Badge engineering could be worse than this: The 2026 Subaru Uncharted

In reality, much of life with the Uncharted reminded me of Toyota. Subaru may have programmed the AWD system’s power delivery or tuned the suspension, but the large 14-inch multimedia touchscreen features far more advanced software than a 2026 Crosstrek or Forester. All the plastics inside, the dash texture, the nifty shift knob, the dual smartphone charging pads, the minimalist gauge cluster screen—these are a bunch of classic (modern) Toyota parts. In fact, under the hood, almost everything bore Toyota stickers, right down to the 12 V battery.

A good number of functions are controlled by discreet buttons but you’ll need to use the touchscreen to interact with the climate controls.

Credit:
Subaru

Toyota will build the Uncharted, and deliveries should begin this spring shortly after C-HR customers begin to receive cars. From a stylistic standpoint, telling the two apart will require a close eye. The Subaru has a bulkier front end with more unpainted plastics but a slightly cleaner rear that better displays the branding (written out, no more Pleiades logo). The advantages of EV powertrain packaging come into play, even if the more angular design departs somewhat from the Solterra (and certainly from the gas-powered lineup).

Overall, the Uncharted measures 1.4 inches (35.5 mm) longer than a Crosstrek but offers about 10 percent more cargo volume—great for transporting gear to the trail.

Subaru also quoted a survey that reported 35 percent of current owners might consider an EV for their next car purchase. Will that percentage overlap with the 25 percent who take their Subarus off-roading? It seems more likely to fit into the 50 percent who highlight range as their most important consideration when buying an EV.

In this light, the FWD Uncharted, which provides a few more miles and a lower price tag, seems better for the urban Subaru owner. Leave the adventures to the gas-powered and hybrid models with symmetric AWD—after all, the Uncharted’s rear motor acts more like a helper than a truly balanced powertrain.

The fact that Toyota decided against building a FWD version of the C-HR, leaving that lower price point and improved range to Subaru, may well come into play. Subaru’s reps seemed generally surprised by the decision, which appears to stem from Toyota’s reluctance to impinge on a more significant FWD hybrid lineup. So the return of FWD may end up being the defining detail that sets the otherwise competent (if not outstanding) Uncharted apart in a crowded market segment.