Subaru’s new electric cars scored five Euro NCAP stars, but the result carries strong Toyota technical DNA

Five stars, but the sub scores matter

According to Euro NCAP, the Subaru E Outback scored 89 per cent for adult occupant protection, 85 per cent for child occupant protection, 80 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 79 per cent for safety assist. The Subaru Uncharted produced a very similar result: 88 per cent for adult occupant protection, 85 per cent for child occupant protection, 80 per cent for vulnerable road users and 79 per cent for safety assist. Both ratings delivered a five star overall result.

Those numbers are solid, but not the absolute peak of the class. The strongest picture appears in occupant protection and child safety. The weaker points sit in the details of vulnerable road user protection and in a few passive safety sub tests, where Euro NCAP described protection as marginal.

The E Outback is effectively a close relative of the Toyota bZ4X

Euro NCAP says plainly that the E Outback is a sister model to the Toyota bZ4X. The organisation confirmed that the structure and safety equipment are identical, then carried out additional tests to make sure the rating applied to the Subaru model. Most of the results were transferred from the bZ4X tested in 2025.

That is not bad news for Subaru, but it makes the story more honest. The E Outback’s five stars do not rest only on Subaru’s independent engineering work. They also reflect the joint Toyota and Subaru electric platform, whose safety package meets Euro NCAP’s requirements. The same logic applies to the Uncharted. Euro NCAP describes it as a sister model to the Toyota C HR Plus, which itself belongs to the same technical family as the bZ4X.

The cabin stayed stable in the crash tests

In the E Outback’s frontal impact, the passenger compartment remained stable and dummy readings indicated good protection for the knees and thighs of both the driver and front passenger. In the side barrier test, the car protected all critical body regions well and scored maximum points. The seats and head restraints also showed good protection against whiplash in a rear impact.

The Uncharted broadly repeated the same picture. Euro NCAP noted a stable passenger compartment, good front occupant protection, a maximum result in the side barrier test and good whiplash protection in both the front and rear seats. The test also confirmed that the doors and windows remain usable after submersion, a detail that has become increasingly important under Euro NCAP’s latest protocols.

The criticism: chest protection and pedestrian safety were not flawless

A five star overall rating does not mean every test went perfectly. In the E Outback’s full width rigid barrier test, Euro NCAP rated the driver’s chest protection as marginal. In the more severe side pole impact, chest protection was also marginal, even though other critical body regions received a good rating. The same note appears for the Uncharted.

Both models scored 80 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, which is respectable, but not without problems. For the E Outback, Euro NCAP said head protection for a pedestrian or cyclist was generally good or adequate, but poor results appeared around the stiff A pillars and the windscreen area. Pelvis protection was largely weak, while knee and lower leg protection was good. The same general pattern appears in the Uncharted test description.

AEB works well, but reversing remains a limitation

Both cars use autonomous emergency braking that reacts to other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. Euro NCAP rated the E Outback’s AEB response to other vehicles as good and said the system also worked well in cyclist scenarios, including the situation where a door opens into the path of a cyclist approaching from behind. Its response to motorcyclists was also rated as good.

There is a caveat. According to Euro NCAP, the E Outback system does not react to pedestrians behind the car. The Uncharted carries the same warning: pedestrian response was adequate, but the system does not respond to pedestrians behind the vehicle. For family cars and urban use, that matters. Car parks and driveways are exactly where children often move behind a vehicle.

Subaru’s electric strategy gets a useful badge of trust

Subaru confirmed in 2025 that it was expanding its European electric range. The Uncharted arrived in the first quarter of 2026, while the E Outback also followed in early 2026. These models join the Solterra and broaden Subaru’s electric line up towards SUVs.

Subaru remains a small player in Europe, but it has a strong image built around four wheel drive, safety and practical durability. With electric cars, Subaru now has to prove that cooperation with Toyota does not dilute the brand, but gives it a modern technical base. A five star Euro NCAP result helps support that argument.

For Europe, this is not only Subaru’s win

The E Outback and Uncharted show how closely Subaru’s electric future is tied to Toyota technology. For a smaller manufacturer, that brings a scale advantage. Developing a separate electric platform would cost heavily, while relying on Toyota’s base allows Subaru to offer new electric SUVs more quickly.

Still, an identity question remains. If the E Outback is closely linked to the bZ4X or bZ4X Touring, and the Uncharted is a close relative of the C HR Plus, Subaru has to stand apart through more than a badge. It needs to differentiate itself through chassis tuning, four wheel drive logic, ground clearance, ease of use and rough road confidence. Safety is a strong start, but the buyer’s next question is obvious: why choose the Subaru rather than its Toyota sister model?

Technical summary

The Subaru E Outback scored five stars in Euro NCAP testing, with 89 per cent for adult occupant protection, 85 per cent for child protection, 80 per cent for vulnerable road users and 79 per cent for safety assist.

The Subaru Uncharted also scored five stars, with 88 per cent for adult occupant protection, 85 per cent for child protection, 80 per cent for vulnerable road users and 79 per cent for safety assist.

Euro NCAP describes the E Outback as a sister model to the Toyota bZ4X, with much of the rating carried over from the Toyota test.

The Uncharted is a sister model to the Toyota C HR Plus and belongs to the same broader bZ4X technical family.

The main caveats are marginal chest protection in some crash tests and AEB systems that do not react to pedestrians behind the vehicle.