2026 Subaru Uncharted Sport: BABY’S IN BLACK AND I’M FEELING BLUE

2026 Subaru Uncharted Sport

BABY’S IN BLACK AND I’M FEELING BLUE

Okay. Subaru’s Uncharted BEV is actually what Subaru calls Coastal Wolf Gray Metallic and not – as the headline implies – ‘black’. But with black accents and all-black interior the curbside impression is oppressively dark. The good news? With an all-electric drivetrain and almost 300 miles of claimed range, ownership is green. And with that, I’m feeling blue.

The Uncharted is Subaru’s third entry in a Toyota-sourced lineup (Toyota is a minority shareholder of Subaru’s automotive operations), which began with the Subaru Solterra and has more recently added both the Trailseeker and Uncharted. Our test subject is based on Toyota’s relaunched C-HR, which had been sold in the U.S. with a conventional drivetrain from 2018 thru 2022, and then replaced in the Toyota lineup by the Corolla Cross. 

With the C-HR’s relaunch as an EV, Subaru gets its hands on the same platform and rebadged it as the Uncharted. That, of course, implies aimless wandering, and can only hope Tesla’s charging infrastructure can keep up!

As the smallest of Subaru’s EV lineup the Uncharted is also the least expensive, beginning with a front-wheel drive, single motor model selling in the mid-$30s. Our test model, the midlevel Sport, is equipped with two motors, a combined 338 horsepower and that aforementioned (almost) 300 miles of range. And while the C-HR has historically garnered a subcompact descriptive, there’s a lot about today’s C-HR EV that feels – at least dimensionally – just right. 

In the walk-up, I’m impressed by the Uncharted’s substance…call it a Chunk of Funk. Although occupying – in both wheelbase and overall length – a smaller footprint than the Mustang Mach-E, the substantial vibe given off by the ‘small’ Subaru belies its position in the lineup and price point. Of course, the dark exterior and significant amount of cladding do nothing to lighten, figuratively or literally, that impression; it simply sits there. But its height allows easy ingress, and despite the beefy profile outward visibility is surprisingly good.

If looking forward behind the wheel (as you would be…), basic road info is communicated via seven inches of digital gauge cluster and supplemented (if that’s the word) by 14 inches of infotainment. For the owner the layout is intuitive, but I had less than a week – and didn’t want to spend it with the owner’s manual. You’ll get there (hell, I would get there!), but I’m still wishing for an analog box to check when spec’ing my own of-this-century vehicle.

Front buckets are generous, and there’s real room in the rear seat for two well-fed adults; this is, again, a surprise in the subcompact category. And with the second row folded you’ll enjoy some 60 cubic feet of space for what-have-you; given its tag, perhaps you grab a world globe and folding chair.

As mentioned, Subaru gives you your choice of one motor (driving the front wheels) or two motors; our test Sport trim offered the two motors. The front delivers 224 horsepower, while the rear provides 117 horsepower. The combined total is 338 horsepower, which doesn’t add up…unless you’re in the parallel universe of the EV. Regardless of the math, Car and Driver’s test team arrived at 60 in 4.3 seconds, and covered the ¼ mile in 13 seconds. All of that’s more than adequate for your DoorDash guy or gal. 

That forward motion is sustained by synchronous permanent magnet motors with DC fast charging, taking you from 10% to 80% in approximately 28 minutes at up to 150 kW. There’s also a battery preconditioning system to optimize cold weather charging speeds if – for some reason – you’re relocating to Minnesota.

Like virtually all EVs I’ve sampled, Subaru’s Uncharted is irresistibly quick, while the ride is comfortable. It seemed a little less precise than some of its immediate competition, including the Ioniq 5 and Kia’s EV6, but that imprecision wasn’t worrisome. One headscratcher was the choice of all-season rubber, which is great for the ‘burbs, less so for the berm. I’d hope for a XTR-type treatment, which would add capability – or at least perceived capability – to the Uncharted tag.

If it was my $40K I’d stay in the Subaru showroom, but opt for a standard-spec Trailseeker. I find the wagon-like profile more user-friendly, and more appropriate to my height, age and aspirations.