The 2026 Subaru Uncharted Is the Weirdest Subaru, and That’s a Good Thing: Review

What Car Shoppers Need to Know

• Don’t expect the Uncharted to offer the typical active-lifestyler vibe as other Subarus.
• The Uncharted’s available dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup is a significant price jump from the base trim, but it’s worth it.
• It’s still more capable off-road than the majority of buyers will need.

Welcome to the first front-wheel-drive Subaru since the ‘90s. Well, not this specific 2026 Subaru Uncharted test car — it’s an AWD GT trim with the dual-motor, 338-horsepower drivetrain — but those seeking the base Premium trim will find a lone 221-hp electric motor smokin’ the front tires.

A bit odd, right? Its name is unintentionally appropriate: As a FWD, coupelike all-electric SUV, it certainly treads uncharted territory for the brand. Still, it’s neither a bad car nor a poor Subaru — it’s just a bit goofy, a sentiment made stranger still when you consider it’s the Uncharted’s relative conventionality that renders it unusual against Subaru’s trademark eccentricity.

Related: 2026 Subaru Uncharted EV Revealed: Compact SUV Boasts More Than 300 Miles of Range

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This is very much Subaru’s iteration of the new Toyota C-HR, and aside from the Uncharted’s base single-motor variant, the AWD dual-motor Sport and GT trims are twins to any grade of the C-HR with the same 338 hp. Aside from slight aesthetic differences, the two compact electric crossovers are mechanically, structurally and spiritually the same.

Thus, I direct you to this impressively eloquent review of the new C-HR (written by me, of course!) for further insights on driving impressions. The Uncharted is very much a downsized Subaru Solterra, just as the C-HR is a downsized Toyota bZ, both in its performance, comfort and packaging.

What’s the Difference Between the Single-Motor and Dual-Motor Subaru Uncharted?

• Takeaway: Dual-motor versions have an additional 117 hp and X-Mode off-road drive modes.

I have no doubt the 221-hp single-motor config is more than zippy for ‘round-town commuting, and its manufacturer-estimated 308 miles of range is the strongest in the lineup, but I can only speak to the experience of the dual-motor version; it’s the quiet, slightly entertaining daily cruiser it’s designed to be. As in the C-HR, 338 hp is overkill, but its 0-60 mph time of less than five seconds is enough punch for a smirk and plenty of gumption to haul a full house of folks and fodder.

On paper, it’s the least off-road-capable SUV in Subaru’s portfolio. Its 8.2 inches of ground clearance is less than the 8.7 inches the automaker’s non-Wilderness Crosstrek, Forester, Outback and Ascent offer. Still, my underestimation of the capabilities of an average SUV and Subaru’s AWD know-how mean the dual-motor Uncharted is far, far more capable than the needs of your average driver.

How Is the Subaru Uncharted Off-Road?

• Takeaway: Surprisingly good, especially with that 8.2 inches of ground clearance and AWD.

I know this because, in typical Subaru fashion, a modestly challenging off-road course was set up at the media drive program’s halfway point to showcase the Uncharted’s rough-road capabilities. (Per Cars.com’s ethics policy, we pay for our own travel and lodging when attending such manufacturer-sponsored events.) However, aggressive rain turned what was supposed to be a nice soft-roading walk into a sticky gauntlet of slick slime. I got two laps in before the route minders called it quits for us, and the Uncharted proved to be impressively capable, even as the low-friction mud turned me near sideways over a crest.

So, for moderate snowfall and/or that slightly treacherous trail to grandma’s cabin, the dual-motor Uncharted will get you there with little more than some conscious wheel placement and a bit of planning.

What’s Standard on the 2026 Subaru Uncharted Premium Base Trim?

• Takeaway: Notable standard features include dual wireless device chargers, a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system and heated front seats.

The $36,445 base price (all prices include destination) for the single-motor Premium trim includes a swell of standard niceties, including a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual wireless device chargers, heated front seats with power-adjustability for the driver, a power liftgate and keyless entry. The next-up Sport trim is a mighty $4,800 leap to $41,245; come for the dual motors, stay for the water-resistant StarTex upholstery and heated steering wheel.

I generally dig this spunky little(ish) electric vehicle. I like that in the absence of identity, Subaru levied a bit of character onto it via the delish Habanero Orange Metallic paint and neat rally-inspired wheels that are available. Do I recommend it over the C-HR or a Soltera with some incentives on the hood? Not sure about that, but I say, if you must have a zappy Subaru, slide into the 2026 Uncharted if you can’t swing the Trailseeker — the most “Subaru” Subaru EV.

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