Subaru Uncharted and Solterra: charm offensive with new electric cars
With the Uncharted, the Japanese all-wheel drive specialist is launching its second all-electric model on the market. The Solterra, which is already available, has been fundamentally revised - and will soon be followed by a third electric model, the e-Outback.
It's not often that Subaru launches a new model series. This was last the case with the Solterra, which was launched in 2022. And with it, the Japanese brand also launched its first purely electric model on the market. The SUV is based on the platform of the Toyota bZ4X and, like the latter, was unable to make a big impression with its technical data - like the Toyota with the unpronounceable name, the Solterra therefore also more or less disappeared into insignificance in the competitive environment. In 2023, Subaru was still able to sell 208 units of the electric car, compared to 67 last year and 31 this year at the end of September.
So it's high time that something was done - and Subaru has responded. Firstly, the Solterra has been completely overhauled: It has not only been given an attractive design, but also significantly more power, a larger battery and thus finally a competitive range. On the other hand, the Japanese are following up with the Uncharted, a sporty SUV coupé which, at a length of 4.52 meters, is almost 18 centimeters shorter than the Solterra. And a little later, probably in the summer of 2026, the third coup will follow with the all-electric e-Outback.
More power, more range
While the new Solterra is only available in one engine variant, namely with two-motor all-wheel drive, 252 kW/338 hp system output and a 73 kWh battery for a standard range of 532 kilometers, the Uncharted is offered in three variants. The top-of-the-range all-wheel drive model has the same performance as the Solterra and should be able to travel up to 525 kilometers with a 77-kWh battery; the shorter range despite the smaller body and larger battery is due to the stylish 20-inch wheels on which the top model drives. The same battery size is also available as a front-wheel drive long-range version with 165 kW/221 hp, which should be able to cover 600 kilometers. An entry-level model with a 58 kWh battery, 123 kW/165 hp and 455 kilometers rounds off the range.
As an all-wheel drive icon in the automotive industry, the Japanese naturally also attach great importance to good off-road capability in their electric models, at least in the AWD top version of the Uncharted. The symmetrical all-wheel drive technology familiar from Subaru works in the electric version with sensitive and precise torque distribution between the front and rear axles to further improve traction and cornering stability on various surfaces. This system also helps to get the considerable power onto the road when accelerating: The Solterra sprints to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds, while the Uncharted AWD needs a tenth less.
Appealing design language
Subaru wants to attract many new customers to the brand with the new Uncharted - and its attractive design is likely to be a door opener. The new brand face with narrow light elements, each with six daytime running light points, looks elegant and modern, while the rear matches the front harmoniously. The Solterra now also has the same design language, making it look like a new model generation, although it is only a model revision. The cockpit is identical in both models, with a screen for driving information set far back from the windshield and a 14-inch touchscreen above the center console for the infotainment system. An ingenious detail: two rotary switches are integrated into the display for temperature selection. The trunk of the Uncharted has a capacity of 411 liters, while the larger Solterra has a slightly larger capacity of 452 liters.
With the revised Solterra and the new Uncharted, Subaru has also fully arrived in the electric world. The two models are now thoroughly competitive and an exciting alternative, not least because of their extravagant design. The Japanese are only a little behind when it comes to charging: although the AC charging capacity of 22 kW is commendable - the battery can be filled at the wallbox in around four hours. At the DC fast charger, however, they only charge at a maximum of 150 kW; the competition is now much faster. The new Solterra is due to come onto the market at the end of the year, while the Uncharted will roll into dealerships in the first quarter of 2026. Prices are not yet known.
