The Subaru Uncharted arrives at an interesting point in the Australian new-car market. Electric SUVs are no longer unusual, but the challenge for established brands is convincing existing customers that moving to an EV doesn’t mean giving up everything they already like about their current car.
That is where the Uncharted makes sense.
For people who follow platforms and product development closely, there are obvious connections between the Uncharted and Toyota’s latest electric models. But most Subaru buyers probably won’t care.
They will see a compact electric SUV carrying a Subaru badge, with all-wheel drive, familiar controls, a practical cabin and the type of predictable road manners they already associate with the brand.
And that may be the Uncharted’s biggest strength.
A Subaru first, EV second
Subaru owners have traditionally been a loyal group.
Many have moved through different generations of Forester, Outback, Impreza and Crosstrek because they like the combination of all-wheel-drive capability, practicality and familiarity.
The Uncharted continues that theme.
From the driver’s seat, it feels like a Subaru. The steering wheel is packed with buttons, the controls are conventional, and you don’t need to relearn the basic operation of the car simply because it happens to be electric.
There may actually be too many steering-wheel buttons, which is ironic given one of the common complaints about newer EVs is that they have removed too many physical controls.
But for everyday usability, having real buttons still has plenty of appeal.
The cabin also strikes a good balance between traditional controls and modern technology.
A 14-inch touchscreen dominates the centre of the dash, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system standard.
It looks contemporary without feeling like Subaru has attempted to turn the entire cabin into a touchscreen.
Small details make it easy to live with
The parts of the Uncharted that stand out most aren’t necessarily the features that look best on a specification sheet.
There are two wireless phone charging positions in the centre console. Get into the car, put your phone down and continue with your day.
It sounds trivial, but those kinds of features make a difference when you spend hours each week in a vehicle.
The centre console storage is generous and there’s another useful storage area underneath the floating section of the console. It gives you somewhere to put sunglasses, cables and other everyday items without having everything rolling around the cabin.
The centre console lid also opens from the side rather than front-to-back, which makes accessing the storage easier from either front seat.
There are, however, a few things Subaru could improve.
The cupholders sit low in the console and don’t work particularly well with larger takeaway coffee cups.
That is hardly a reason not to buy a vehicle, but it is exactly the type of thing you notice after living with a car rather than spending 20 minutes driving one around a launch route.
Comfortable for passengers as well
At 4,535mm long and 1,870mm wide, the Uncharted sits comfortably in the SUV market without feeling unnecessarily large. Its 2,750mm wheelbase creates a useful amount of interior space.
Rear passengers get air-conditioning vents, USB-C charging and heated outboard seats, while the rear seat itself can recline.
That makes the Uncharted suitable for families, fleet users carrying colleagues and anyone considering it through a novated lease who wants one vehicle to handle commuting, family duties and weekends away.
The vehicle tested also had the optional panoramic glass roof.
Personally, a sunroof isn’t high on my priority list in the Australian market. But buyers who like a brighter and more open cabin will appreciate the option.
Boot capacity is quoted at 403 litres with the rear seats in place.
It isn’t enormous, but it is practical. There’s enough room for a couple of overnight bags, while underfloor storage provides somewhere to hide charging cables and other items that don’t need to be accessed every day.
There’s no front boot, with the electric drivetrain equipment occupying that space.
It drives the way you expect a Subaru to drive
This is probably the most important part of the Uncharted story. The car simply feels good on the road.
The steering and suspension are predictable, the body feels controlled and there is a maturity to the handling that isn’t always present in some of the newer electric SUVs entering Australia.
That doesn’t make for a dramatic headline. But buyers don’t receive prizes for selecting the vehicle with the longest specification sheet. They have to live with it.
And over several years of ownership, the way a vehicle responds every time you turn into a corner, drive through wet weather or travel on a rough country road becomes more important than whether it has one extra screen or another piece of software.
The Uncharted uses dual electric motors, producing a combined 252kW, and Subaru claims 0–100km/h in approximately five seconds.
That is more than enough performance for most buyers.
More importantly, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, two-mode X-Mode, Grip Control and 211mm of ground clearance reinforce the idea that Subaru hasn’t abandoned its traditional capability simply because the engine has disappeared.
Range should suit most buyers
The 74.7kWh lithium-ion battery carries a quoted WLTP range of up to 522km. Official energy consumption is listed at 160Wh/km, or 16kWh/100km.
Interestingly, during predominantly urban driving, the Uncharted was averaging around 16kWh/100km, which closely matched Subaru’s official figure.
That is encouraging because it suggests this is not an EV that needs to be driven cautiously to return respectable efficiency.
Charging capability is also sensible.
The Uncharted supports up to 150kW DC fast charging, 7kW single-phase AC and 22kW three-phase AC charging. Subaru quotes around four hours for a complete 22kW AC charge and approximately 30 minutes for high-power DC charging under the conditions outlined in its brochure.
The 22kW AC capability is particularly useful for businesses and fleet operators with workplace charging infrastructure, while private owners who have access to three-phase power may also appreciate the faster home charging option.
Vehicle-to-load capability is included too, with a 1,500W outlet available for powering external equipment.
Plenty of equipment without chasing gimmicks
Subaru has given the Uncharted a strong list of standard equipment.
Synthetic leather trim, heated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, power-adjustable front seats, a powered tailgate and digital rear-view mirror are all included.
Safety and driver assistance equipment is equally extensive.
Adaptive cruise control, lane tracing assistance, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a panoramic 360-degree camera, parking support braking and a driver monitoring system are among the standard features.
The vehicle is covered by Subaru’s five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty for eligible private use, while the high-voltage battery carries an eight-year/160,000km warranty. A five-year/75,000km capped-price servicing program is also included.
For novated lease buyers, Subaru also states that eligible novated lease customers can access its 12-month roadside assistance and motoring club membership offer, although fleet, government and rental customers are excluded from that specific program.
Verdict
The Subaru Uncharted isn’t trying to completely rewrite the rules for electric cars. That is probably why it works.
There are EVs with more extravagant interiors, bigger screens and longer equipment lists. There are also brands entering Australia prepared to compete aggressively on specification and technology.
But buying a car is about more than comparing columns in a spreadsheet.
The Uncharted feels well developed, comfortable and easy to use. The interior is practical, the driving position is good, rear passengers are properly accommodated and the dynamics feel more polished than several newer electric SUVs we have driven.
For Subaru customers, the appeal is straightforward. You can move into an electric vehicle without feeling like you have moved away from Subaru.
And for fleet managers or private buyers considering a novated lease, that familiarity could be equally valuable.
The Uncharted doesn’t feel like an EV that happens to wear a Subaru badge. It feels like a Subaru that happens to be electric.
