First Drive: 2026 Subaru Uncharted Goes Fast but Still Lags Behind

The Uncharted is a smooth, quick electric vehicle, but lacks many of the extra features that make EVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Nissan Leaf easier to live with

By Stef Schrader
Content Creator, Autos

Updated July 8, 2026

2026 Subaru Uncharted driving at CR's Auto Test Center — The Subaru Uncharted doesn’t just ride comfortably for an EV—its overall ride quality is excellent.

The new Subaru Uncharted is the all-electric counterpart to the brand’s Crosstrek subcompact SUV, and it should look familiar in many respects. It is essentially a 7-inch-shorter version of the Subaru Solterra, with nearly identical dashboards and powertrain components. The obvious sacrifices made by lopping off length from the Solterra are in back-seat and cargo space, but in our short time with the Uncharted, we’ve noticed that this extensive rework also produced a slightly more pleasant, smoother-riding EV.

Like the Solterra, which was co-developed with Toyota and has a near-twin called the Toyota bZ, the Uncharted has a Toyota counterpart: the all-electric 2026 Toyota C-HR. This extended model family shares a lot between the siblings, which makes spotting the differences a bit tough. All of these EVs ride on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform and are available with the same 338-hp, dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain and 74.7-kilowatt-hour battery.

In this article

2026 Subaru Uncharted: Consumer Reports' Take What We Like What We Don't Like What We'll Keep an Eye On Safety and Driver Assistance Systems

2026 Subaru Uncharted driver's seat — Our testers had mixed opinions as to whether the Uncharted’s front seats were comfortable or not.

For our test program, we purchased an Uncharted Sport AWD, which included just three added-cost options: upgraded two-tone exterior paint, all-weather floor liners, and a cargo tray.

If you’re a Consumer Reports member, our initial expert assessment of the Subaru Uncharted is available to you below. Once we complete 2,000 break-in miles, we’ll put the Uncharted we purchased through more than 50 tests at the CR Auto Test Center, including empirical measurements of acceleration, braking, handling, car-seat fit, and usability. CR members will have access to the full road-test results as soon as they’re available.

If you haven’t signed up to be a member yet, click below and become a member to access this full article and all our exclusive ratings and reviews for each vehicle we buy and test.

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What we bought: 2026 Subaru Uncharted Sport
Powertrain: 338-hp, dual electric motors; 74.7-kWh battery; direct-drive transmission; all-wheel drive
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: $39,795
Options: Metropolis Gray Metallic/Black Paint, $475; All-Weather Floor Liners, $207; Cargo Tray, $156
Destination fee: $1,450
Total cost: $42,083
Final assembly: Japan

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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.