Subaru considers small EV to rival Renault 5

An affordable hatchback is under consideration by Subaru. And it could be a rebadged version of Toyota’s forthcoming electric Yaris. Could this be Subaru’s first non-AWD vehicle in quite some time?

Subaru may return to the supermini sector with an affordable electric hatchback. Like others, it is mulling over the idea following the surprise success of the Renault R5.

The move would also shore up the Japanese marque’s position in Europe by reducing the price of entry to its EV line-up. Currently the least expensive and only EV offering here is Solterra which starts at $79,990. 

Subaru hasn’t had an entry in the supermini sector since Justy which kicked off in 1987.

Subaru’s global EV product boss, Inoue Masahiko, said the brand was pondering the introduction of a car that could sit below the Uncharted. It eyes up an R5 competitor because Renault has sold over 30,000 in Europe since its launch at the beginning of 2025.

“We need to prepare a wider range of BEVs to meet every customer’s expectations,” Masahiko told Autocar UK. 

Given Subaru has a strategic partnership with Toyota, the two will like join forces again. An electric successor to the Yaris would be the perfect development project.

It is expected that an electric Yaris would go on sale towards the end of the decade.

Moreover, Subaru Europe boss, Dello Stritto, had previously said that the concept of a Subaru electric supermini was worth exploring. The segment has been rejuvenated with the R5 and it is set to be followed by the Volkswagen ID 2, Cupra Raval and an MG2 by 2028.

However, he added that Subaru wants “to see how the Uncharted does” before deciding if it wants its EV line-up to extend lower. 

“I reckon we need about two years to find out how it’s performing,” he added.