SUBARU UNCHARTED

Not quite dejà vu as Subaru reformulates new Toyota EV for off-roading

- SAM PHILLIPS

You've just read about Toyota's new C-HR+; now meet its twin brother, the Subaru Uncharted. The strategic partnership between the two Japanese companies resulted in this pair of small electric crossovers being co-developed, but while their underpinnings are shared, Subaru insists that the Uncharted is a very different machine.

The Uncharted is proportionally similar to the C-HR+ but has an increased ride height of 211mm to aid off-road driving, plus its own bespoke suspension and steering tune for what Subaru says is a more sporting feel.

While this early drive didn't include any on-road mileage, we put the car through a series of tests at the Jerez race circuit in Spain, beginning with an off-road driving course. Here the 338bhp dual-motor AWD model proved to be competent and controlled on the steep terrain surrounding the track.

This range-topper gets the same X-Mode off-road system and Grip Control system (which acts like off-road cruise control) as the combustion-engined Forester SUV, meaning it does all the hard work for you.