025 to cover new vehicles and consumer issues. She focuses on road tests, feature stories, and guidance on car buying and ownership. Stef brings over a decade of reporting experience to the team, having written for Jalopnik, The Drive, and Cars.com. In her spare time, she enjoys wrenching on and racing her various project cars. Follow her on Bluesky: @hoonofthe.day.