Getting your
Trinity Audioplayer ready...By James Raia Subaru has focused on practical, versatile machines during its 58 years of selling automobiles in the United States.
The Japanese carmaker has also repeatedly proven innovative. It introduced its symmetrical all-wheel drive system in 1972. It focused on developing cars while considering the safety of transporting pets beginning in 2010.
Subaru now sells 10 cars in various trims. Four years ago, it expanded the Outback into its most rugged trim, the Wilderness. For 2026, the Wilderness has several updates.
Additionally, the automaker introduced two electric vehicles in 2026, the Trailseeker and the Uncharted. Subaru’s first EV, the Solterra, debuted in 2021.
The Trailseeker is an electric sport utility vehicle with 375 horsepower and more than 280 miles of range. The Uncharted, which bears among the most unusual names in automotive history, is an electric crossover. It has 338 horsepower and, in one trim, achieves more than 300 miles of range.
The 2026 Outback Wilderness features 9.5 inches of ground clearance, 17-inch wheels and a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine. It also has re-tuned transmission gearing with revised front and rear gear ratios. Its 260-horsepower engine is paired with a continuously variable transmission and an eight-speed manual shifting mode.
Additional changes for the 2026 Outback Wilderness include a more upright SUV-appearing exterior and larger overall dimensions. Interior styling has also been improved with more space and the use of waterproof materials. Towing capacity has been increased to 3,500 pounds.
Despite many years of top ratings for versatility and safety, Subaru’s mainstay SUVs, crossovers and sedans have always had only mediocre acceleration.
But its three EVs give Subaru a new quality — driving fun.
The reviewed Uncharted is the carmaker’s smallest SUV. It’s seven inches shorter than the Solterra, but offers more than 25 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row.
It’s also arguably Subaru’s most versatile vehicle. It’s small enough, even as an SUV, to zip around in traffic and into tight parking lots. Its acceleration further adds to a sprightly drive. It’s never been a characteristic of Subaru until now.
As the industry’s sturdiest carmaker, the Uncharted also further adds to Subaru’s road confidence. Its symmetrical all-wheel drive remains. But add its newfound driving prowess and an EV range approaching 300 miles, and Subaru may find a new audience.
The 2026 Uncharted is available in three trim levels: Premium FWD, Sport and GT. The entry-level Premium trim is unusual for Subaru.
Like Subaru’s two sports cars, it’s front-wheel drive only. As such, it offers a range of 308 miles and features 221 horsepower.
Uncharted Sport and GT models are equipped with Subaru’s signature symmetrical all-wheel drive.
All trim levels feature a 74.7-kWh lithium-ion battery. Its preconditioning system can prepare for optimal charging in cold-weather climates at speeds up to 150 kW. An 11-kW onboard charger offers 10 to 80 percent at-home charging in approximately 28 minutes.
Subaru offers simply designed interiors. Rear seats extend flat with wide, easy access pull levers. The steering wheel has a flat bottom and a flat top. The style offers a condensed, sporty driving feel. Side-by-side flat phone chargers are positions on the console.
Additional features include customizable ambient interior lighting, a digital key, dual wireless cell phone chargers, dual front and rear USB-C charging ports and a 120-volt AC power outlet.
The cloth upholstery looks upscale. There’s also a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, seven-inch gauge cluster and dual-zone automatic climate control.
The 2026 Uncharted GT features a panoramic glass roof with a motorized sunshade, ventilated front seats and rear seats, 20-inch wheels, a Harman Kardon speaker sound system and optional two-tone paint.
Fully equipped, the new Subaru costs $46,215. It’s a few thousand dollars less than the average price of a new car in the United States, and it’s money well spent.
James Raia is a syndicated automotive columnist in Sacramento. He also contributes business, lifestyle, sports and travel articles to several print and online publications. Email: james@jamesraia.com.