Compare the2026 Subaru Solterra VS 2026 Jeep Recon

The Subaru Solterra has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Recon doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Subaru Solterra achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Jeep Recon has not been tested.

The Solterra has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Recon doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Solterra and Recon have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Solterra has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Recon’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Solterra and the Recon have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all-wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Jeep With 63 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Jeep.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru second in overall reliability. Jeep is ranked 24th.

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra gets better mileage than the Recon:

			MPGe
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	131 city/109 hwy
		Limited Electric Motors	128 city/105 hwy
		XT Electric Motors	128 city/105 hwy
Recon
	AWD	Electric Motors	80 city/62 hwy

The Solterra can travel longer on a full charge than the Recon on a full charge:

			Miles
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	288 miles
		Limited Electric Motors	278 miles
		XT Electric Motors	278 miles
Recon
	AWD	Electric Motors	222 miles

The Solterra Premium’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Recon’s standard 70 series tires. The Solterra Limited/Touring’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Recon’s 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Solterra Limited/Touring has standard 20-inch wheels. The Recon’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For better maneuverability, the Solterra’s turning circle is 3.8 feet tighter than the Recon’s (36.7 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

The Subaru Solterra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1600 to 1700 pounds less than the Jeep Recon.

The Solterra is 8.7 inches shorter than the Recon, making the Solterra easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Solterra is 8.8 inches shorter in height than the Recon, making the Solterra much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The front grille of the Solterra uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Recon doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Solterra’s rear seats recline. The Recon’s rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Solterra is 4.5 inches lower than the Recon (17.9” vs. 22.4”). The Solterra’s rear step up height is 4.4 inches lower than the Recon’s (18” vs. 22.4”).

The Solterra’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Recon’s swing out door blocks loading from the driver’s side.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Solterra Limited/Touring’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Recon doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its cargo door, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Solterra has a higher standard payload capacity than the Recon (1045 vs. 850 lbs.).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Jeep. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 34% lower rating, Jeep is ranked 21st.

If the windows are left open on the Solterra the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Subaru service department.) The driver of the Recon can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Solterra has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Recon doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Both the Subaru Solterra and Jeep Recon offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Solterra offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Recon’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Subaru Solterra stands out above the Jeep Recon by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and two of them provide more flexibility.