What's the difference?
Subaru is entering uncharted territory.
The Uncharted is the brand’s first electric small SUV and a bold new direction, as the Japanese maker enters one of the most hotly-contested and now sought-after new segments in the Australian car market.
There is no shortage of new options calling out to Australian buyers and with a broad range of price-tags, designs and on-board tech it’s never been a more difficult time to enter this space.
So what does the Subaru Uncharted do differently, and is it worthy of your consideration? We took one for a week to find out.
Alfa Romeo’s new entry-level model has finally arrived in Australia.
Pitched as a spiritual successor to the MiTo and Giulietta hatchbacks, the Junior is a tiny SUV with plenty of hatchback design cues.
It was originally set to be called the Milano, however members of the Italian government complained, claiming it’s illegal to sell products with an Italian place name that aren’t actually made there.
The Junior is actually built in Tychy, Poland alongside the related Jeep Avenger at a Stellantis production plant.
We’ve driven the Junior a few times now overseas, but now it’s time to see how it holds up on local soil.
First up is the Ibrida, or hybrid. The fully electric version is also on sale but will have to wait for a future review.
The Uncharted follows the Subaru promise of offering compelling all-wheel drive and a capable driving experience at a reasonable price, but only if you compare it to its traditional rivals.
The trouble for Subaru is that this part of the market has moved on, and EV buyers now have a different set of expectations relative to its usual point-of-difference.
In that sense, this is a good electric Subaru - but is it objectively a good electric car? With the circa-$60K pricing, that’s a harder argument to make.
The Alfa Romeo Junior is a cute car that’s charming and smile-inducing. It deserves to sell well but ultimately this will come down to whether the Australian public is receptive.
There is plenty of competition out there and if you're wanting something design-led, it's hard to look past this without spending much more money.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.