{
  "id": 665747,
  "title": "Subaru Uncharted in the test: This Japanese SUV is Zen Buddhism on four wheels",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/subaru-uncharted-im-test-dieses-japan-suv-ist-zen-buddhismus-auf-vier-665747",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-12T13:29:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/mobilitaet/elektromobilitaet/subaru-uncharted-im-test-was-der-neue-e-suv-aus-japan-zu-bieten-hat-01/100241985.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "For many drivers, electric mobility is still a matter of faith. Market leader Tesla is sometimes mocked for the missionary zeal of some fans as the \"Church of the Holy St. Elon\". Our test car of the week, the Subaru Uncharted, is something of a counter-design: no question of faith, but one of being. It is more like the quiet Buddhist among electric cars: calm, reliable, and at peace with itself.\n\nWhoever has \"Uncharted\" translated from Google into German gets the answer \"Unknown\". And that is also a good description of the current state of the brand in Germany. With around 1,800 vehicles sold, the Japanese had a market share of 0.1 percent in the first half of the year, so they are on a niche path. 70 to 80 percent of their cars are sold in the USA.\n\nThe more precise translation for \"Uncharted\" comes from cartography and means something like \"unexplored\" or \"unfathomable\". And that fits better in this case. Because the Uncharted is new territory for Subaru. With the Solterra, the brand already has an electric car on offer. But Uncharted breaks with a brand identity: In addition to the typical all-wheel drive, the Uncharted is also available with front-wheel drive.\n\nA sacrilege? Not at all. For most buyers, this is likely to be the more reasonable choice: cheaper, more efficient, and completely sufficient for everyday life. For over eight decades, Subaru has built up an image in its loyal fan community of being a rational decision. The brand is considered solid, reliable, and is known for its practical abilities.\n\nThe Uncharted is also supposed to live up to this brand core without all-wheel drive. Can that work? Cheaper entry, expensive all-wheel drive The technical platform was developed together with Toyota. Not surprisingly, the model shares a lot of technology and design with the Toyota C-HR+.\n\nIt is also built in a Toyota plant in Takaoka, Japan. Does that make the car a disguised Toyota in a Subaru costume? And, at least just as interesting: Can a brand that stands for understatement and solidity suddenly also be cheap? Because with a base price of 36,990 euros, the entry-level version of the Uncharted is even a little cheaper than the identical Toyota.\n\nThe tested Active with a larger 77 kWh battery and more power, however, starts at 43,490 euros, which is 3,000 euros more expensive than the comparable Toyota. Those who insist on all-wheel drive have to plan for at least 47,990 euros for the Uncharted - that's a whole 11,000 euros more.\n\nAnd those who want to get rid of the somewhat extravagant standard color orange have to pay an additional 740 to 990 euros. By then, the Uncharted is no longer a bargain. From the outside, the electric SUV looks unexcited to almost shy.\n\nThe front reminds one of the larger Solterra but looks a bit fresher. The most striking features are the powerful wheel arches and the above-average ground clearance of 211 millimeters - a detail that gives the white test car a bit of outdoor look.\n\nThe large distance to the ground is more noticeable in profile than from the front; the underbody is clad. Between the axles, there is a lot of sheet metal area with a few beads - calmly drawn, almost inconspicuous, which matches the rest of the car's restraint.\n\nThe handle for the rear doors, which is almost hidden on the C-pillar, really stands out. Seen from behind, the car almost looks a bit like an orca due to its black and white paint. When Subaru drives by, most people initially think it's a Toyota or Mazda.\n\nA wide Subaru logo on the back points in the right direction. Interior as expected Inside, it's as you would expect from Subaru: lots of robust hard plastic, but cleanly processed. Overall, despite the easy-to-care-for materials, the interior radiates a remarkable calmness and serenity.\n\nEverything is drawn in long horizontal lines; the only color accent is an orange stripe that runs across the entire width of the vehicle. In the center console, a 14-inch touchscreen dominates, which bundles the most important functions.\n\nTwo beautifully backlit rotary knobs allow the air conditioning for the driver and passenger to be adjusted; a smaller rotary knob in between controls the volume. This is so simple and understandable that no one gets lost in the submenus.\n\nThe multimedia system shows the Toyota partnership more clearly than anywhere else in the car: the menu guidance is logical but not particularly original; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto run wirelessly and reliably. The combination instrument with a size of seven inches is unusually high above the steering wheel and close to the windshield, almost like a fixed head-up display.\n\nThe navigation system remembers all the routes you have driven and leaves small digital points on the roads on the map. This creates a movement profile that can be practical or difficult in terms of data protection. On the steering wheel, there are real buttons, no touch surfaces.\n\nHowever, for our taste, it is a bit overloaded: alone, seven buttons control the cruise control. There are also a toggle switch for the volume, a button for voice control, and another for the driving mode. At least during the test period, we never develop enough routine to operate all these buttons intuitively without looking.\n\nAlso noticeable are the two quite prominently placed inductive charging trays for smartphones. Many assistants, but no glove compartment The seating position is expected to be high and Subaru-typical; the rear bench offers decent headroom but only mediocre legroom for large passengers.\n\nThe trunk swallows between 404 and 1331 liters - a solid value for a compact crossover, if not a record.",
  "summary": "Staying calm is a core competence of the Subaru Uncharted. The Toyota brother scores with composure and a good price. However, it also misses out on some things.",
  "key_points": [
    "Subaru Uncharted named \"Unbekannt\", attracting little attention in Germany",
    "1800 units sold in first half-year, 70% sold in the US",
    "Joint Toyota-developed platform, start price 36,990 Euro"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Subaru's focus on rationality and reliability, evident in the Uncharted's design and features, suggests a strategic emphasis on substance over style, potentially appealing to a niche market in Germany.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Handelsblatt",
        "title": "Subaru Uncharted im Test: Dieses Japan-SUV ist Zen-Buddhismus auf vier Rädern",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/subaru-uncharted-im-test-dieses-japan-suv-ist-zen-buddhismus-auf-vier",
        "published": "2026-08-13T06:39:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}