Subaru breaks its all-wheel-drive custom with newly launched EV

The 2026 Subaru Uncharted will be available with optional all-wheel drive, but the range king of the model line will power only the front wheels.

2026 Subaru Uncharted rear end — *The 2026 Subaru Uncharted is expected to arrive in Canada early next year. – CNW Group/Subaru Canada Inc.*

Subaru has launched an all-new all-electric subcompact SUV for Canada and the United States, one which breaks from the automaker’s long-running practice of providing all-wheel drive as standard, but it is optional.

The Subaru Uncharted electric vehicle is launching for the 2026 model year.

It is based on the newly launched all-electric Toyota C-HR and maintains similar proportions, with slightly different exterior visual elements, and runs on the same powertrain options.

Subaru has one other vehicle in its lineup that doesn’t have all-wheel drive, the BRZ sports car, which has rear-wheel drive and was jointly developed with Toyota. Otherwise, all Subarus come standard with all-wheel drive as they have done for years.

Uncharted powertrain

The Uncharted gets a 77-kWh high-capacity lithium-ion battery.

Front-wheel-drive long-range versions, with 221 hp at the front axle, have an estimated driving range of more than 480 kilometres, Subaru Canada said.

Buyers who want Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive with X-Mode can opt for the dual-motor setup with 338 hp. The all-wheel-drive Sport and GT trims have an anticipated range of up to 460 kilometres, Subaru Canada said.

Zero to 100 km/h acceleration is said to be less than five seconds in the all-wheel-drive models.

Charging

The Uncharted gets a standard North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge port, supporting approximate charging speeds of up to 150 kW.

Thanks to an on-board battery preconditioning system, the Uncharted can recharge from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in about half an hour in cold weather conditions.

There’s an 11-kW on-board charger for quick Level 2 at-home charging.

Size

The small SUV is smaller than Subaru’s Solterra, which is also based on another Toyota EV.

The Uncharted is 170 mm shorter than the Solterra. Even so, there’s more than 700 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats.

The automaker points out the Uncharted is highly maneuverable and has a turning radius nearly identical to its Crosstrek subcompact SUV.

Dynamics

Subaru said the new EV is intended to be fun to drive and features a Subaru-tuned suspension.

Through the chassis development process, Subaru engineers focused on straight-line stability, handling and grip on loose surfaces such as gravel, dirt and snow.

The automaker points out the Uncharted gets dynamic on-road and off-road performance thanks to the SUV’s lightweight and highly rigid steel and structural support from the underfloor batteries and aerodynamic enhancements.

Wheel sizes measure 18 or 20 inches.

2026 Subaru Uncharted dashboard and steering wheel — *Subaru’s Uncharted gets a standard 14-inch centre display. – Subaru photo*

Technology

The Subaru Uncharted gets a standard 14-inch touchscreen infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, dual wireless phone chargers on the front centre console and dual USB-C chargers at the rear.

Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist tech is also standard.

The system includes pre-collsion braking, front cross traffic alert, blind-spot monitors, lane departure alert, panoramic view monitor, emergency stop assist, traffic jam assist, lane change assist, advanced adaptive cruise control and more.

Availability

The 2026 Subaru Uncharted is expected to be available in early 2026.

Pricing and detailed vehicle specifications will be announced closer to the vehicle’s on-sale date.

For updates, visit the Subaru Canada website.