Text by Tom Appel
2026 Subaru Uncharted Sport AWD
Specs
Class: Subompact Crossover
Country of Manufacture: Japan
Color: Metropolis Gray
Miles driven: 199
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | A- |
| Power and Performance | B+ |
| Fit and Finish | C |
| Fuel Economy | A |
| Value | A- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | A |
| Tall Guy | A |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 338-horsepower |
| Engine Type | Electric motors |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Battery capacity: 75 kWh
EPA-estimate MPGe: 117
EPA-estimated driving range: 287
Maximum Charge Rate: 150 kW
Consumer Guide range estimate (ideal conditions): 300+ miles
Charge Port Location: Front passenger-side fender
Charging Standard: NACS
Frunk Capacity: N/A
Base price: $39,975 (not including $1450 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Special paint ($475)
Price as tested: $41,720
Audio-System Brand
Audio-System Quality
Poor Fair Good Very-Good Excellent
Pros and Cons
The great: Roomy front seating row, plenty of power, refined road manners
The good: Reasonable price, quiet cabin, decent rear seat space
The not so good: Low-grade cabin materials, rattle from front passenger door
Review
It would to easy to read this situation incorrectly. It’s not that Subaru is trying to build an electric-vehicle lineup that is similar Toyota’s, it’s that Subaru is unapologetically selling the SAME EVs as Toyota. And, Toyota is totally cool with that. Here’s the deal:
Toyota and Subaru
Toyota—the largest carmaker on the planet—has a roughly 20-percent stake in Subaru. The two Japanese carmakers play well together, and when possible, Toyota is able to save some money by selling rebadged versions of Subaru products, allowing the company to plug a hole in its lineup for little in the way of development costs.
The GR86 sporty coupe is built for Toyota by Subaru, for example, replete with the latter maker’s “boxer” horizontally opposed cylinder engine. Subaru has also assembled Camry models for Toyota at its Lafayette assembly facility in Indianna.
Similar Electric Vehicles
So, it should come as no surprise that when it came time to develop and market electric vehicles, the two carbuilders would work together to help amortize costs. And while Subaru did the heavy lifting on the GR86 (it’s pretty much a clone of Subie’s BRZ), Toyota did most of the development work on the electric crossovers. That’s crossovers—plural. Turns out there are four of them. Here’s a breakdown:
Subaru and Toyota Electric Vehicles
Subaru Uncharted – Subcompact crossover EV
Based on the Toyota C-HR
Subaru Solterra – Compact crossover EV
Based on the Toyota bZ
Subaru Trailseeker – Off-road themed compact wagon/crossover EV
Based on the Toyota bZ Woodland
Subaru Getaway – Midsize 3-row crossover EV (arrives for 2027)
Based on the 2027 Toyota Highlander EV
Engineering and Design
While Subaru’s EVs will share a great deal technically with the above Toyota models, styling, chassis tuning, cabin design, and pricing will be unique to the marque. In fact, if you drive one of these, Subaru or Toyota, we strong suggest you spend time with the other maker’s similar offering.
Prices and Trim Levels
Here we’d like to focus on the Uncharted, the smallest of the EVs listed above, and a mechanical clone of the Toyota C-HR. For 2026, its inaugural year, the Uncharted is offered in just three trim levels:
- Premium ($36,445)
- Sport ($41,245)
- GT ($44,245)
Power and Range
Premium models feature front-wheel drive and 221 horsepower. All-wheel drive is not offered on the Premium. Sport and GT examples boast 338 horsepower and standard AWD. All Uncharteds are fitted with a 67-kWh battery, which provides an EPA estimated 308 miles of range in the Premium, 287 in the Sport, and, because of its larger wheels and tires, just 273 miles in the GT.
Subaru without AWD
It is interesting to note that despite the brand’s reputation of snow-conquering AWD, Subaru’s version of this vehicle is the one offered without AWD. The Toyota C-HR, on the other hand, is offered only With AWD.
Charging
All Uncharted trim levels are equipped with Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging ports. An adaptor can be used to charge at traditional CCS-style charging locations.
Cloth versus Fake Leather
Premium models come fitted with cloth upholstery, while Sport and GT models feature synthetic “vegan” leather seating.
Test Car
Consumer Guide recently spent a week behind the wheel of a 2026 Subaru Uncharted with extra-cost Metropolis Gray Metallic paint. Including the destination charge, our test car came to $41,720.
Room and Comfort
Despite its tidy footprint–its only 1.5 inches longer than the tiny Subaru Crosstrek–the Uncharted offers up surprising passenger space. This big editor found the front-row plenty room, and getting into and out of the car easy enough, thanks in part to generously sized door openings.
Though cozier, the rear seating area is also roomy for the class, though three-abreast seating is recommended only for short hops.
Cabin material come across as only decent, but are acceptable for the price. Apparent build quality is another matter, and the Uncharted looks and feels well assembled. Note though similar, the Toyota C-HR is assembled in at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey in Sakarya, Turkey, while the Uncharted is built in Japan.
Connectivity
Anyone who has spent time in an electric Toyota, especially the bZ, will find the infotainment setup familiar and generally easy to use. We found the gear selector, located on the center console, a bit. The large, round controlled requires partial left-or-right rotations engages forward or reverse, and to us seems too large, and too performative in operation.
More annoying, at least for folks around 6-feet tall, is the oddly square steering wheel and tiny, stand-along instrument panel which is mounted tablet style behind the wheel. This 6-foot editor found himself reading the instrument cluster by looking over the wheel. Yes, I got used to this arrangement, but I never came to like it.
Power and Performance
The odd instrument situation aside, driving the Uncharted is a joy. There’s plenty of smooth power with the AWD setup, and the ride and handling sophisticated with a sporty bent. Plus, our range seemed to deplete more slowly than the dashboard readout suggested it might. In our testing, Toyota electric vehicles under promise and over deliver—at least slightly—on battery range.
Ride and Handling
There’s a little heft to the steering, and lean in corners is nicely checked. And, what road imperfections are felt in the cabin seem to be mostly noise—with no rough-road harshness. Highway composure is a plus, and the small electric Subaru settles in nicely on long trips. Cabin quietness is impressive on any road surface, but we found things especially serine on the highway.
Value
While the Uncharted isn’t the bargain proposition the reborn Chevrolet Bolt is, it does offer a good deal of range and power for the money, along with a pleasant driving environment and noteworthy passenger comfort.
We think the Sport, as tested here, is the value play of the Uncharted lineup, but if you can live without the extra power and AWD traction, be sure and take base Premium model for a spin. And, remember, if you test drive the Uncharted, also test drive the C-HR. They’re similar, but they are not the same.
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2026 Subaru Uncharted Sport Pictures
