Jeep is making another bold attempt at electrified off-roading with the 2026 Recon, its first fully electric model to earn the brand’s coveted Trail Rated badge. Designed to deliver zero-emissions adventure without sacrificing performance, the Recon brings sports-car-like acceleration together with genuine off-road capability. Still, its arrival may spark some debate, particularly given the timing and the ongoing struggle to balance EV performance with range.
Stylistically, the Recon remains unmistakably a Jeep. It keeps the brand’s traditional blocky shape, upright stance, and signature grille layout, but modernizes the formula with illuminated grille rings, smooth flush-mounted door handles, and contrasting roof choices. Buyers can even swap the standard dual-pane sunroof for Jeep’s Sky One-Touch powered roof system. True to its heritage, the Recon allows users to remove the doors, quarter windows, and swing-gate glass—no specialized tools needed—maintaining the brand’s open-air adventure identity. Jeep plans to expand the Recon lineup over time, but the initial launch focuses exclusively on the Moab trim. This variant uses a single electric motor on each axle, mounted across a 2,870-millimeter wheelbase, producing strong performance figures even if they don’t quite top the EV charts.
The interior blends rugged practicality with advanced technology, setting it apart from more luxury-oriented models like the Wagoneer S. A straight, wide dashboard and integrated grab handle evoke classic Jeep cabins, while a massive 26-inch sweep of digital displays adds a futuristic edge. This includes a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.5-inch touchscreen—the largest ever fitted to a Jeep—powered by the Uconnect 5 interface. The generous screen real estate benefits trail users by making pitch-and-roll data and camera feeds easier to view through Jeep’s Trails App. A modular accessory rail sits ahead of the display cluster, ideal for mounting action cameras. The standard Alpine audio system has its speakers mounted under the seats to avoid losing sound quality when the doors are removed.
Under the skin, the Recon delivers 650 horsepower and 841 Nm of torque—slightly more than Jeep’s first U.S.-market EV, the road-focused Wagoneer S, which shares the STLA Large platform. The Recon accelerates from 0–97 km/h in about 3.6 seconds and carries a 100-kWh battery, though its estimated 155-kilometer range is significantly shorter than the 473-kilometer figure claimed by the Wagoneer S. Jeep argues that the reduced range is the unavoidable tradeoff for true off-road hardware.
That off-road pedigree is what earns the Recon its Trail Rated label, a certification associated with models like the Wrangler. The Moab trim rides on 33-inch tires, features selectable locking differentials, Selec-Terrain drive settings, and a Rock mode exclusive to the Recon Moab. It also includes Selec-Speed Control for managing steep climbs and descents. A full suite of steel skid plates protects the 100-kWh battery, while reinforced CV joints and half-shafts withstand the drivetrain’s high torque output. Unlike the Wrangler’s solid axles, the Recon uses independent suspension—a short-long-arm setup in front and an integral-link design at the rear—paired with a modern rack-and-pinion steering system for better on-road manners.
Despite its capability, the Recon cannot match the new V8 Wrangler Moab 392 in approach, departure, and breakover angles. The Recon’s shorter wheelbase and lower ground clearance—231 millimeters compared with 282 millimeters on the Wrangler Moab—limit its raw climbing ability. Even so, Jeep positions the Recon as a balanced EV that can handle trails while still delivering daily usability.
Production of the 2026 Recon EV begins early next year at Jeep’s Toluca Assembly Plant, with the Moab trim starting at $65,000. Pricing is expected to drop once additional trims and lower-output motor configurations join the lineup—or potentially through heavy incentives if the model faces sales challenges similar to the Wagoneer S.