The 2026 Subaru Uncharted after it was revealed at an event in New York City on Thursday evening.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
With one all electric vehicle on the market (Solterra) and another that was recently revealed and will go on sale in early 2026 (Trailseeker), launching a third EV isn’t exactly uncharted territory for Subaru.
The 2026 Subaru Uncharted after it was revealed at an event in New York City on Thursday evening alongside the new Solterra and Trailseeker.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
At an event Thursday evening in New York City, the Japanese automaker did just that, unveiling a small SUV called Uncharted, intended to showcase its outdoorsy side and inspire adventure in owners, not a nod to the company direction OR Sony’s action-adventure video game and movie.
“There’s been a dip in BEV sales recently,” Anton Pawczuk, senior director of product management and connected business at Subaru Canada, said ahead of the reveal. “But the forecast is showing that even with or without the mandates, [sales] won’t change long term. This is the way its going. We’re committed to BEVs and that’s why we’re going to keep the new models coming because overtime this is were everyone will be headed.”
Subaru reveals second EV, the Trailseeker, with more range and power than Solterra
Subaru banking on brand loyalty, off-road cred to pique interest in the Solterra
The all-new 2026 Subaru Uncharted is made in Japan and goes on sale early 2026.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Uncharted is designed to go head-to-head against the growing compact and lower priced EV competition including the Kia Niro EV, the Hyundai Kona EV and the Chevrolet Equinox. Subaru hasn’t announced pricing for Uncharted.
Similar to previous collaborations with Toyota, the 2026 Subaru Unchartered shares its platform with the all-new electric Toyota C-HR compact SUV, which is coming to Canada next year. But the suspension is tweaked by Subaru engineers.
For 2026, Uncharted will be available in four trims – a front-wheel-drive, a front-wheel drive with long range, a Sport and GT. Both the Sport and GT are equipped with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system with X-Mode.
Uncharted will be the only Subaru in the lineup offering a front-wheel-drive version - odd considering Subaru is known for all-wheel drive. But Pawczuk said front-wheel-drive will appeal to urban dwellers who want a less expensive option with good range.
At the unveiling, the Sport AWD trim in an exclusive cool shade called Flare Orange Pearl took centre stage. On the exterior, it has clean lines and styling cues similar to the 2026 refreshed Solterra and Trailseeker EVs. At the front, an illuminated Subaru logo appears between Subaru’s signature six LED headlights; at the rear, the Subaru name is spelled out.
Similar to Solterra and Trailseeker, Uncharted has Subaru spelled out in capital letter on the back.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
From the side, large, black, beefy, five-spoke, 20-inch wheels look attractive. Black cladding around the wheel arches and along the running panel reiterate its outdoorsy attributes. Sleek, black, low-profile roof rails add more cargo carrying capability. Compared to the Solterra EV, Uncharted is shorter by more than 17 centimetres yet offers more than 700 litres of cargo space behind the second-row seats. The Solterra offers slightly less. Like other Subaru EVs, there’s no front trunk.
There is 700 litres of cargo space behind the second-row seats.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Both AWD models have a 77-kilowatt-hour high-capacity lithium-ion battery and dual electric motors – 167 kilowatts on the front and 88 on the rear. Together, they will deliver 338 horsepower, a forecasted range of up to 460 kilometres and be able to hit 100 kilometres an hour in less than five seconds.
The AWD models will also have 212 millimetres of ground clearance and be capable of towing up to 1,500 kilograms (3,300 pounds). Many details, such as battery size on the FWD models, still aren’t known. But officials say the FWD long-range model will have an estimated range of more than 480 kilometres and 221 horsepower.
Uncharted also has a standard North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, which speeds up charging time and enables people to charge at public Tesla stations across North America. With speeds up to 150 kilowatts, it means faster and more reliable charging. In cold weather, Uncharted can recharge from 10 to 80 per cent in about 30 minutes owing to a driver-selectable onboard battery preconditioning system. At home, an 11-kilowatt onboard charger lets you access Level 1 and Level 2 charging.
There’s a flat-top and flat-bottom steering wheel with the long tunnel in front of the driver’s instrument cluster similar to the Solterra.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Uncharted has a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and traditional climate control dials under the screen.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Inside, the cabin is clean and uncluttered with cool orange interior accents. There’s a flat-top and flat-bottom steering wheel with the long tunnel in front of the driver’s instrument cluster similar to the Solterra – I’m not a big fan, the steering wheel often obstructs the view of the odometer.
It comes well equipped with a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, dual wireless phone chargers and traditional climate control dials under the screen, thankfully.
The centre console features two wireless phone chargers.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Lighting inside is also highlighted with 64 colour combinations for interior ambient lighting to fit any mood. In the rear, there are dual USB-C chargers and some unexpected items such as heated outboard rear seats, standard on the top GT trim. Underfloor batteries create a flat floor in the cabin with good legroom for rear-seat passengers. Be careful getting inside the second-row seats – it’s easy to ding your head.
When it comes to safety, Uncharted also includes driver-assist technologies such as front cross traffic alert, blind spot monitors, lane departure alert, emergency stop assist, traffic jam assist, lane change assist and advanced adaptive cruise control – to name a few.
The all-new 2026 Subaru Uncharted is made in Japan and goes on sale early 2026. Prices will be announced closer to the launch date.
Underfloor batteries create a flat floor in the cabin with good legroom for rear-seat passengers.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
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