NEW YORK – Subaru of America unveils the all-new 2026 Subaru Uncharted, a compact, 4-door, crossover-styled battery-electric vehicle that’s slated to be the third of three BEVs to be offered within the Subaru brand, all developed jointly with partner Toyota Motor Corp.
The new BEV fits the psychographics of the outdoor-oriented Subaru brand's buyers in the U.S., says an executive.
“Subaru has long been a protector of the environment and providing opportunities to get out there and enjoy the views,” says Alan Bethke, senior vice president, marketing for Subaru of America, at a press event here July 17.
The 2026 Subaru Uncharted is positioned as the “newest, smallest,” BEV in the lineup, Bethke says. The 2026 Subaru Uncharted goes on sale in spring 2026.
Across the industry, while there’s long-term demand for BEVs, the near- to medium-term outlook for electric-car demand is taking a beating. The Trump Admin. is raising tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts, and it’s set to kill the $7,500 tax benefit for new BEVs on top of pre-existing worries about range and charging infrastructure.
Still, range, power and charging specifications for the 2026 Subaru Uncharted are impressive in the competitive BEV sector. Trim levels at introduction are Premium FWD, Sport and GT.
Estimated range for the new BEV is from 290 miles (467 km) to “more than 300” miles (483 km), Subaru says, depending on trim and equipment. Dual-motor models produce up to 338 hp and can go 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in less than 5 seconds.
The higher driving range of 300 miles is for the Premium FWD variant. The front-drive trim level is a lower-priced variant, with one electric motor on the front axle. At launch, Subaru says it expects to offer limited numbers of the front-drive model. The higher-performance Sport and GT trim levels, which have an electric motor on each axle, are rated at 290 miles of range.
Subaru estimates it will take around 30 minutes to charge the CUV’s battery pack at DC fast chargers, taking it from 10% charge to 80% charge in the timeframe, even in cold weather -- known to slow charging sessions. The charge port, Tesla’s NACS standard, is compatible with Tesla Supercharger stations nationwide.
Late to the Party? That’s OK
The 2026 Subaru Uncharted was developed jointly with the Toyota C-HR, which also goes on sale in 2026.
Consumers, auto industry analysts and some U.S. dealers for Subaru and Toyota criticized the two brands in the recent past for being late to the party with BEVs. Other brands were quicker to embrace all- or nearly all-electric lineups, while Toyota and Subaru stuck with what have become “traditional” hybrids, fuel-efficient internal-combustion engines and affordable, compact passenger cars.
As a result of Subaru's relatively low-effort BEV push, some 12,447 Solterras were sold in the U.S. in 2024, per Subaru data. While that represented a 40.3% increase from 2023's 8,872, it still placed Subaru far from the top-selling BEV in the U.S. last year, the Tesla Model Y, which tallied north of 372,000 deliveries, per industry estimates.
But a more cautious BEV approach – and choosing to share development between Subaru and Toyota – looks smart today, with demand for BEVs looking shaky.
“Some people said we were walking away from EVs. But that’s not true,” a Subaru of America spokesman tells WardsAuto at the event here.
Joint Development
The first full-fledged -- and currently the only -- Subaru BEV, is the Subaru Solterra, launched in 2022. Compared to the 2026 Subaru Uncharted, it’s 7 ins. (178 mm) longer, Subaru says.
The Solterra was jointly developed with the Toyota bZ4X. Starting with the 2026 model year, the Toyota bZ4X gets a significant mid-product-cycle update and becomes the Toyota bZ.
The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker is slated to be the second BEV in Subaru’s U.S. lineup when it goes on sale in 2026, with exact timing to be announced later. The all-new Subaru Trailseeker was developed jointly with the all-new Toyota bZ Woodland crossover.
On the Outside
All three Subaru BEVs for 2026 get the automaker’s new “lighting signature,” which features distinctive headlamps and an extra-large, illuminated version of the six-star Subaru logo.
In a video released in advance of the unveiling, and like some other BEVs around the industry, all three Subaru models exterior design reveals no traditional grille above the front bumper.
The Uncharted has short overhangs front and rear. With wheels pushed to the corners, that creates more interior room, and a more stable ride, due to a longer wheelbase, Subaru says.
The rear door handles are high on the vehicle and backed up almost to the C-pillars, above the sheetmetal, where a glass rear-quarter window might be. That creates a large, smooth expanse of sheetmetal on the sides, almost like a coupe.
On the Inside
The 2026 Uncharted gets electronics that customers are learning to expect, notably a standard, 14-in. (36-cm) touchscreen for infotainment, which includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Dual wireless phone chargers are a prominent part of the center console. Rear-seat passengers get dual USB-C chargers.
The 2026 Subaru Uncharted seats up to five, but rear-seat room is limited. Like many of today’s CUVs, its exact segmentation is up for debate. Subaru calls the new BEV a compact model, while others classify it a subcompact.
The Subaru Solterra has been assembled in Japan (at Toyota's Aichi plant), and a Subaru spokesman tells WardsAuto on the sidelines of the vehicle's unveiling here that the Uncharted and Trailseeker also will be Japan-built models.
Pricing and other details of the Uncharted will be released closer to the vehicle's on-sale date, Subaru of America says.
